# 2004–05 Football Conference

The 2004–05 season was the 26th season of the Football Conference, and the 1st season following its expansion from one division to three divisions.

## Overview

This season saw the Conference expanded to three divisions with the addition of the Conference North and Conference South added to the existing (and renamed) Conference National. The North and South Divisions were filled by teams finishing 1st–13th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and 2nd–13th in the Isthmian League Premier Division and Southern League Premier Division the previous season (the champions were all promoted to the Conference National), together with winners of play-offs between the 14–18th placed clubs in the Southern League Premier, 14th–20th in the Isthmian and Northern Premier League Premier, as well as the top clubs from the divisions immediately below.
The Conference National was joined by Carlisle United and York City, who had been relegated from the Football League. Carlisle became the first club to compete in all top five tiers of English football, having reached the old First Division in 1974–75.
In addition to the winners and the teams that qualified for the play-offs, Exeter City fought gallantly in the FA Cup against Manchester United, holding them to a goalless draw in the third round on Old Trafford and finally going down 0–2 on home turf.

## Conference National

A total of 22 teams contest the division, including 18 sides from last season, two relegated from the Football League Two, one promoted from the Southern Football League and one promoted from the Isthmian League. Winners and runners-up of Northern Premier League were unable to qualify in Conference National.

### Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League
* Crawley Town
Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League
* Canvey Island
Teams relegated from 2003–04 Football League Third Division
* Carlisle United
* York City

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Barnet | 42 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 56 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 34 | 24 | +46 | 86 | Football Conference Champions, promoted to League Two |
| 2 | Hereford United | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 28 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 40 | 27 | +27 | 74 | Participated in play-offs |
| 3 | Carlisle United | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 39 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 19 | +37 | 73 | Promoted to League Two through play-offs |
| 4 | Aldershot Town | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 30 | +16 | 73 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Stevenage Borough | 42 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 35 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 31 | +13 | 72 | Participated in play-offs |
| 6 | Exeter City | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 39 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 28 | +21 | 71 | |
| 7 | Morecambe | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 23 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 31 | 27 | +19 | 71 | |
| 8 | Woking | 42 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 26 | +13 | 68 | Conference League Cup winners |
| 9 | Halifax Town | 42 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 45 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 29 | 32 | +18 | 66 | |
| 10 | Accrington Stanley | 42 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 43 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 29 | 32 | +14 | 65 | |
| 11 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 42 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 39 | 27 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 33 | +8 | 65 | |
| 12 | Crawley Town | 42 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 32 | 0 | 57 | |
| 13 | Scarborough | 42 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 42 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 18 | 29 | +14 | 56 | |
| 14 | Gravesend & Northfleet | 42 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 34 | 31 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 33 | −6 | 50 | |
| 15 | Tamworth | 42 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 31 | 41 | −10 | 50 | |
| 16 | Burton Albion | 42 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 37 | −16 | 50 | |
| 17 | York City | 42 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 43 | −27 | 43 | |
| 18 | Canvey Island | 42 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 34 | 31 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 19 | 34 | −12 | 42 | |
| 19 | Northwich Victoria | 42 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 37 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 43 | −14 | 42 | Relegated due to ground concerns to Conference North |
| 20 | Forest Green Rovers | 42 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 40 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 41 | −40 | 33 | Reprieved from relegation |
| 21 | Farnborough Town | 42 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 40 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 49 | −54 | 29 | Relegated to Conference South |
| 22 | Leigh RMI | 42 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 18 | 52 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 13 | 46 | −67 | 18 | Relegated to Conference North |
* 1 2 New club in the Conference
* ↑ Tamworth deducted 3 points for breach of League rules.
* ↑ Northwich Victoria had 10 points deducted due to entering administration and ground requirements.
* ↑ Forest Green Rovers were reprieved due to Northwich Victoria's relegation.

