# National League System

Das National League System umfasst die Ligen der Spielklassen 5 bis 11 im englischen Fußball. Insgesamt sind rund 1.500 Mannschaften in 84 Ligawettbewerben organisiert. Durch feste Auf- und Abstiegsregelungen ist ein Übergang in die Football League (Spielklassen 2 bis 4) möglich. Das System ist hierarchisch organisiert. Es gibt nicht an jeder Stelle automatische Auf- und Abstiegsregelungen.

## Organisation

Die höchste Liga des National League Systems ist die National League. Sie ist die einzige Liga des Systems, die national organisiert ist und somit ganz England abdeckt. Der Meister und der Play-off-Sieger der National League steigen in die Football League Two auf. Sie ist somit auch die höchste Stufe des sogenannten Non-League-Football, der unterhalb der Football League angesiedelt ist. Im Gegenzug verlassen zwei Teams pro Saison die Football League in die Conference National.
Unterhalb der National League gibt es zusehends mehr Staffeln, die dann jeweils kleinere geographische Gebiete umfassen. Diese können sich auch überlagern.
Alle Ligen sind durch das Prinzip von Auf- und Abstieg miteinander verbunden. Erfolgreiche Mannschaften können somit in der Pyramide aufsteigen, glücklose rutschen nach unten ab. Theoretisch ist ein Aufstieg bis in die Höhen des Profifußballs möglich. Die Anzahl der Auf- und Absteiger variiert und ist der untenstehenden Tabelle zu entnehmen. Jedoch zählt nicht nur der sportliche Erfolg, sondern auch die Ausstattung des Vereins (Finanzen, Spielstätte). Zwischen den Stufen 4 und 5 gibt es eine gesonderte Prüfung und keinen automatischen Auf- und Abstieg. Die Teams müssen nicht nur Auflagen erfüllen, die ihr Stadion und die finanzielle Lage betreffen, sondern auch unter den ersten drei ihrer jeweiligen Liga sein. Unterhalb der Stufe 7 des NLS gibt es noch weitere lokale Ligen, die jedoch nicht mehr der direkten Aufsicht der Football Association unterliegen.
Unter der Aufsicht der Football Association wurde das National League System in den letzten Jahren weiterentwickelt und hat die heutige Form angenommen.
Es gibt festgelegte offizielle Namen für die einzelnen Ligen. Dazu können noch in den vier oberen Stufen Sponsorennamen hinzutreten. Alle Divisionen der vier oberen Stufen haben jeweils 22 Vereine, abgesehen von der Northern Premier League Division One North/South, die jeweils 20 oder 21 Mannschaften haben, und die Conference National mit 24 Teams. Das National League System-Komitee legt die Staffelzuteilung nach Ortszugehörigkeit fest. Das Komitee wacht darüber, dass der Ligabetrieb zahlenmäßig ausbalanciert und gleichzeitig geographisch sinnvoll organisiert ist.
Alle Teams des NLS sind für den FA Cup startberechtigt, steigen aber je nach Stufe in unterschiedliche Runden des Pokals ein. Die Teams der Stufen 1 bis 4 können an der FA Trophy teilnehmen, die Teams der Stufen 5 bis 7 an der FA Vase. Von 1979 bis 2001, 2004/05 und von 2007 bis 2009 wurde der Conference League Cup ausgetragen, der den Teams der beiden oberen Stufen des NLS offenstand. Diese Pokalwettbewerbe tragen wie auch teilweise die Ligen des NLS die Namen unterschiedlicher Sponsoren.
