The 2018–19 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the fourth 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 ...
, fifteenth season consisting of three divisions and the fortieth season overall.
National League
The National League consists of 24 clubs.
Promotion and relegation
Despite a 2–1 defeat to
Boston United on 21 April 2018,
Salford City became
2017–18 National League North champions after
Harrogate Town lost 3–1 to
Bradford Park Avenue.
Havant & Waterlooville were crowned
2017–18 National League South champions on 28 April after a 3–2 victory over
Concord Rangers. On 13 May,
Harrogate Town were promoted after a 3–0 win against
Brackley Town in the
2017–18 National League North playoff final. All three teams played in the National League for the first time in their histories. On the same day as Harrogate's promotion,
Braintree Town were also promoted after beating
Hampton & Richmond 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the
2017–18 National League South playoff final, securing an instant return to the National League.
On 24 April, after 97 years as an
EFL club,
Chesterfield were relegated to the National League following
Morecambe
Morecambe ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the City of Lancaster district of Lancashire, England, on Morecambe Bay, part of the Irish Sea. In 2011 the parish had a population of 34,768.
Name
The first use of the name was by John Whit ...
's 0–0 draw against
Cambridge United
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Cambridge, England. They currently compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the U’s, the club h ...
. On 5 May 2018, despite a 3–0 victory against Chesterfield,
Barnet became the second club to be relegated from
League Two following
Morecambe
Morecambe ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the City of Lancaster district of Lancashire, England, on Morecambe Bay, part of the Irish Sea. In 2011 the parish had a population of 34,768.
Name
The first use of the name was by John Whit ...
's 0–0 draw against
Coventry City, ending their three-year stay in the EFL.
These teams replaced
Macclesfield Town,
Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. The team competes in , the fourth level of the English football league system.
Founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club, they ...
,
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...
,
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 ...
,
Torquay United
Torquay United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. They have played their ho ...
and
Woking
Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in north-west Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'', and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settleme ...
.
Macclesfield Town were crowned
2017–18 National League
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, 14th season consisting of three divisions and the 39th season overall ...
champions and promoted to
League Two on 21 April after a 2–0 victory over
Eastleigh
Eastleigh is a town in Hampshire, England, between Southampton and Winchester. It is the largest town and the administrative seat of the Borough of Eastleigh, with a population of 24,011 at the United Kingdom 2011 census, 2011 census.
The town ...
, ending their six-year absence from the EFL.
Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. The team competes in , the fourth level of the English football league system.
Founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club, they ...
were promoted to League Two on 12 May after a 2–1 victory over
Boreham Wood in the
playoff final and returned to the EFL after a three-year absence. Boreham Wood and
Sutton United were invited to compete in the
2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup
The 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup, known as the IRN-BRU Cup due to sponsorship reasons, was the 28th season of the competition. The tournament took on a similar format from the previous season with the addition of two teams from England's Na ...
in a new expansion of that competition as the highest-finishing remaining teams in the division.
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...
were the first team to be relegated from National League on 8 April after a 2–0 loss to
Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. The team competes in , the fourth level of the English football league system.
Founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club, they ...
. Despite staying up on the final day for the past two seasons, it was not to be third time lucky for
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 ...
who joined them on 17 April after a 1–0 loss to relegation rivals
Barrow.
Torquay United
Torquay United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. They have played their ho ...
became the third team to be relegated from the National league on 21 April after a 1–1 draw with
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 ...
, confirming the club's first ever relegation to the sixth tier. The fourth and final team to suffer relegation was
Woking
Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in north-west Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'', and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settleme ...
, who were relegated on 28 April following a 2–1 defeat to
Dover Athletic, ending their five-year stay in the National League.
Team changes
The following clubs changed divisions after the 2017–18 season:
To National League
Promoted from
2017–18 National League North
*
Salford City
*
Harrogate Town
Promoted from
2017–18 National League South
*
Havant & Waterlooville
*
Braintree Town
Relegated from
2017–18 League Two
*
Chesterfield
*
Barnet
From National League
Promoted to
2018–19 League Two
*
Macclesfield Town
*
Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are a professional association football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. The team competes in , the fourth level of the English football league system.
Founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club, they ...
Relegated to
2018–19 National League North
*
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...
*
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 ...
Relegated to
2018–19 National League South
*
Torquay United
Torquay United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. They have played their ho ...
