Non-league football
Encyclopedia
Non-League football is football
in England
played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League
. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football League were therefore non-League clubs.
, are almost as old as the League itself. The most senior of these leagues are loosely organised by The Football Association
, the sport's governing body in England, into a National League System
(NLS). The NLS has seven levels or steps, and includes over 50 separate leagues, many with more than one division.
Prior to 1987 there was no automatic promotion and relegation between The Football League and the leagues of non-League football. The bottom clubs of The Football League were required to apply for re-election to the League at the end of the season, but this was in most cases a mere formality. The system ensured that Football League membership remained relatively static, with non-League clubs having almost no chance of joining.
However major change came in 1987 when automatic promotion and relegation of one club between The Football League and The Football Conference
, the top league in non-League football, was introduced, subject to the eligible club meeting the required facility and financial standards. Scarborough
became the first non-League club to win automatic promotion to The Football League, and Lincoln City
became the first League club to be relegated to the ranks of non-League football. Since 2003 two clubs from the Conference (the champions and the winners of a playoff) have been promoted at the end of each season.
The entire English football league system
includes the Premier League, The Football League, the NLS leagues, and any local leagues that have feeder relationships with an NLS league.
Many non-league clubs enter the FA Cup
, where they hope to become "giant-killers" by progressing from the qualifying rounds, and first and second rounds proper, to meet and beat opposition from the Premier League or the First Division of The Football League
. The most recent example of a non-league team beating top-flight opposition in the FA Cup was Sutton United
's victory
over Coventry City
in 1988–89. The last time a non-league side beat top-flight opposition away from home was Altrincham
's victory over Birmingham City
in 1985–86 FA Cup. Since the end of the Second World War, six non-league clubs have reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. The only non league team to have won the competition is Tottenham Hotspur in the 1901 FA Cup Final
, football outside the top four divisions consists of the Junior leagues
together with a number of regional Senior Leagues, although the term non-League is also commonly used. It is also used throughout Europe.
In the Republic of Ireland
, football outside the top two divisions consists of regional Senior Leagues based on which Province the club comes from.
In women's football
, the non-League term is used for those clubs in the divisions below the FA Women's Premier League
's two regional second divisions.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
in England
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football League were therefore non-League clubs.
English Football League
The "League" of "non-League football" refers to the Football League, rather than leagues in general - "non-League" clubs play most of their football in league competitions. There are many leagues below the level of The Football League, and some, such as the Northern LeagueNorthern League (football)
The Northern League is a football league in North East England for semi-professional and amateur teams. Having been founded in 1889, it is the oldest surviving football league in the world after the Football League....
, are almost as old as the League itself. The most senior of these leagues are loosely organised by The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
, the sport's governing body in England, into a National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
(NLS). The NLS has seven levels or steps, and includes over 50 separate leagues, many with more than one division.
Prior to 1987 there was no automatic promotion and relegation between The Football League and the leagues of non-League football. The bottom clubs of The Football League were required to apply for re-election to the League at the end of the season, but this was in most cases a mere formality. The system ensured that Football League membership remained relatively static, with non-League clubs having almost no chance of joining.
However major change came in 1987 when automatic promotion and relegation of one club between The Football League and The Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
, the top league in non-League football, was introduced, subject to the eligible club meeting the required facility and financial standards. Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
became the first non-League club to win automatic promotion to The Football League, and Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
became the first League club to be relegated to the ranks of non-League football. Since 2003 two clubs from the Conference (the champions and the winners of a playoff) have been promoted at the end of each season.
The entire English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
includes the Premier League, The Football League, the NLS leagues, and any local leagues that have feeder relationships with an NLS league.
Many non-league clubs enter the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, where they hope to become "giant-killers" by progressing from the qualifying rounds, and first and second rounds proper, to meet and beat opposition from the Premier League or the First Division of The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. The most recent example of a non-league team beating top-flight opposition in the FA Cup was Sutton United
Sutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
's victory
Sutton United 2–1 Coventry City (1989)
Sutton United v Coventry City was a football match played on 7 January 1989 at Gander Green Lane, Sutton. The match was an FA Cup Third Round tie. It is notable for being the last time a club from the non-League beat a club from the highest tier of English football.The home-team, Sutton United,...
over Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in 1988–89. The last time a non-league side beat top-flight opposition away from home was Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
's victory over Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in 1985–86 FA Cup. Since the end of the Second World War, six non-league clubs have reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. The only non league team to have won the competition is Tottenham Hotspur in the 1901 FA Cup Final
1901 FA Cup Final
The 1901 FA Cup Final was played at Crystal Palace between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United–and the first FA Cup Final to be filmed by Pathé News.-Match details:-Replay:-Match Rules:*90 minutes....
League System
- For a full list of leagues in all 19 levels of non-League football, see English football league systemEnglish football league systemThe English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
.
Other leagues
In ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, football outside the top four divisions consists of the Junior leagues
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
together with a number of regional Senior Leagues, although the term non-League is also commonly used. It is also used throughout Europe.
In the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, football outside the top two divisions consists of regional Senior Leagues based on which Province the club comes from.
In women's football
Women's football in England
While women's football has been played in England for over a century, it has only been in the 1990s that the game has seen a large increase in female players, as well as in female spectators, culminating in England hosting the Women's European Championships in 2005....
, the non-League term is used for those clubs in the divisions below the FA Women's Premier League
FA Women's Premier League
The FA Women's Premier League is the second tier of women's football in England. It previously formed the top tier prior to the creation of the FA Women's Super League in 2011. The Women's Premier League has been run by The Football Association since the 1992–93 season...
's two regional second divisions.