The 2017–18 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the third season under English football's new title of

National League National League often refers to: *National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada *National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...

, 14th season consisting of three divisions and the 39th season overall. The National League covers the top two levels of

non-League football Non-League football describes association football, football leagues played outside the top leagues of a country. Usually, it describes leagues which are not fully professional. The term is primarily used for football in England, where it is ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. The National League is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, while the

National League North The National League North, officially known as Vanarama National League North for sponsorship reasons, is a professional Association football league in England. National League North is the second division of the National League (English footb ...

and

National League South The National League South, officially Vanarama National League South, is a professional Association football league in England. National League South is the second division of the National League (English football), National Leagues and step ...

exist at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the play-off of the Premier division will be promoted to English Football League Two, while the bottom four are relegated to the North or South divisions. The champions of the North and South divisions will be promoted to the Premier division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions are relegated to the premier divisions of the

Northern Premier League The Northern Premier League is an English Association football, football league that was founded in 1968. Together with the Isthmian League and the Southern Football League, Southern League it forms levels seven and eight of the English footba ...

Isthmian League The Isthmian League () is a regional Association football, football league covering Greater London, East of England, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs. Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, th ...

or Southern League. This is the first season to include six teams in the play-offs for each division, with the 4th-7th placed teams participating in the qualifying round and the 2nd and 3rd placed teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

National League

The National League consisted of 24 clubs.

Promotion and Relegation

The following teams changed divisions after the 2016–17 season: AFC Fylde were the first team to be promoted after a 3–0 win against Boston United on 22 April 2017 clinched them the

title. Maidenhead United were promoted on 29 April 2017 after a 3–0 win over

Margate Margate is a seaside resort, seaside town in the Thanet District of Kent, England. It is located on the north coast of Kent and covers an area of long, north-east of Canterbury and includes Cliftonville, Garlinge, Palm Bay, UK, Palm Bay and W ...

, competing in the top tier of non-league for the first time. Ebbsfleet United were promoted on 13 May 2017 after beating Chelmsford City 2–1 in the

Playoff Final, returning to the league after a four-year absence. On the same day,

FC Halifax Town FC Halifax Town is a professional association football club based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. They currently compete in the National League (division), National League, the fifth level of English football league system. They replac ...

were also promoted after beating

Chorley Chorley is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Chorley in Lancashire, England, north of Wigan, south west of Blackburn, north west of Bolton, south of Preston and north west of Manchester. The town's wealth ca ...

2–1 in the

playoff final, securing them an immediate return to the league. Leyton Orient were relegated from League Two on 22 April 2017 after their 3–0 loss to

Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Crewe, Cheshire, England. Its first team competes in League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system. Nicknamed 'The Railwaymen' ...

ending their 112-year stay in the English Football League. On 6 May 2017, despite a 2–1 victory over

Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers Football Club is a professional association football club based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. The team currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system after winning the 202 ...

on the same day,

Hartlepool United Hartlepool United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Hartlepool, County Durham, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system. They were founded in 190 ...

became the second team to be relegated from League Two following Newport County's 2–1 victory over

Notts County Notts County Football Club is a professional association football, football club in Nottingham, England, which competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of Football in England, English football, following promotion and relegation, promotion ...

, ending their 96-year stay in the EFL. The six teams replace Lincoln City, Forest Green Rovers, York City, Braintree Town,

Southport Southport is a seaside resort, seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It lies on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, West Lancashire coastal plain and the east coast of the Irish Sea, approximately north of ...

and North Ferriby United. Lincoln City were promoted to League Two after beating Macclesfield Town 2–1 on 22 April 2017. Forest Green Rovers were promoted after beating Tranmere Rovers 3–1 in the 2016–17 National League Playoff Final on 14 May 2017. They were the league's longest serving club, completing nineteen seasons in the top-flight. This is a mantle that has now been passed to Wrexham, who enter their tenth season in the league. After seven years in the National League and surviving relegation battles over several seasons, Southport were unable to escape the drop and they were the first team to be relegated on 21 April 2017 after a 3–0 loss to Dover Athletic. After just one season in the National League, North Ferriby United were relegated three days later after a 3–1 defeat at Barrow. On the final day of the season, Braintree Town were relegated after losing 2–0 to

Aldershot Aldershot ( ) is a town in the Rushmoor district, Hampshire, England. It lies on heathland in the extreme north-east corner of the county, south-west of London. The town has a population of 37,131, while the Farnborough/Aldershot built-up are ...

, ending their six-year stay in the league, which also confirmed the club's first relegation in their history. York City's 2–2 draw against Forest Green Rovers was also not enough to save them after

Guiseley Guiseley ( ) is an area in the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated south of Otley and Menston and is now a north-west ...

's last minute equalizer against Solihull Moors confirmed back to back relegations for the Yorkshire club.

Team changes

To National League

Promoted from 2016–17 National League North * AFC Fylde *

Promoted from 2016–17 National League South * Maidenhead United * Ebbsfleet United Relegated from 2016–17 League Two *

* Leyton Orient

From National League

Relegated to 2017–18 National League North * York City *

* North Ferriby United Relegated to 2017–18 National League South * Braintree Town Promoted to 2017–18 League Two * Lincoln City * Forest Green Rovers

Stadia and locations

League table

Play-offs

Qualifying round

Semi-finals

Final

Results table

Top scorers

Monthly Awards

Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.

Team of the Season

At the end of the season, the National League announced its official team of the season.

National League North

Team changes

To National League North

Promoted from 2016–17 Northern Premier League Premier Division * Blyth Spartans * Spennymoor Town Promoted from 2016–17 Southern League Premier Division * Leamington Relegated from

2016–17 National League The 2016–17 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the second season under the new title of National League, thirteenth season consisting of three divisions and the thirty-eighth season overall. ...

* York City *

* North Ferriby United

From National League North

Relegated to 2017–18 Northern Premier League Premier Division *

Altrincham Altrincham ( , locally ) is a market town in Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, south of the River Mersey. It is southwest of Manchester, southwest of Sale, Greater Manchester, Sale and east of Warrington. At the 2021 United Kingdom ce ...

* Stalybridge Celtic Relegated and voluntarily demoted to 2017–18 Midland League Premier Division * Worcester City Transferred to 2017–18 National League South * Gloucester City Promoted to 2017–18 National League * AFC Fylde *

Stadia and locations

League table

Play-offs

Qualifying round

Semi-finals

Final

Results table

Top scorers

National League South

The National League South consisted of 22 clubs.

Team changes

To National League South

Promoted from 2016–17 Southern League Premier Division * Chippenham Town Promoted from 2016–17 Isthmian League Premier Division * Havant & Waterlooville *

Bognor Regis Town Bognor Regis Town Football Club is an English football club based in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. Nicknamed 'The Rocks’, the club is an FA Chartered Standard Community club affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association. They currently co ...

Relegated from

* Braintree Town Transferred from 2016–17 National League North * Gloucester City

From National League South

Relegated to 2017–18 Isthmian League Premier Division *

Relegated to 2017–18 Southern League Premier Division * Gosport Borough *

Bishop's Stortford Bishop's Stortford is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district, in the county of Hertfordshire, England. It is in the London metropolitan area, London commuter belt, near the border with Essex, just west of the ...

Promoted to 2017–18 National League * Maidenhead United * Ebbsfleet United

Stadia and locations

League table

Play-offs

Qualifying round

Semi-finals

Final

Results table

Top scorers

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2017-18 National League National League (English football) seasons 5 Eng