*
Woking
Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in north-west Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'', and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settleme ...
Stadiums and locations
Personnel and sponsoring
Managerial changes
League table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
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
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 ...
*
Ashton United
Promoted from
2017–18 Southern League Premier Division
*
Hereford
Hereford ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of the ceremonial county of Herefordshire, England. It is on the banks of the River Wye and lies east of the border with Wales, north-west of Gloucester and south-west of Worcester. With ...
Relegated from
2017–18 National League
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, 14th season consisting of three divisions and the 39th season overall ...
*
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...
*
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 ...
From National League North
Promoted to
2018–19 National League
*
Salford City
*
Harrogate Town
Relegated to
2018–19 Northern Premier League Premier Division
*
Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club is a Association football, football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England. Established in 1873, the club became members of the English Football League, Football League i ...
*
North Ferriby United
Relegated to
2018–19 Southern League Premier Division Central
*
Tamworth
Stadia and locations
Personnel and sponsoring
League table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Results table
Managerial changes
Top scorers
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League North announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
National League South
The National League South consisted of 22 clubs.
Team changes
To National League South
Promoted from
2017–18 Isthmian League Premier Division
*
Billericay Town
*
Dulwich Hamlet
Dulwich Hamlet Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in East Dulwich in south-east London, England. They are currently members of and play at Champion Hill.
History
The club was formed in 1893, by Lorraine 'Pa' Wilson. The ...
Promoted from
2017–18 Southern League Premier Division
*
Slough Town
Relegated from
2017–18 National League
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, 14th season consisting of three divisions and the 39th season overall ...
*
Torquay United
Torquay United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. They have played their ho ...
*
Woking
Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in north-west Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'', and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settleme ...
From National League South
Promoted to
2018–19 National League
*
Havant & Waterlooville
*
Braintree Town
Relegated to
2018–19 Isthmian League Premier Division
*
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 ...
*
Whitehawk
Whitehawk is a suburb in the east of Brighton, England, south of Bevendean and north of Brighton Marina. The area is a large, modern housing estate built in a downland dry valley historically known as Whitehawk Bottom. The estate was originall ...
Relegated to
2018–19 Southern League Premier Division South
*
Poole Town
Stadia and locations
League table
Play-offs
Quarter-final
Semi-finals
Final
Results table
Top scorers
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League South announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
Step 3 Super Playoffs
With the introduction of a new division at Step 3 of the
National League System
The National League System comprises the six levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the English Football League. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Football Association. The National League System has a ...
, an altered promotion playoff process was implemented for the 2018–19 season for clubs to reach the National Leagues
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography.
Etymology
T ...
and
South
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
for the 2019–20 season.
As per prior seasons, 3 teams were relegated each from the North and South leaving 6 vacancies to fill. Each of the winners of the four Step 3 leagues were automatically promoted to the National Leagues North & South for 2019–20.
The Champions of the Step 3 leagues are:
*
Isthmian League Premier Division:
Dorking Wanderers
*
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. Together with the Isthmian League and the Southern League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.
Geographically, the league c ...
:
Farsley Celtic
*
Southern Premier League Premier Division Central:
Kettering Town
*
Southern Premier League Premier Division South:
Weymouth
Each of the four leagues ran a playoff involving the teams finishing from second to fifth. The winners of these playoffs proceeded to the Super Playoffs.
The playoff winners are:
*
Isthmian League Premier Division:
Tonbridge Angels
*
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. Together with the Isthmian League and the Southern League it forms levels seven and eight of the English football league system.
Geographically, the league c ...
:
Warrington Town
*
Southern Premier League Premier Division Central:
King's Lynn Town
*
Southern Premier League Premier Division South:
Metropolitan Police
The winners of the following two fixtures were promoted:
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2018-19 National League
National League (English football) seasons
5
Eng
Eng or ENG may refer to:
Language and linguistics
* Eng (letter), Ŋ ŋ
* En with descender, Ң ң
* eng, ISO 639-3 and ISO 639-2 code for English language
* Velar nasal, a phoneme
People
* Eng (name), a given name and surname in various cu ...
Eng
Eng or ENG may refer to:
Language and linguistics
* Eng (letter), Ŋ ŋ
* En with descender, Ң ң
* eng, ISO 639-3 and ISO 639-2 code for English language
* Velar nasal, a phoneme
People
* Eng (name), a given name and surname in various cu ...