| Stufe | Liga/Division | Liga/Division | Liga/Division | Liga/Division | Liga/Division | Liga/Division | Liga/Division |
| 1 | National League (Vanarama National League) | National League (Vanarama National League) | National League (Vanarama National League) | National League (Vanarama National League) | National League (Vanarama National League) | National League (Vanarama National League) | National League (Vanarama National League) |
| Aufsteiger in die League Two der Football League: Meister und Sieger des Play-offs der zweit- bis siebtplatzierten Teams. Absteiger in die National League North oder National League South: 4 Teams. |||||||
| 2 | National League North (Vanarama National League North) | National League North (Vanarama National League North) | National League North (Vanarama National League North) | National League South (Vanarama National League South) | National League South (Vanarama National League South) | National League South (Vanarama National League South) | National League South (Vanarama National League South) |
| Aufsteiger in die National League: Jeweils die Meister und Sieger des Play-offs der zweit- bis siebtplatzierten Teams der beiden Ligen. Absteiger in die Ligen der Stufe 3: Je 3 Teams aus beiden Divisionen. |||||||
| 3 | Northern Premier League (Evo-Stik League) Premier Division | Northern Premier League (Evo-Stik League) Premier Division | Southern League (Evo-Stik League Southern) Central Division | Southern League (Evo-Stik League Southern) Central Division | Southern League (Evo-Stik League Southern) South Division | Southern League (Evo-Stik League Southern) South Division | Isthmian League (Bostik League) Premier Division | Isthmian League (Bostik League) Premier Division |
| Aufsteiger in die National League North/South: Jeweils die Meister und Sieger des Play-offs der zweit- bis fünftplatzierten Teams der vier Divisionen. Absteiger in die Ligen der Stufe 4: Je 3 Teams aus den vier Divisionen. ||||||||
| 4 | Northern Premier League (Evo-Stik League) Division One North West | Northern Premier League (Evo-Stik League) Division One South East | Southern Football League (Evo-Stik League Southern) Division One Central | Southern Football League (Evo-Stik League Southern) Division One South | Isthmian League (Bostik League) Division One North | Isthmian League (Bostik League) Division One South East | Isthmian League (Bostik League) Division One South Central |
| Aufsteiger in die Ligen der Stufe 3: Jeweils die Meister und 5 von 7 Siegern der Play-offs der zweit- bis fünftplatzierten Teams der Divisionen. Absteiger in die Ligen der Stufe 5 werden von einem NLS Komitee festgelegt: Je 2 Teams aus den sieben Divisionen. |||||||
| 5 | Combined Counties League Premier Division • Eastern Counties League Premier Division • Essex Senior League • Hellenic League Premier Division • Midland League Premier Division • Northern Counties East League Premier Division • Northern League Division One • North West Counties League Premier Division • Southern Counties East League • Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division • Southern Combination League Premier Division • United Counties League Premier Division • Wessex League Premier Division • Western League Premier Division | Combined Counties League Premier Division • Eastern Counties League Premier Division • Essex Senior League • Hellenic League Premier Division • Midland League Premier Division • Northern Counties East League Premier Division • Northern League Division One • North West Counties League Premier Division • Southern Counties East League • Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division • Southern Combination League Premier Division • United Counties League Premier Division • Wessex League Premier Division • Western League Premier Division | Combined Counties League Premier Division • Eastern Counties League Premier Division • Essex Senior League • Hellenic League Premier Division • Midland League Premier Division • Northern Counties East League Premier Division • Northern League Division One • North West Counties League Premier Division • Southern Counties East League • Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division • Southern Combination League Premier Division • United Counties League Premier Division • Wessex League Premier Division • Western League Premier Division | Combined Counties League Premier Division • Eastern Counties League Premier Division • Essex Senior League • Hellenic League Premier Division • Midland League Premier Division • Northern Counties East League Premier Division • Northern League Division One • North West Counties League Premier Division • Southern Counties East League • Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division • Southern Combination League Premier Division • United Counties League Premier Division • Wessex League Premier Division • Western League Premier Division | Combined Counties League Premier Division • Eastern Counties League Premier Division • Essex Senior League • Hellenic League Premier Division • Midland League Premier Division • Northern Counties East League Premier Division • Northern League Division One • North West Counties League Premier Division • Southern Counties East League • Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division • Southern Combination League Premier Division • United Counties League Premier Division • Wessex League Premier Division • Western League Premier Division | Combined Counties League Premier Division • Eastern Counties League Premier Division • Essex Senior League • Hellenic League Premier Division • Midland League Premier Division • Northern Counties East League Premier Division • Northern League Division One • North West Counties League Premier Division • Southern Counties East League • Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division • Southern Combination League Premier Division • United Counties League Premier Division • Wessex League Premier Division • Western League Premier Division | Combined Counties League Premier Division • Eastern Counties League Premier Division • Essex Senior League • Hellenic League Premier Division • Midland League Premier Division • Northern Counties East League Premier Division • Northern League Division One • North West Counties League Premier Division • Southern Counties East League • Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division • Southern Combination League Premier Division • United Counties League Premier Division • Wessex League Premier Division • Western League Premier Division |