### Results

| Home \ Away | ACC | ALD | BAR | BRT | CAN | CRL | CRA | D&R | EXE | FAR | FGR | GRN | HAL | HER | LEI | MOR | NOR | SCA | STB | TAM | WOK | YOR |
| Accrington Stanley | | 3–3 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 |
| Aldershot | 0–0 | | 2–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 4–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Barnet | 3–0 | 2–1 | | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 7–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Burton Albion | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| Canvey Island | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | | 0–3 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 |
| Carlisle United | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 7–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 6–0 |
| Crawley Town | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 0–5 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 2–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Exeter City | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Farnborough Town | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Forest Green Rovers | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | | 1–5 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | | 0–3 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Halifax Town | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Hereford United | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Leigh RMI | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–3 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–6 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 3–4 | | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 |
| Morecambe | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Northwich Victoria | 3–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 |
| Scarborough | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 3–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Stevenage Borough | 5–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Tamworth | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | 1–3 | 1–0 |
| Woking | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | 1–0 |
| York City | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | |

### Play-offs

| Semifinals 1st leg 2 May, 2nd leg 6 May | Semifinals 1st leg 2 May, 2nd leg 6 May | Semifinals 1st leg 2 May, 2nd leg 6 May | Semifinals 1st leg 2 May, 2nd leg 6 May | Semifinals 1st leg 2 May, 2nd leg 6 May | Final at Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent 14 May 2005 | Final at Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent 14 May 2005 | Final at Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent 14 May 2005 |
| 2nd | Hereford United | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| 5th | Stevenage Borough | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| 5th | Stevenage Borough | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3rd | Carlisle United | 1 |
| | | | | | 5th | Stevenage Borough | 0 |
| 3rd | Carlisle United (pen.) | 0 | 2 | 2 (5) | 5th | Stevenage Borough | 0 |
| 4th | Aldershot Town | 1 | 1 | 2 (4) | | | |

#### Semifinals

Stevenage Borough won 2–1 on Aggregate.
Carlisle United won 5–4 on penalties after tying 2–2 on Aggregate.

#### Play-Off Final
### Topscorers

| Pos | Player | Club | League | Play-offs | FA Cup | LDV | FA Trophy | Total |
| 1 | Giuliano Grazioli | Barnet | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| 2 | Michael Twiss | Morecambe | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 3 | Paul Mullin | Accrington Stanley | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 4 | Anthony Elding | Stevenage Borough | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| = | Chris Moore | Dagenham & Redbridge | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| = | Adam Stansfield | Hereford United | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 21 |
| = | Bob Taylor | Tamworth | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 9 | Charlie Griffin | Forest Green Rovers | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Lee McEvilly | Accrington Stanley | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| = | Jonny Allan | Northwich Victoria | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| 12 | Lee Boylan | Canvey Island | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| = | Tim Sills | Aldershot Town | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| = | Justin Richards | Woking | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| = | Neil Redfearn | Scarborough | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 16 | Karl Hawley | Carlisle United | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| = | Paul Brayson | Northwich Victoria | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Source:

## Conference North

First Conference North/South season saw competition of best 44 teams by the results of previous season from Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and Isthmian League, except Crawley Town and Canvey Island, promoted directly to Conference National. Teams were divided by geographical criteria.

### Promotion

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Northern Premier League
* Hucknall Town
* Droylsden
* Barrow
* Alfreton Town
* Harrogate Town
* Southport
* Worksop Town
* Lancaster City
* Vauxhall Motors
* Gainsborough Trinity
* Stalybridge Celtic
* Altrincham
* Runcorn F.C. Halton
* Bradford Park Avenue (Northern Premier League Premier Division playoff winners)
* Ashton United
Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League
* Stafford Rangers
* Nuneaton Borough
* Worcester City
* Hinckley United
* Moor Green
* Redditch United
Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League
* Kettering Town

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Southport | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 35 | 20 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 48 | 25 | +38 | 84 | Conference North Champions, promoted to Conference National |
| 2 | Nuneaton Borough | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 28 | +23 | 81 | Participated in play-offs |
| 3 | Droylsden | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 46 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 36 | 26 | +30 | 79 | Participated in play-offs |
| 4 | Kettering Town | 42 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 34 | 29 | +6 | 70 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Altrincham | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 45 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 25 | +20 | 69 | Promoted to Conference National through play-offs |
| 6 | Harrogate Town | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 40 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 22 | 27 | +13 | 68 | |
| 7 | Worcester City | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 28 | +6 | 60 | |
| 8 | Stafford Rangers | 42 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 33 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 24 | +8 | 59 | |
| 9 | Redditch United | 42 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 36 | 32 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 29 | 27 | +6 | 59 | |
| 10 | Hucknall Town | 42 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 31 | 32 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 25 | +2 | 59 | |
| 11 | Gainsborough Trinity | 42 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 28 | 33 | 0 | 57 | |
| 12 | Hinckley United | 42 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 31 | −7 | 56 | |
| 13 | Lancaster City | 42 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 37 | −8 | 54 | |
| 14 | Alfreton Town | 42 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 23 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 29 | 32 | −2 | 53 | |
| 15 | Vauxhall Motors | 42 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 28 | 35 | −9 | 53 | |
| 16 | Barrow | 42 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 32 | 39 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 25 | −14 | 52 | |
| 17 | Worksop Town | 42 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 36 | 29 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 30 | 0 | 50 | |
| 18 | Moor Green | 42 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 36 | −9 | 49 | |
| 19 | Stalybridge Celtic | 42 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 30 | 36 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 34 | −18 | 48 | |
| 20 | Runcorn FC Halton | 42 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 26 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 37 | −19 | 42 | Relegated to Northern Premier League Premier Division |
| 21 | Ashton United | 42 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 27 | 39 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 40 | −33 | 33 | Relegated to Northern Premier League Premier Division |
| 22 | Bradford Park Avenue | 42 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 37 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 33 | −33 | 24 | Relegated to Northern Premier League Premier Division |
* ↑ Redditch United had 3 points deducted.
* ↑ Worksop Town had 10 points deducted.

