2014–15 Football Conference
The 2014–15 Football Conference season was the eleventh season with the Football Conference consisting of three divisions and the thirty-fifth season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of non-League football in England. The Conference Premier was the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, while the Conference North and Conference South existed at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the play-off of the Premier division are promoted to League Two, while the bottom four are relegated to the North or South divisions. The champions of the North and South divisions are 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, Isthmian League or Southern League.
Season | 2014–15 |
---|---|
← 2013–14 2015–16 → |
Barnet returned the Football League as champions after two seasons in the Conference, while playoff winners Bristol Rovers returned after a single season, their only season outside the Football League since being admitted in 1920.
Conference Premier
Season | 2014–15 |
---|---|
Champions | Barnet |
Promoted | Barnet Bristol Rovers |
Relegated | Alfreton Town AFC Telford United Dartford Nuneaton Town |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,486 (2.69 per match) |
Top goalscorer | John Akinde (31 goals) |
Biggest home win | Grimsby Town 7–0 Alfreton Town Bristol Rovers 7–0 Alfreton Town |
Biggest away win | Chester 0–5 Barnet Gateshead 1–6 Grimsby Town |
Highest scoring | Nuneaton Town 4–4 AFC Telford United Forest Green Rovers 5–3 Southport Chester 5–3 Nuneaton Town |
Longest winning run | 6 games[1] Torquay United |
Longest unbeaten run | 20 games[1] Bristol Rovers |
Longest winless run | 11 games[1] AFC Telford United Welling United |
Longest losing run | 8 games[1] Welling United |
← 2013–14 2015–16 → |
Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2013–14 Conference North
- AFC Telford United (League Champions)
- Altrincham (Play-off Winners)
Teams promoted from 2013–14 Conference South
- Eastleigh (League Champions)
- Dover Athletic (Play-off Winners)
Teams relegated from 2013–14 League Two
Expelled from Conference Premier
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Barnet (C, P) | 46 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 94 | 46 | +48 | 92 | Promotion to League Two |
2 | Bristol Rovers (O, P) | 46 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 73 | 34 | +39 | 91 | Qualification for Conference Premier play-offs[lower-alpha 1] |
3 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 74 | 40 | +34 | 86 | |
4 | Eastleigh | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 87 | 61 | +26 | 82 | |
5 | Forest Green Rovers[lower-alpha 2] | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 80 | 54 | +26 | 79 | |
6 | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 60 | 46 | +14 | 78 | |
7 | Woking | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 77 | 52 | +25 | 76 | |
8 | Dover Athletic | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 69 | 58 | +11 | 68 | |
9 | FC Halifax Town | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 60 | 54 | +6 | 66 | |
10 | Gateshead | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 66 | 62 | +4 | 66 | |
11 | Wrexham | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 66 | |
12 | Chester | 46 | 19 | 6 | 21 | 64 | 76 | −12 | 63 | |
13 | Torquay United | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 64 | 60 | +4 | 61 | |
14 | Braintree Town | 46 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 56 | 57 | −1 | 59 | |
15 | Lincoln City | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 62 | 71 | −9 | 58 | |
16 | Kidderminster Harriers | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 51 | 60 | −9 | 57 | |
17 | Altrincham | 46 | 16 | 8 | 22 | 54 | 73 | −19 | 56 | |
18 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 51 | 61 | −10 | 53 | |
19 | Southport | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 47 | 72 | −25 | 51 | |
20 | Welling United | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 52 | 73 | −21 | 45 | |
21 | Alfreton Town (R) | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 49 | 90 | −41 | 45 | Relegation to National League North |
22 | Dartford (R) | 46 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 44 | 74 | −30 | 39 | Relegation to National League South |
23 | AFC Telford United[lower-alpha 3] (R) | 46 | 10 | 9 | 27 | 58 | 84 | −26 | 36 | Relegation to National League North |
24 | Nuneaton Town[lower-alpha 4] (R) | 46 | 10 | 9 | 27 | 38 | 76 | −38 | 36 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Four teams play for one spot and promotion to League Two.
