Conference National

Conference National (currently named the Blue Square Premier for sponsorship reasons) is the top division of the Football Conference. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system. While all of the clubs in the top four tiers of English football are full-time professional, the Conference National has a mixture of full-time and semi-professional clubs.

History
The league was formed as the 'Alliance Premier League' in 1979. It was the first attempt to create a fully national league underneath the football league, drawing its clubs from the Northern Premier League and the Southern League. It greatly improved the quality of football at this lower level, as well as improving the financial status of the top clubs. This was reflected in 1986, when the Football League began accepting direct promotion and relegation between the Conference (which the league had been renamed by then) and the bottom division of the Football League which at that time was known as the Football League Fourth Division and is now Football League Two. The first team to be promoted by this method was Scarborough and the first team relegated was Lincoln City.

Since 2002-03, the league has been granted a second promotion place, with a play-off deciding who joins the champions in the Football League. Previously, no promotion from the Conference would occur if the winners did not have adequate stadium facilities. As of the start of the 2002-03 season, if a club achieves the automatic promotion or the play-off places but does not have an adequate stadium, their place will be re-allocated to the next highest placed club, that has the required facilities. In 2004-05, the Conference increased its size by adding two lower divisions, the Conference North and Conference South respectively. In 2006 the Conference expanded from 22 to 24 teams by relegating two teams and promoting four teams. In the 2006-07 season a "four up and four down" system between the Conference National and its two feeder divisions was introduced.

In April 2007, it was announced all the Football Conference had agreed a three year sponsorship deal with online betting firm Blue Square. Under the deal, all three Conference leagues would be sponsored by Blue Square from the 2007-08 season. This would also lead to a renaming of the leagues with the Conference National becoming the Blue Square Premier, the Conference North becoming Blue Square North and the Conference South becoming Blue Square South.

Media coverage
In August 2006 Setanta Sports signed a five year deal with the Blue Square Premier. Under the deal, Setanta Sports started showing live matches in the 2007-08 season, with 79 live matches each season. Included in the deal were the annual Play Off matches as well as the Setanta Shield, a cup competition for the three Football Conference divisions. Setanta show two live matches a week, with one on Thursday evening and one at the weekend.

Conference National clubs, 2008-09
² Not relegated due to Halifax Town being demoted

Past Conference National winners
1Not promoted due to stadium not being adequate for the Football League 2Boston United allowed to retain championship title and subsequent promotion to the Football League despite having been found guilty of serious financial misconduct during their title winning season. Following their later relegation back from the Football League, due to ongoing financial concerns and irregularities at the club, Boston United were passed straight back through the Conference National and placed into Conference North.

Records

 * Most wins in a season: 31 - Aldershot Town (2007-08)
 * Fewest defeats in a season: 3 - Yeovil Town (2002-03)
 * Most goals scored in a season: 103 - Barnet (1990-91), Hereford United (2003-04)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a season: 24 - Kettering Town (1993-94)
 * Most points in a season: 101 - Aldershot Town (2007-08)
 * Highest goal difference: 63 - Yeovil Town (2002-03)
 * Biggest win: 9-0 - Runcorn beat Enfield (3 March 1990), Sutton United beat Gateshead (22 September 1990), Hereford United beat Dagenham & Redbridge (27 February 2004)