On 25th April 2015, there was very much a 'Division 5' look about the "Non-League" Conference, going into the last day of the League season. Recent ex-League sides Barnet and Bristol Rovers were both in with a chance of the title and with it a place back in the Football League.
Bristol Rovers beat Alfreton 7-0 at the Memorable Ground in front of a new Conference record crowd of 11,085 but Barnet beat Gateshead 2-0 to pip Rovers to the title and promotion. Three weeks later though Bristol Rovers won back their League place beating Grimsby Town on penalties in the play off final at Wembley - the 47,029 crowd setting a new Conference play-off attendance record.
How does promotion and relegation work in the National League? Each season, two teams are promoted from the National League to the Football League 2, with the champions always going up automatically.
The clubs that finish second and third go straight through to the play-off semi-finals where they play the two winners of the quarter-finals, which the teams from fourth to seventh contest; the winners of those semis meet in a final at Wembley, with the victor being promoted. All ties consist of a single leg.
The bottom four teams in the league are relegated to the National League North or National League South depending on their geographic location, with two from each of those coming up to replace them.
When are the 2022/23 National League play-offs? The 2022/23 National League campaign will end on April 29, with the top team gaining automatic promotion and those that will contest the play-offs being confirmed that day.
The play-off quarter-finals will then be played on the evenings of May 2 and May 3 before the semi-finals both take place on May 7.
The 2023 National League play-off final will take place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday May 13.
Which teams have qualified for the 2023 National League play-offs? Wrexham have shrugged off competition from Notts County at the top of the National League and have been crowned champions. County are locked in second place and likely to be joined by Chesterfield in the play-off semi-finals. Woking and Barnet, currently fourth and fifth, have both made the play-offs in some capacity. Bromley have locked in a place in the top seven, while Boreham Wood have all but sealed their spot.
Getting promoted to League Two and the Football League is a real game-changer for non-league clubs from a financial perspective. That's because they then receive a basic award payment from the EFL as well as a solidarity payment from the Premier League. Those two payments combined amount to just under £1m. Such a sum of money can be transformative for a club, and doesn't even take into account the increased ticket sales and fees paid for matches shown on TV.
Wrexham vied with Notts County throughout the season to lead the league, trading the first spot back and forth, and both setting new National League records for wins, goals, and goal difference, while 20+ points ahead of the third place team by the end of the season.
On 22 April 2023, Wrexham secured winning their first league title in 45 years, and were promoted to the EFL League 2, after a 15 year absence, following a 3–1 win against Boreham Wood. The club amassed a record tally of 110 points (113 points are still possible) that season, having been promoted by beating Notts County. (see recent blog on Wrexham and the Americans)
The thrilling National League season has captured the imagination of millions of fans thanks to the incredible form of both Wrexham and Notts County throughout the 2022/23 campaign. Both teams have soared past 100 points but only one can be automatically promoted to League Two, with the other going into the play-offs. Wrexham beat County recently.
With just two games left to play and four points separating Wrexham and Notts County, there is still a slim chance that Notts County can win the league. They will be in action on the same day as Wrexham vs. Boreham Wood when they take on Maidstone United away from home.
Oldham Athletic is the first former Premier League club to be relegated to the National League, and their matches against Notts County will be the third fixture to be played in all five top tiers of English football.
What dates are the play-offs taking place?
All three Vanarama National League divisions will follow the same format for the 2022/23 season play-offs – with only the Promotion Finals taking place on different days. Vanarama National League
Eliminator A – Tuesday 2 May - 5th place vs 6th place
Eliminator B – Wednesday 3 May - 4th place vs 7th place
Semi-Final 1 – Sunday 7 May - 2nd place vs Eliminator A Winner
Semi-Final 2 – Sunday 7 May - 3rd place vs Eliminator B Winner
Promotion Final – Saturday 13 May
Vanarama National League North/South
Eliminator A – Tuesday 2 May - 5th place vs 6th place
Eliminator B – Wednesday 3 May - 4th place vs 7th place
Semi-Final 1 – Sunday 7 May - 2nd place vs Eliminator A Winner
Semi-Final 2 – Sunday 7 May - 3rd place vs Eliminator B Winner
Promotion Final – Sunday 14 May
Kick-off times will be confirmed in due course. Below worth a look BADGES!! https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/club-info?division_id=5660540
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