History

On the 6th of June 2015 the decision was made to rebrand the Football Conference to The National league.

The Football Conference was formed in 1979 from leading teams in the Northern Premier League and Southern League and was originally known as the Alliance Premier League.

The Football Conference had a single division for the first 25 years of its existence, but since the 2004-05 season has consisted of three divisions. The original division was renamed Conference National and two new regional divisions one level down were introduced, Conference North and Conference South. The new clubs were drawn from the Northern Premier League, Southern League, and Isthmian League according to guidelines developed by the NLS Committee.

Step 5

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Eastern Counties League Division 1
Essex Senior League
Hellenic League Premier Division
Kent League
Midland Football Alliance
North West Counties League Division 1
Northern Counties East League Premier Division
Northern League Div 1
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Sussex County League Division 1
United Counties League Premier Division
Wessex League Premier Division
Western League Premier Division

Step 6

Combined Counties League Division 1
East Midlands Counties League
Eastern Counties League Division 2
Hellenic League Division 1 East
Hellenic League Division 1 West
Midland Combination Premier Division
North West Counties League Division 2
Northern Counties East Division 1
Northern League Division 2
South West Peninsula League Premier Division
Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Sussex County League Division 2
United Counties League Division 1
Wessex League Division 1
West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
Western League Division 1

Step 7

Anglian Combination Premier Division
Bedfordshire League Premier Division
Brighton & Hove District League Premier Division
Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division
Central Midlands League Supreme Division
Cheshire Association League Division 1
Crawley & District League Premier Division
Dorset Premier League
East Berkshire League Premier Division
East Sussex League Premier Division
Essex Olympian League Division 1
Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division
Gloucestershire County League Premier Division
Hampshire Premier League Division 1
Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division
Kent County League Premier Division
Leicester Senior League Premier Division
Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division
Manchester League Premier Division
Mid Sussex League Premier Division
Middlesex County League Premier Division
Midland Combination Division 1

North Berkshire League Division 1
Northampton Town League Premier Division
Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division
Northern Football Alliance Premier Division
Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division
Peterborough & District League Premier Division
Reading League Senior Division
Somerset County League Premier Division
South West Peninsula League Division 1 East
South West Peninsula League Division 1 West
Spartan South Midlands League Division 2
Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division
Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division
Sussex County League Division 3
Wearside League
West Cheshire League Division 1
West Lancashire League Premier Division
West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1
West Sussex League Premier Division
Wiltshire Football League Premier Division
Worthing & district League Premier Division

The Conference Championship

SeasonChampionsRunners-upPlease Click Below To View Chosen League Table
1979-1980AltrinchamWeymouthLeague Table
1980-1981AltrinchamKettering TownLeague Table
1981-1982RuncornEnfieldLeague Table
1982-1983EnfieldMaidstone UnitedLeague Table
1983-1984Maidstone UnitedNuneaton BoroughLeague Table
1984-1985WealdstoneNuneaton BoroughLeague Table
1985-1986EnfieldFrickley AthleticLeague Table
1986-1987ScarboroughBarnetLeague Table
1987-1988Lincoln CityBarnetLeague Table
1988-1989Maidstone UnitedKettering TownLeague Table
1989-1990DarlingtonBarnetLeague Table
1990-1991BarnetColchester UnitedLeague Table
1991-1992Colchester UnitedWycombe WanderersLeague Table
1992-1993Wycombe WanderersBromsgrove RoversLeague Table
1993-1994Kidderminster HarriersKettering TownLeague Table
1994-1995Macclesfield TownWokingLeague Table
1995-1996Stevenage BoroughWokingLeague Table
1996-1997Macclesfield TownKidderminster HarriersLeague Table
1997-1998Halifax TownCheltenham TownLeague Table
1998-1999Cheltenham TownKettering TownLeague Table
1999-2000Kidderminster HarriersRushden & DiamondsLeague Table
2000-2001Rushden & DiamondsYeovilLeague Table
2001-2002Boston UnitedDagenham & RedbridgeLeague Table
2002-2003Yeovil TownMorecambeLeague Table
2003-2004Chester CityHereford UnitedLeague Table
2004-2005BarnetHereford UnitedLeague Table
2005-2006Accrington StanleyHereford UnitedLeague Table
2006-2007Dagenham & RedbridgeOxford UnitedLeague Table
2007-2008Aldershot TownCambridge UnitedLeague Table
2008-2009Burton AlbionTorquay UnitedLeague Table
2009-2010Stevenage BoroughLuton TownLeague Table
2010-2011Crawley TownAFC WimbledonLeague Table
2011-2012Fleetwood TownWrexhamLeague Table
2012-2013Mansfield TownKidderminster HarriersLeague Table
2013-2014Luton TownCambridge UnitedLeague Table
2014-2015BarnetBristol RoversLeague Table

