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 ...
in
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
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 ...
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
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 ...
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
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 ...
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
*
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 ...
Promoted from
2016–17 National League South
*
Maidenhead United
*
Ebbsfleet United
Relegated from
2016–17 League Two
*
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 ...
*
Leyton Orient
From National League
Relegated to
2017–18 National League North
*
York City
*
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 ...
*
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
*
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 ...
*
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
*
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 ...
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
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. ...
*
Braintree Town
Transferred from
2016–17 National League North
*
Gloucester City
From National League South
Relegated to
2017–18 Isthmian League Premier Division
*
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 ...
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