- Forest Green were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in their win over Southport on 9 August 2014.[4]
- Telford were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in their win over Lincoln City on 11 April 2015.[5]
- Nuneaton were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in their win over Welling United on 28 February 2015.[6]
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||
2 | Bristol Rovers | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
5 | Forest Green Rovers | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
2 | Bristol Rovers (a.e.t.) | 1 (5) | |||||||||
3 | Grimsby Town | 1 (3) | |||||||||
3 | Grimsby Town | 2 | 3 | 5 | |||||||
4 | Eastleigh | 1 | 0 | 1 |
First leg
29 April 2015[7] | Forest Green Rovers | 0–1 | Bristol Rovers | The New Lawn, Nailsworth |
19:45 | Report Report 2 | Taylor 17' | Attendance: 3,338 Referee: Lee Swabey |
Second leg
3 May 2015[7] | Bristol Rovers | 2–0 (3–0 agg.) | Forest Green Rovers | Memorial Stadium, Bristol |
12:45 | Lines 24' Taylor 88' |
Report | Attendance: 10,536 Referee: Darren England |
3 May 2015[7] | Grimsby Town | 3–0 (5–1 agg.) | Eastleigh | Blundell Park, Cleethorpes |
15:30 | Palmer 35', 71' John-Lewis 44' |
Report | Attendance: 6,286 Referee: Ben Toner |
Final
17 May 2015[7] | Bristol Rovers | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) | Grimsby Town | Wembley Stadium, London |
14:00 | Harrison 29' | Report | John-Lewis 2' | Attendance: 47,029 |
Penalties | ||||
Lines Taylor Brown Balanta Mansell |
Disley John-Lewis Pittman Clay |
Results
Stadia and locations
Team | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|
AFC Telford United | New Bucks Head | 6,300 |
Aldershot Town | Recreation Ground | 7,100 |
Alfreton Town | North Street | 3,600 |
Altrincham | Moss Lane | 6,085 |
Barnet | The Hive Stadium | 5,100 |
Braintree Town | Cressing Road | 4,202 |
Bristol Rovers | Memorial Stadium | 12,011 |
Chester | Deva Stadium | 6,000 |
Dartford | Princes Park | 4,100 |
Dover Athletic | Crabble Athletic Ground | 6,500 |
Eastleigh | Ten Acres | 5,200 |
FC Halifax Town | The Shay | 14,061 |
Forest Green Rovers | The New Lawn | 5,147 |
Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | 10,000 |
Grimsby Town | Blundell Park | 9,546 |
Kidderminster Harriers | Aggborough Stadium | 6,238 |
Lincoln City | Sincil Bank | 10,120 |
Macclesfield Town | Moss Rose | 6,355 |
Nuneaton Town | Liberty Way | 4,314 |
Southport | Haig Avenue | 6,008 |
Torquay United | Plainmoor | 6,500 |
Welling United | Park View Road | 4,000 |
Woking | Kingfield Stadium | 6,036 |
Wrexham | Racecourse Ground | 10,771 |
Top scorers
- As of 18 April 2015[8]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | John Akinde | Barnet | 31 |
2 | Jon Parkin | Forest Green Rovers | 25 |
3 | Scott Rendell | Woking | 24 |
4 | James Constable | Eastleigh | 18 |
Tony Gray | AFC Telford United | ||
Damian Reeves | Altrincham | ||
Matty Taylor | Bristol Rovers | ||
8 | Lenell John-Lewis | Grimsby Town | 16 |
Louis Moult | Wrexham | ||
10 | Stefan Payne | Dover Athletic | 15 |
Brett Williams | Aldershot Town |
Conference North
Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2013–14 Northern Premier League Premier Division
Teams promoted from 2013–14 Isthmian League Premier Division
- Lowestoft Town (Play-off Winners)
Teams relegated from 2013–14 Conference Premier
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Barrow (C, P) | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 81 | 43 | +38 | 87 | Promotion to National League |
2 | AFC Fylde | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 93 | 43 | +50 | 85 | Qualification for Conference North play-offs[lower-alpha 1] |
3 | Boston United | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 75 | 51 | +24 | 72 | |
