National League South
The National League South, formerly Conference South (billed as The Motorama National League South for sponsorship reasons[1]), is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is at the second level of the National League System, and at the sixth tier overall of the English football league system.
 Conference South trophy pictured in 2009 | |
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Number of teams | 22 |
| Level on pyramid | 6 Step 2 (National League System) |
| Promotion to | National League |
| Relegation to | Isthmian League Premier Division Southern League Premier Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup FA Trophy Conference League Cup (defunct) |
| International cup(s) | Europa League (via FA Cup) |
| Current champions | Wealdstone (2019–20) |
| Website | National League |
| Current: 2020–21 season | |
It was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of the National League System. The champion team each year is automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to seventh place (expanded from four to six teams in the 2017–18 season).[2] The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues.
For sponsorship reasons, it has been known as Blue Square South (2007–2010), Blue Square Bet South (2010–2013), Skrill South (2013–2014),[3] the Vanarama Conference South (2014–2015), the Vanarama National League South (2015–2019) and the Motorama National League South following a three-year sponsorship deal announced in January 2019. Since the start of the 2015–16 season, the league is known as the National League South.[4] The 2018–19 champions were Torquay United.
The National League South will be reduced to 21 clubs for 2020–21,[5] but will expand to 24 teams in 2021, when the bottom two clubs will be relegated and four promoted from Step 3. Four will be relegated starting in 2022.[6][7]
Current member clubs, 2019–20
The current member clubs for the 2019–20 season are as follows:
| Club | Finishing position 2018–19 |
|---|---|
| Bath City | 5th |
| Billericay Town | 8th |
| Braintree Town | 23rd in National League (relegated) |
| Chelmsford City | 4th |
| Chippenham Town | 13th |
| Concord Rangers | 6th |
| Dartford | 10th |
| Dorking Wanderers | 1st in Isthmian League Premier Division |
| Dulwich Hamlet | 14th |
| Eastbourne Borough | 18th |
| Havant & Waterlooville | 22nd in National League (relegated) |
| Hampton & Richmond Borough | 15th |
| Hemel Hempstead Town | 16th |
| Hungerford Town | 19th |
| Maidstone United | 24th in National League (relegated) |
| Oxford City | 12th |
| Slough Town | 11th |
| St Albans City | 9th |
| Tonbridge Angels | 4th in Isthmian League Premier Division (won play-offs) |
| Wealdstone | 7th |
| Welling United | 3rd |
| Weymouth | 1st in Southern League Premier Division |
Current league stadia 2019–20
The stadiums of all teams in the league for the 2019–20 season are listed below in capacity order:
| Home Club | Stadium Name | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Weymouth | Bob Lucas Stadium | 6,600 |
| Havant & Waterlooville | West Leigh Park | 5,300 |
| St Albans City | Clarence Park | 5,007 |
| Billericay Town | New Lodge | 5,000 |
| Maidstone United | Gallagher Stadium | 4,200 |
| Eastbourne Borough | Priory Lane | 4,151 |
| Dartford | Princes Park | 4,100 |
| Braintree Town | Cressing Road | 4,085 |
| Welling United | Park View Road | 4,000 |
| Wealdstone | Grosvenor Vale | 3,607 |
| Bath City | Twerton Park | 3,528 |
| Dulwich Hamlet | Champion Hill | 3,000 |
| Tonbridge Angels | Longmead Stadium | 3,000 |
| Hampton & Richmond Borough | Beveree Stadium | 3,500 |
| Concord Rangers | Thames Road | 3,300 |
| Oxford City | Court Place Farm | 3,218 |
| Hemel Hempstead Town | Vauxhall Road | 3,152 |
| Dorking Wanderers | Meadowbank Stadium | 3,000 |
| Chelmsford City | Melbourne Stadium | 3,000 |
| Chippenham Town | Hardenhuish Park | 3,000 |
| Hungerford Town | Bulpit Lane | 2,500 |
| Slough Town | Arbour Park | 2,000 |
League winners
** Not promoted. In 2004–05 only three promotion places were available to the Conference National. The third place was decided in a Playoff at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium, which Eastbourne lost 2–1 to the Conference North playoff winners, Altrincham.
League records
| Biggest home win | 8 – Maidenhead United 8 Truro City 0, 8 September 2012,
Ebbsfleet United 8 Bishops Stortford 0, 21 March 2017 |
| Biggest away win | 7 – Dorchester Town 0 Grays Athletic 7, 23 October 2004 |
| Highest scoring match | 11 – Bognor Regis Town 6 Welling United 5, 11 September 2004 Bath City 7 Farnborough 4, 17 February 2015 |
| Consecutive wins | 12 – Welling United, 2012–13 |
| Consecutive games unbeaten | 25 – Sutton United, 2015–16 |
| Most wins in a season | 32 – Newport County 2009–10 |
| Fewest wins in a season | 5 – Sutton United 2007–08 Fisher Athletic 2008–09 Weston-super-Mare & Weymouth 2009–10 Thurrock 2011–12 |
| Most defeats in a season | 34 – Fisher Athletic 2008–09 |
| Fewest defeats in a season | 3 – Newport County 2009–10 |
| Most draws in a season | 18 – Hampton & Richmond Borough 2017-18 |
| Fewest draws in a season | 3 – Redbridge 2004–05 Eastleigh 2005–06 Fisher Athletic 2008–09 |
| Most goals scored in a season | 118 – Grays Athletic, 2004–05 |
| Fewest goals scored in a season | 22 – Fisher Athletic 2008–09 |
| Most goals conceded in a season | 103 – Weymouth 2009–10 |
| Fewest goals conceded in a season | 26 – Newport County, 2009–10 |
| Most clean sheets in a season | 23 – Newport County 2009–10 |
| Most points in a season | 103 – Newport County 2009–10 |
| Most individual goals in a season | 44 – Dave Tarpey, Maidenhead United, 2016–17 [8] |
| Most individual goals in a game | 6 – Mitchell Bryant, Weymouth 0 Basingstoke Town 6, 13 February 2010 |
| Highest attendance | 5,351 – Torquay United vs. Hungerford Town, 22 April 2019 |
| Highest average attendance | 3,219 – AFC Wimbledon, 2008–09 |
| Lowest home attendance | 52 out of 2,812 - Truro City vs. Torquay United, 1 January 2019 |
| Highest away attendance | 2,760 out of 2,812 - Truro City vs. Torquay United, 1 January 2019 |
References
- "The National League is to be rebranded from next season". Chester Live. 29 January 2019.
- "National League North 2017-18 Season Preview - The Vanarama National League". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- "Skrill announced as new Football Conference sponsor". Non-League Bets. 26 July 2013.
- "BBC Sport – Football Conference to be renamed as National League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- https://northkentnonleague.co.uk/national-league-south-to-have-21-clubs
- Edkins, Matt (17 April 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring". The Non-League Football Paper (Interview).
- "Update on non-League, women's & grassroots football seasons". The Football Association. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- "HIGHLIGHTS: Dave Tarpey hits fourth hat-trick of season as Maidenhead United thrash Bath City 5-1". windsorexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2018.