The Conference Promotion Final

SeasonPromotedFinalistsScoreAttendanceVenue
2002-2003Doncaster roversDagenham & Redbridge03-Feb13092Stoke City FC
2003-2004Shrewsbury TownAldershot Town1-1 (Shrewsbury won on penalties 3-0)19216Stoke City FC
2004-2005Carlisle UnitedStevenage Borough1-013422Stoke City FC
2005-2006Hereford UnitedHalifax Town3-2 (aet)15499Leicester City FC
2006-2007MorecambeExeter City02-Jan40043Wembley Stadium
2007-2008Exeter CityCambridge United1-042511Wembley Stadium
2008-2009Torquay UnitedCambridge United2-035000Wembley Stadium
2009-2010Oxford UnitedYork City03-Jan42669Wembley Stadium
2010-2011AFC WimbledonLuton Town0-0 (AFC Wimbledon won on penalties 4-3)18195Manchester City FC
2011-2012York CityLuton Town02-Jan39,265Wembley Stadium
2012-2013Newport CountyWrexham2-016,346Wembley Stadium
2013-2014Cambridge UnitedGateshead02-Jan19,613Wembley Stadium
2014-2015Bristol RoversGrimsby Town1-1 (Bristol Rovers won 5-3 on penalties)*47,029Wembley Stadium

*Promotion Final Record

The Conference North Championship

SeasonChampionsRunners-Up
2004-2005SouthportNuneaton Borough
2005-2006Northwich VictoriaStafford Rangers
2006-2007DroylsdenKettering Town
2007-2008Kettering TownAFC Telford United
2008-2009TamworthGateshead
2009-2010SouthportFleetwood Town
2010-2011Alfreton TownAFC Telford United
2011-2012Hyde UnitedGuiseley
2012-2013Chester FCGuiseley
2013-2014AFC Telford UnitedNorth Ferriby United
2014-2015BarrowAFC Fylde

The Conference South Championship

SeasonChampionsRunners-Up
2004-2005Grays AthleticCambridge City
2005-2006WeymouthSt Albans City
2006-2007HistonSalisbury City
2007-2008LewesEastbourne Borough
2008-2009AFC WimbledonHampton and Richmond
2009-2010Newport CountyDover Athletic
2010-2011Braintree TownFarnborough
2011-2012WokingDartford
2012-2013Welling UnitedSalisbury City
2013-2014EastleighSutton United
2014-2015BromleyBoreham Wood

The Conference North & South Promotional Final

SeasonChampionsFinalists
2004-2005AltrinchamEastbourne Borough

The Conference North Promotional Final

SeasonPromotedFinalists
2005-2006Stafford RangersDroylsden
2006-2007Farsley CelticHinkley United
2007-2008BarrowStalybridge Celtic
2008-2009GatesheadAFC Telford
2009-2010Fleetwood TownAlfreton Town
2010-2011AFC Telford UnitedGuiseley AFC
2011-2012Gainsborough TrinityNuneaton
2012-2013Brackley TownFC Halifax
2013-2014AltrinchamGuiseley
2014-2015ChorleyGuiseley

The Conference South Promotional Final

SeasonPromotedFinalists
2005-2006St Albans CityHiston
2006-2007Salisbury CityBraintree Town
2007-2008Eastbourne BoroughHampton & Richmond
2008-2009Hayes and YeadingHampton and Richmond
2009-2010Bath CityWoking
2010-2011Ebbsfleet UnitedFarnborough
2011-2012DartfordWelling United
2012-2013Salisbury CityDover Athletic
2013-2014Dover AthleticEbbsfleet United
2014-2015Boreham WoodWhitehawk