### Results

| Home \ Away | ALF | ALT | ASH | BRW | BPA | DRO | GAI | HAR | HIN | HUC | KET | LNC | MOG | NUN | RED | RUN | SOU | STA | STL | VAU | WRC | WKS |
| Alfreton Town | | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Altrincham | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| Ashton United | 3–1 | 0–1 | | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–4 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 |
| Barrow | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 1–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Bradford Park Avenue | 0–4 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 0–1 | | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Droylsden | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 1–3 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 |
| Harrogate Town | 2–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 2–5 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 |
| Hinckley United | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | | 0–3 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 |
| Hucknall Town | 4–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 2–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 |
| Kettering Town | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–5 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Lancaster City | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 |
| Moor Green | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 |
| Nuneaton Borough | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 |
| Redditch United | 1–3 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–5 | | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 3–2 |
| Runcorn | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 |
| Southport | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Stafford Rangers | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 |
| Stalybridge Celtic | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–5 | 1–0 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Vauxhall Motors | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Worcester City | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 0–2 |
| Worksop Town | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 5–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | |

### Top scorers

| Pos | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Terry Fearns | Southport | 28 |
| 2 | Colin Little | Altrincham | 24 |
| 3 | Norman Sylla | Redditch United | 22 |
| = | Adam Webster | Worcester City | 22 |
| 5 | Peter Duffield | Alfreton Town | 20 |
Source:

## Conference South

First Conference North/South season saw competition of best 44 teams by the results of previous season from Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and Isthmian League, except Crawley Town and Canvey Island, promoted directly to Conference National. Teams were divided by geographical criteria.

### Promotion

Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League
* Weymouth
* Newport County
* Cambridge City
* Welling United
* Weston-super-Mare
* Eastbourne Borough
* Havant & Waterlooville
* Dorchester Town(Southern Football League Premier Division playoff winners)
Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League
* Sutton United
* Thurrock
* Hornchurch
* Grays Athletic
* Carshalton Athletic
* Hayes
* Bognor Regis Town
* Bishop's Stortford
* Maidenhead United
* Ford United
* St Albans City (Isthmian League Premier Division playoff winners)
* Lewes (Isthmian League Division One South winners, promoted through playoffs)
* Basingstoke Town (promoted after higher finished Hendon decided not to take part in Conference South)
Teams relegated from 2003–04 Football Conference
* Margate
At the start of the season Ford United was given new name Redbridge F.C.

