The 2021–22 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the seventh season as
English football's
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 ...
, the eightteenth season consisting of three divisions, and the forty-third season overall.
Due to the curtailment of the preceding season for North and South and lower levels of competition in the English football pyramid, promotion and relegation between levels 5 and 6, and between level 6 and lower levels were suspended.
These, combined with the folding of
Macclesfield Town in 2020–21 and the knock-on effects of
Bury's collapse in 2019–20, meant that for the 2021–22 season the three divisions had the irregular complement of 23, 22 and 21 teams, respectively.
In 2019, prior to these COVID-19 related impacts, the league had intended the 2021–22 season to be the first using a new structure in which the number of teams in its North and South divisions would increase, resulting in three 24-team divisions. On 1 July 2021, the National League confirmed its intent to achieve this structure for the 2022–23 season; accordingly the following adjustments to promotion and relegation were in effect for this season:
* As before, two teams were promoted from the National League to
League Two and replaced by two teams relegated from it;
* Three teams were relegated from the National League to the two level 6 divisions, and replaced by four teams (two from each of the National League North and South); and
* Two teams were relegated from the two level 6 divisions (one from the National League North and another from the National League South) 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 ...
,
Southern League Central or South, or
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 ...
, and replaced by eight teams (two from each division). The Football Association already clarified these relegations by November.
National League
Promotion and relegation
Team changes
;To National League
Promoted from
2020–21 National League North
* None
Promoted from
2020–21 National League South
* None
Relegated from
2020–21 League Two
*
Southend United
*
Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England, that competes in , the fourth level of the English football league system.
Nicknamed "the Mariners", the club was f ...
;From National League
Promoted to
2021–22 League Two
*
Sutton United
*
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 ...
Relegated to
2021–22 National League North
* None
Relegated to
2021–22 National League South
* None
Grimsby Town became the first former top-flight First Division club to be relegated to the National League twice, and their matches against
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 ...
make them the second pairing of clubs to face each other across all top five tiers of English football (after the
Luton Town
Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...
vs
Oxford United
Oxford United Football Club () is a professional association football, football club based in Oxford, England. The club compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football league system, English football. Founded as Headingto ...
fixture).
Stadia and locations
Personnel and sponsoring
Managerial changes
National League table
Results table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
Hat-tricks
;Notes
5 Player scored 5 goals
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
National League North
The National League North consisted of 22 teams for the final time.
Team changes
Following the COVID-19 pandemic-related cancellation of the four Step 3 leagues' 2020–21 seasons, no teams were promoted to or relegated from the National League North.
;To National League North
Relegated from
2020–21 National League
* None
;From National League North
Promoted to
2021–22 National League
* None
Stadia and locations
Managerial changes
National League North table
Results table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
Hat-tricks
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
National League South
The National League South consisted of 21 teams after the 2019–20 season and did so for the final time.
Team changes
Following the COVID-19 pandemic-related cancellation of the four Step 3 leagues' 2020–21 seasons, no teams were promoted to or relegated from the National League South.
;To National League South
Relegated from
2020–21 National League
* None
;From National League South
Promoted to
2021–22 National League
* None
Stadia and locations
Managerial changes
National League South table
Results table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
Hat-tricks
;Notes
4 Player scored 4 goals
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2021-22 National League
2021–22 National League
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 ...