The Setanta Shield

SeasonWinnersFinalists
2007-2008Aldershot TownRushden & Diamonds
2008-2009AFC Telford UnitedForest Green Rovers

The Bob Lord Challenge Trophy

SeasonWinnersFinalists
1979-1980Northwich VictoriaAltrincham
1980-1981AltrinchamKettering Town
1981-1982WeymouthEnfield
1982-1983RuncornScarborough
1983-1984ScarboroughBarnet
1984-1985RuncornMaidstone united
1985-1986Stafford RangersBarnet
1989-1990Yeovil TownKidderminster Harriers
1990-1991Sutton UnitedBarrow
1991-1992Wycombe WanderersRuncorn
1992-1993Northwich VictoriaWycombe Wanderers
1993-1994Macclesfield TownYeovil Town
1994-1995Bromsgrove RoversKettering Town
1995-1996Bromsgrove RoversMacclesfield Town
1996-1997Kidderminster HarriersMacclesfield Town
1997-1998MorecambeWoking
1998-1999Doncaster RoversFarnborough Town
1999-2000Doncaster RoversKingstonian
2000-2001Chester CityKingstonian

The Conference Championship Shield

SeasonWinnersFinalists
1979-1980Northwich VictoriaAltrincham
1980-1981AltrinchamKettering Town
1981-1982RuncornWeymouth
1982-1983EnfieldRuncorn
1983-1984Maidstone UnitedScarborough
1984-1985RuncornWealdstone
1985-1986Stafford RangersEnfield
1986-1987Kidderminster HarriersScarborough
1987-1988EnfieldLincoln City
1988-1989Maidstone UnitedTelford United
1989-1990DarlingtonBarrow
1990-1991Wycombe WanderersBarnet
1991-1992Wycombe WanderersColchester United
1992-1993Wycombe WanderersNorthwich Victoria
1993-1994WokingKidderminster Harriers
1994-1995Macclesfield TownWoking
1995-1996Macclesfield TownStevenage Borough
1996-1997Macclesfield TownWoking
1997-1998Halifax TownCheltenham Town
1998-1999KingstonianCheltenham Town
1999-2000Kidderminster HarriersKingstonian
2000-2001Rushden & DiamondsChester City

The Conference Cup

SeasonWinnersFinalists
2004-2005WokingStalybridge Celtic

Promotion & Relegation With The Football League

SeasonPromotionRelegation
1986-1987ScarboroughLincoln City
1987-1988Lincoln CityNewport County
1988-1989Maidstone UnitedDarlington
1989-1990DarlingtonColchester United
1990-1991BarnetNo Relegation
1991-1992Colchester UnitedNo Relegation
1992-1993Wycombe WanderersHalifax Town
1994-1996No Promotion**No Relegation
1996-1997Macclesfield TownHereford United
1997-1998Halifax TownDoncaster Rovers
1998-1999Cheltenham TownScarborough
1999-2000Kidderminster HarriersChester City
2000-2001Rushden & DiamondsBarnet
2001-2002Boston UnitedHalifax Town
2002-2003Yeovil Town & Doncaster RoversShrewsbury Town & Exeter City
2003-2004Chester City & Shrewsbury TownYork City & Carlisle United
2004-2005Barnet & Carlisle UnitedKidderminster Harriers & Cambridge United
2005-2006Accrington Stanley & Hereford UnitedOxford United & Rushden & Diamonds
2006-2007Dagenham & Redbridge & MorecambeTorquay United & Boston United
2007-2008Aldershot & Exeter CityMansfield Town & Wrexham
2008-2009Burton Albion and Torquay UnitedChester City and Luton Town
2009-2010Stevenage Borough and Oxford UnitedDarlington and Grimsby Town
2010-2011AFC Wimbledon and Crawley TownLincoln City and Stockport County
2011-2012Fleetwood Town and York CityMacclesfield Town and Hereford United
2012-2013Mansfield Town and Newport CountyAldershot Town and Barnet
2013-2014Luton Town and Cambridge UnitedBristol Rovers and Torquay United