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Grays Athletic | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 60 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 58 | 18 | +87 | 98 | Conference South Champions, promoted to Conference National |
| 2 | Cambridge City | 42 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 29 | 25 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 31 | 19 | +16 | 75 | Participated in play-offs |
| 3 | Thurrock | 42 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 29 | 32 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 32 | 24 | +5 | 69 | Participated in play-offs |
| 4 | Lewes | 42 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 42 | 29 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 31 | 35 | +9 | 65 | |
| 5 | Eastbourne Borough | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 38 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 27 | 21 | +18 | 64 | Participated in play-offs |
| 6 | Basingstoke Town | 42 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 37 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 32 | +5 | 63 | |
| 7 | Weymouth | 42 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 28 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 31 | +3 | 62 | |
| 8 | Dorchester Town | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 37 | 48 | −4 | 62 | |
| 9 | Bognor Regis Town | 42 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 46 | 31 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 24 | 34 | +5 | 60 | |
| 10 | Bishop's Stortford | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 31 | 41 | +4 | 59 | |
| 11 | Weston-super-Mare | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 37 | −5 | 58 | |
| 12 | Hayes | 42 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 29 | 30 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 27 | −2 | 56 | |
| 13 | Havant & Waterlooville | 42 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 38 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 26 | 43 | −5 | 55 | |
| 14 | St Albans City | 42 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 34 | 37 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 30 | 39 | −12 | 54 | |
| 15 | Sutton United | 42 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 25 | 38 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 35 | 33 | −11 | 53 | |
| 16 | Welling United | 42 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 41 | 38 | −4 | 52 | |
| 17 | Hornchurch | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 44 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 27 | 39 | +8 | 51 | Folded |
| 18 | Newport County | 42 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 27 | −5 | 50 | |
| 19 | Carshalton Athletic | 42 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 31 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 41 | −28 | 48 | |
| 20 | Maidenhead United | 42 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 41 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 23 | 40 | −27 | 46 | Reprieved from relegation |
| 21 | Margate | 42 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 46 | −21 | 34 | Relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division |
| 22 | Redbridge | 42 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 25 | 46 | −36 | 33 | Relegated to the Isthmian League Premier Division |
* ↑ Grays Athletic were the FA Trophy winners.
* ↑ Lewes could not participate in the play-offs due to ground issues.
* ↑ Hornchurch had 10 points deducted.
* ↑ Maidenhead United were reprieved due to Hornchurch folding.
* ↑ Margate had 10 points deducted.
* ↑ Redbridge had 3 points deducted.

### Results

| Home \ Away | BAS | BST | BOG | CAM | CAR | DOR | EAB | GRY | H&W | HAY | HOR | LEW | MDH | MAR | NPC | RED | SAC | SUT | THU | WEL | WSM | WEY |
| Basingstoke Town | | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Bishop's Stortford | 1–3 | | 2–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Bognor Regis Town | 2–1 | 3–1 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 7–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 6–5 | 3–0 | 2–2 |
| Cambridge City | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 |
| Carshalton Athletic | 2–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–2 | | 4–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Dorchester Town | 0–1 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 3–1 | 0–7 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 |
| Eastbourne Borough | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 4–2 |
| Grays Athletic | 0–1 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | 3–0 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| Havant & Waterlooville | 5–1 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–0 |
| Hayes | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 |
| Hornchurch | 6–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | | 3–2 | 6–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 2–1 |
| Lewes | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | | 0–1 | 7–3 | 2–2 | 5–4 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 |
| Maidenhead United | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | | 2–4 | 0–2 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 |
| Margate | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–6 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 |
| Newport County | 0–1 | 6–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Redbridge | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–5 | | 2–1 | 0–5 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| St Albans City | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 4–3 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 2–3 | | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 1–0 | 0–3 |
| Sutton United | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–2 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 |
| Thurrock | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–5 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| Welling United | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Weston-super-Mare | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | | 2–2 |
| Weymouth | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | |

### Topscorers

| Pos | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Luke Nightingale | Bognor Regis | 32 |
| 2 | Lee Clarke | St Albans City | 25 |
| 3 | Matt Groves | Dorchester | 24 |
| 4 | Dean Holdsworth | Havant & Waterlooville | 23 |
| 5 | Paul Booth | Welling United | 20 |
Source:

## North/South play-offs

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 2nd | Nuneaton Borough | 1 (2) | | | | | | |
| 5th | Altrincham ( pen.) | 1 (4) | | | | | | |
| 5th | Altrincham ( pen.) | 1 (4) | 4th | Kettering Town | 2 | | | |
| | | | 5th | Altrincham | 3 | | | |
| 3rd | Droylsden | 1 | 5th | Altrincham | 3 | | | |
| 4th | Kettering Town | 2 | | | | | | |
| 4th | Kettering Town | 2 | | | | 5th | Altrincham | 2 |
| | | | | | | 5th | Eastbourne Borough | 1 |
| 2nd | Cambridge City | WO | | | | | | | 5th | Eastbourne Borough | 1 |
| | | — | 2nd | Cambridge City | 0 | | | |
| | | | 5th | Eastbourne Borough | 3 | | | |
| 3rd | Thurrock | 2 | 5th | Eastbourne Borough | 3 | | | |
| 5th | Eastbourne Borough | 4 | | | | | | |
* ↑ Lewes could not take part in the play-offs as their ground was not passed fit for promotion to the Conference National, and Cambridge City thus went through on a walkover.