National League North

National League North
Country	England
Founded	2015
Number of teams	22
Promotion to	National League
Relegation to	Northern Premier League Premier Division Southern Football League Premier Division
Levels on pyramid	6 Step 2 (National League System)
Domestic cup(s)	FA Cup FA Trophy FA Challenger Shield
International cup(s)	Europa League (via FA Cup)
Current champions	Gateshead (2021–22)
Website	Official website
2022-23

The National League North, formerly Conference North (currently named the Vanarama National League North for sponsorship reasons), is a division of the National League in England, taking its place immediately below the top division National League. Along with the National League South, it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of the English football league system. It consists of teams located in Northern England, Norfolk, the English Midlands and North Wales. From the start of the 2015–16 season, the league has been known as the National League North. As part of a sponsorship deal with Vanarama, the National League North is now known as the Vanarama National League North.

History

The Conference North was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of English non-League football. The champions are automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to fifth place. The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues. Teams from this division, as well as from the National League South, enter the FA Cup at the Second Qualifying Round.

For sponsorship reasons, the division was known as the Nationwide North from its formation in 2004 until 2007, when it was renamed the Blue Square North. In 2010 it was renamed the Blue Square Bet North. When Blue Square sponsorship ended in 2013, it was renamed the Skrill North until the 2014–15 season, when it was renamed the Vanarama North. A further name change followed in 2015, when the division was renamed the Vanarama National League North.

Member clubs for 2018–19

The member clubs for the 2018–19 season are as follows:

Club	Finishing position 2017–18
A.F.C. Telford United	14th
Alfreton Town	17th
Altrincham	1st in Northern Premier League Premier Division (promoted as champions)
Ashton United	2nd in Northern Premier League Premier Division (promoted via play-offs)
Blyth Spartans	10th
Boston United	9th
Brackley Town	3rd
Bradford (Park Avenue)	7th
Chester	23rd in National League (relegated)
Chorley	6th
Curzon Ashton	18th
Darlington	12th
F.C. United of Manchester	16th
Guiseley	24th in National League (relegated)
Hereford	1st in Southern Football League Premier Division (promoted as champions)
Kidderminster Harriers	4th
Leamington	19th
Nuneaton Borough	13th
Southport	15th
Spennymoor Town	8th
Stockport County	5th
York City	11th

External links

• Football Conference official site
• Conference North league table