The 2019–20 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the fifth season under
English football's new title of
National League, the sixteenth season consisting of three divisions, and the forty-first season overall.
As a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, the National League season was initially suspended on 16 March 2020 until at least 3 April. On 31 March, this suspension was extended indefinitely until further notice. On 22 April, clubs voted to end the season, with promotions and relegations still "under careful consideration". Due to the knock-on effects of
Bury F.C.'s expulsion from
EFL League One at the start of the season, it had already been assumed prior to the pandemic that no more than one club instead of the usual two was to be relegated from the
English Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...
, and that no more than three clubs instead of the usual four were to be relegated from the National division. The cumulative effect that the early termination of the season and Bury's expulsion from the EFL had on the composition of the National League's three divisions would have been determined.
On 17 June 2020,
Barrow along with
Wealdstone and
King's Lynn Town were elected champions of their respective divisions after National League clubs voted to decide the final tables on a points-per-game basis. Barrow were therefore promoted to
League Two, with Wealdstone and King's Lynn Town promoted to the National League.
AFC Fylde considered mounting a legal challenge with support from
Ebbsfleet United against their relegations, but ultimately decided against it.
Promotion play-offs were held in all three divisions to decide the additional promotion places. The semi-finals took place over the final two weekends of July, and the finals took place on 1 and 2 August. Clubs were expected to conduct and fund a COVID-19 prevention and testing process, and were allowed to decline their place in the competition without penalty if they were unable to fulfil this requirement. On 1 July, the
Premier League
The Premier League is a professional association football league in England and the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football Lea ...
committed £200,000 to the National League to help fund the conclusion of their season.
National League
The National League consists of 24 clubs.
Promotion and relegation
Team changes
To National League
Promoted from
2018–19 National League North
*
Stockport County
*
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 ...
Promoted from
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 ...
Relegated from
2018–19 League Two
*
Yeovil Town
*
Notts County
From National League
Promoted to
2019–20 League Two
*
Leyton Orient
*
Salford City
Relegated to
2019–20 National League North
*
Gateshead
Gateshead () is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, ...
Relegated to
2019–20 National League South
*
Maidstone United
*
Braintree Town
*
Havant & Waterlooville
Stadia and locations
Personnel and sponsoring
Managerial changes
National League table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Results table
Top scorers
Monthly awards
Each month the Motorama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
National League North
The National League North consists of 22 teams.
Team changes
To National League North
Promoted from
2018–19 Northern Premier League Premier Division
*
Farsley Celtic
Promoted from
2018–19 Southern League Premier Division Central
*
Kettering Town
*
King's Lynn Town
Relegated from
2018–19 National League
*
Gateshead
Gateshead () is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, ...
Transferred from
2018–19 National League South
*
Gloucester City
From National League North
Promoted to
2019–20 National League
*
Stockport County
*
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 ...
Relegated to
2019–20 Northern Premier League Premier Division
*
Ashton United
*
F.C. United of Manchester
Relegated to
2019–20 Southern League Premier Division Central
*
Nuneaton Borough
Stadia and locations
National League North table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Results
Managerial changes
Top scorers
Monthly Awards
Each month the Motorama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
National League South
The National League South consists of 22 teams.
Team changes
To National League South
Promoted from
2018–19 Isthmian League Premier Division
*
Dorking Wanderers
*
Tonbridge Angels
Promoted from
2018–19 Southern League Premier Division South
*
Weymouth
Relegated from
2018–19 National League
*
Braintree Town
*
Havant & Waterlooville
*
Maidstone United
From National League South
Promoted to
2019–20 National League
*
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 ...
Relegated to
2019–20 Isthmian League Premier Division
*
East Thurrock United
Relegated to
2019–20 Southern League Premier Division South
*
Truro City
*
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the North Somerset unitary district, in the county of Somerset, England. It lies by the Bristol Channel south-west of Bristol between Worlebury Hill and Bleadon Hill. Its population ...
Transferred to
2019–20 National League North
*
Gloucester City
Stadia and locations
National League South table
Play-offs
Quarter-final
Semi-finals
Final
Results table
Managerial changes
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2019-20 National League
National League (English football) seasons
5
Eng
Eng
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 ...