| Aufsteiger in die Ligen der Stufe 4 werden von einem NLS Komitee festgelegt: Insgesamt 14 Meister. Absteiger: Entsprechend nach Vereinbarung mit den darunterliegenden Divisionen organisiert. |||||||
| 6 | Combined Counties League Division One • East Midlands Counties League • Eastern Counties League Division One • Hellenic League Division One East • Hellenic League Division One West • Kent Invicta League • Midland League Division One • Northern Counties East Division One • Northern League Division Two • North West Counties League Division One • South West Peninsula League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division One • Southern Combination League Division One • United Counties League Division One • Wessex League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division • Western League Division One | Combined Counties League Division One • East Midlands Counties League • Eastern Counties League Division One • Hellenic League Division One East • Hellenic League Division One West • Kent Invicta League • Midland League Division One • Northern Counties East Division One • Northern League Division Two • North West Counties League Division One • South West Peninsula League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division One • Southern Combination League Division One • United Counties League Division One • Wessex League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division • Western League Division One | Combined Counties League Division One • East Midlands Counties League • Eastern Counties League Division One • Hellenic League Division One East • Hellenic League Division One West • Kent Invicta League • Midland League Division One • Northern Counties East Division One • Northern League Division Two • North West Counties League Division One • South West Peninsula League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division One • Southern Combination League Division One • United Counties League Division One • Wessex League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division • Western League Division One | Combined Counties League Division One • East Midlands Counties League • Eastern Counties League Division One • Hellenic League Division One East • Hellenic League Division One West • Kent Invicta League • Midland League Division One • Northern Counties East Division One • Northern League Division Two • North West Counties League Division One • South West Peninsula League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division One • Southern Combination League Division One • United Counties League Division One • Wessex League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division • Western League Division One | Combined Counties League Division One • East Midlands Counties League • Eastern Counties League Division One • Hellenic League Division One East • Hellenic League Division One West • Kent Invicta League • Midland League Division One • Northern Counties East Division One • Northern League Division Two • North West Counties League Division One • South West Peninsula League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division One • Southern Combination League Division One • United Counties League Division One • Wessex League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division • Western League Division One | Combined Counties League Division One • East Midlands Counties League • Eastern Counties League Division One • Hellenic League Division One East • Hellenic League Division One West • Kent Invicta League • Midland League Division One • Northern Counties East Division One • Northern League Division Two • North West Counties League Division One • South West Peninsula League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division One • Southern Combination League Division One • United Counties League Division One • Wessex League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division • Western League Division One | Combined Counties League Division One • East Midlands Counties League • Eastern Counties League Division One • Hellenic League Division One East • Hellenic League Division One West • Kent Invicta League • Midland League Division One • Northern Counties East Division One • Northern League Division Two • North West Counties League Division One • South West Peninsula League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division One • Southern Combination League Division One • United Counties League Division One • Wessex League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division • Western League Division One |
| Aufsteiger und Absteiger: Entsprechend nach Vereinbarung mit den beteiligten Divisionen organisiert. |||||||
| 7 | Anglian Combination Premier Division • Central Midlands League North Division • Central Midlands League South Division • Cheshire League Division One • Dorset Premier League • Gloucestershire County League • Essex Olympian League Premier Division • Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division • Humber Premier League Premier Division • Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division • Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division • Midland League Division Two • Northern Alliance Premier Division • Peterborough & District League Premier Division • Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division • Somerset County League Premier Division • South West Peninsula League Division One East • South West Peninsula League Division One West • Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division • Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division • Wearside League • West Cheshire League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Division One • West Yorkshire League Premier Division • Wiltshire League Premier Division | Anglian Combination Premier Division • Central Midlands League North Division • Central Midlands League South Division • Cheshire League Division One • Dorset Premier League • Gloucestershire County League • Essex Olympian League Premier Division • Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division • Humber Premier League Premier Division • Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division • Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division • Midland League Division Two • Northern Alliance Premier Division • Peterborough & District League Premier Division • Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division • Somerset County League Premier Division • South West Peninsula League Division One East • South West Peninsula League Division One West • Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division • Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division • Wearside League • West Cheshire League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Division One • West Yorkshire League Premier Division • Wiltshire League Premier Division | Anglian Combination Premier Division • Central Midlands League North Division • Central Midlands League South Division • Cheshire League Division One • Dorset Premier League • Gloucestershire County League • Essex Olympian League Premier Division • Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division • Humber Premier League Premier Division • Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division • Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division • Midland League Division Two • Northern Alliance Premier Division • Peterborough & District League Premier Division • Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division • Somerset County League Premier Division • South West Peninsula League Division One East • South West Peninsula League Division One West • Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division • Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division • Wearside League • West Cheshire League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Division One • West Yorkshire League Premier Division • Wiltshire League Premier Division | Anglian Combination Premier Division • Central Midlands League North Division • Central Midlands League South Division • Cheshire League Division One • Dorset Premier League • Gloucestershire County League • Essex Olympian League Premier Division • Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division • Humber Premier League Premier Division • Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division • Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division • Midland League Division Two • Northern Alliance Premier Division • Peterborough & District League Premier Division • Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division • Somerset County League Premier Division • South West Peninsula League Division One East • South West Peninsula League Division One West • Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division • Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division • Wearside League • West Cheshire League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Division One • West Yorkshire League Premier Division • Wiltshire League Premier Division | Anglian Combination Premier Division • Central Midlands League North Division • Central Midlands League South Division • Cheshire League Division One • Dorset Premier League • Gloucestershire County League • Essex Olympian League Premier Division • Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division • Humber Premier League Premier Division • Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division • Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division • Midland League Division Two • Northern Alliance Premier Division • Peterborough & District League Premier Division • Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division • Somerset County League Premier Division • South West Peninsula League Division One East • South West Peninsula League Division One West • Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division • Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division • Wearside League • West Cheshire League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Division One • West Yorkshire League Premier Division • Wiltshire League Premier Division | Anglian Combination Premier Division • Central Midlands League North Division • Central Midlands League South Division • Cheshire League Division One • Dorset Premier League • Gloucestershire County League • Essex Olympian League Premier Division • Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division • Humber Premier League Premier Division • Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division • Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division • Midland League Division Two • Northern Alliance Premier Division • Peterborough & District League Premier Division • Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division • Somerset County League Premier Division • South West Peninsula League Division One East • South West Peninsula League Division One West • Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division • Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division • Wearside League • West Cheshire League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Division One • West Yorkshire League Premier Division • Wiltshire League Premier Division | Anglian Combination Premier Division • Central Midlands League North Division • Central Midlands League South Division • Cheshire League Division One • Dorset Premier League • Gloucestershire County League • Essex Olympian League Premier Division • Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division • Humber Premier League Premier Division • Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division • Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division • Midland League Division Two • Northern Alliance Premier Division • Peterborough & District League Premier Division • Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division • Somerset County League Premier Division • South West Peninsula League Division One East • South West Peninsula League Division One West • Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division • Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division • Wearside League • West Cheshire League Division One • West Midlands (Regional) League Division One • West Yorkshire League Premier Division • Wiltshire League Premier Division |
| Aufsteiger und Absteiger: Entsprechend nach Vereinbarung mit den beteiligten Divisionen organisiert. |||||||
| 7A | Bedfordshire County League Premier Division • Cambridgeshire League Premier Division • Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division • Hampshire Premier League Senior Division • Manchester League Premier Division • Middlesex County League Premier Division • Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division • Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division • Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division • Reading League Senior Division • Southern Combination League Division Two • West Lancashire League Premier Division • York League Premier Division | Bedfordshire County League Premier Division • Cambridgeshire League Premier Division • Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division • Hampshire Premier League Senior Division • Manchester League Premier Division • Middlesex County League Premier Division • Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division • Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division • Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division • Reading League Senior Division • Southern Combination League Division Two • West Lancashire League Premier Division • York League Premier Division | Bedfordshire County League Premier Division • Cambridgeshire League Premier Division • Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division • Hampshire Premier League Senior Division • Manchester League Premier Division • Middlesex County League Premier Division • Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division • Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division • Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division • Reading League Senior Division • Southern Combination League Division Two • West Lancashire League Premier Division • York League Premier Division | Bedfordshire County League Premier Division • Cambridgeshire League Premier Division • Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division • Hampshire Premier League Senior Division • Manchester League Premier Division • Middlesex County League Premier Division • Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division • Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division • Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division • Reading League Senior Division • Southern Combination League Division Two • West Lancashire League Premier Division • York League Premier Division | Bedfordshire County League Premier Division • Cambridgeshire League Premier Division • Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division • Hampshire Premier League Senior Division • Manchester League Premier Division • Middlesex County League Premier Division • Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division • Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division • Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division • Reading League Senior Division • Southern Combination League Division Two • West Lancashire League Premier Division • York League Premier Division | Bedfordshire County League Premier Division • Cambridgeshire League Premier Division • Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division • Hampshire Premier League Senior Division • Manchester League Premier Division • Middlesex County League Premier Division • Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division • Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division • Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division • Reading League Senior Division • Southern Combination League Division Two • West Lancashire League Premier Division • York League Premier Division | Bedfordshire County League Premier Division • Cambridgeshire League Premier Division • Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division • Hampshire Premier League Senior Division • Manchester League Premier Division • Middlesex County League Premier Division • Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division • Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division • Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division • Reading League Senior Division • Southern Combination League Division Two • West Lancashire League Premier Division • York League Premier Division |
| Aufsteiger und Absteiger: Entsprechend nach Vereinbarung mit den beteiligten Divisionen organisiert. |||||||
| 7B | Kent County League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division Two • Surrey Elite Intermediate League • West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division | Kent County League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division Two • Surrey Elite Intermediate League • West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division | Kent County League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division Two • Surrey Elite Intermediate League • West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division | Kent County League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division Two • Surrey Elite Intermediate League • West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division | Kent County League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division Two • Surrey Elite Intermediate League • West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division | Kent County League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division Two • Surrey Elite Intermediate League • West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division | Kent County League Premier Division • Spartan South Midlands League Division Two • Surrey Elite Intermediate League • West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division |
| Aufsteiger und Absteiger: Entsprechend nach Vereinbarung mit den beteiligten Divisionen organisiert. Beachte: Selbst wenn es unter den Divisionen der Stufe 7 noch weitere Ligen gibt, sind sie nicht Bestandteil des National League Systems. |||||||
In der 7. Stufe des NLS werden die Ligen in drei Kategorien eingeteilt:
* Kategorie 7: 100 % der Mannschaften erfüllen die Stadionvoraussetzungen für die 7. Stufe des NLS sowie alle weiteren Auflagen der Ligen,
* Kategorie 7A: 75 % der Mannschaften erfüllen die Stadionvoraussetzungen für die 7. Stufe des NLS sowie alle weiteren Auflagen der Ligen,
* Kategorie 7B: 60 % der Mannschaften erfüllen die Stadionvoraussetzungen für die 7. Stufe des NLS sowie alle weiteren Auflagen der Ligen.