4 | Chorley | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 76 | 55 | +21 | 71 | |
5 | Guiseley (O, P) | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 68 | 49 | +19 | 70 | |
6 | Oxford City | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 81 | 67 | +14 | 69 | Transferred to National League South |
7 | Tamworth | 42 | 19 | 12 | 11 | 66 | 57 | +9 | 69 | |
8 | Hednesford Town | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 61 | |
9 | Worcester City | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 60 | |
10 | North Ferriby United | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 65 | 63 | +2 | 58 | |
11 | Stockport County | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 56 | 59 | −3 | 57 | |
12 | Solihull Moors | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 68 | 63 | +5 | 55 | |
13 | Bradford Park Avenue | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 52 | 66 | −14 | 53 | |
14 | Gloucester City | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 63 | 75 | −12 | 52 | |
15 | Harrogate Town | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 50 | 62 | −12 | 52 | |
16 | Lowestoft Town | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 54 | 66 | −12 | 51 | |
17 | Gainsborough Trinity | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 59 | 67 | −8 | 50 | |
18 | Brackley Town | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 39 | 62 | −23 | 47 | |
19 | Stalybridge Celtic | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 54 | 70 | −16 | 45 | |
20 | Colwyn Bay (R) | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 59 | 82 | −23 | 45 | Relegation to Northern Premier League Premier Division |
21 | Leamington (R) | 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 59 | 74 | −15 | 40 | Relegation to Southern League Premier Division |
22 | Hyde (R) | 42 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 49 | 106 | −57 | 21 | Relegation to Northern Premier League Premier Division[lower-alpha 2] |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Four teams play for one spot and promotion to National League.
- As Hyde United.
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||
2 | AFC Fylde | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
5 | Guiseley | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
4 | Chorley | 2 | |||||||||
5 | Guiseley | 3 | |||||||||
3 | Boston United | 0 | 2 | 2 (4) | |||||||
4 | Chorley (a.e.t.) | 0 | 2 | 2 (5) |
First leg
29 April 2015[7] | Guiseley | 1–0 | AFC Fylde | Nethermoor Park, Guiseley |
19:45 | Lawlor 33' | Report | Attendance: 1,025 |
29 April 2015[7] | Chorley | 0–0 | Boston United | Victory Park, Chorley |
19:45 | Report | Attendance: 2,022 |
Second leg
2 May 2015[7] | AFC Fylde | 1–2 (1–3 agg.) | Guiseley | Kellamergh Park, Fylde |
15:00 | Allen 1' | Report | Boshell 36' Holdsworth 57' |
Attendance: 950 |
2 May 2015[7] | Boston United | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (2–2 agg.) (4–5 p) | Chorley | York Street, Boston |
15:00 | Garner 43' Felix 49' |
Report | Doyle 56' Roscoe 90' |
Attendance: 3,174 |
Penalties | ||||
Southwell Mills Garner Jones Piergianni McGhee Steer |
Dean Dorney Whitham Jarvis Flynn Burns Ross |
Final
Results
Stadia and locations
Team | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|
AFC Fylde | Kellamergh Park | 3,180 |
Barrow | Holker Street | 5,000 |
Boston United | York Street | 6,643 |
Brackley Town | St. James Park | 3,500 |
Bradford Park Avenue | Horsfall Stadium | 3,500 |
Chorley | Victory Park | 4,100 |
Colwyn Bay | Llanelian Road | 2,500 |
Gainsborough Trinity | The Northolme | 4,304 |
Gloucester City | Whaddon Road | 7,066 |
Guiseley | Nethermoor Park | 3,000 |
Harrogate Town | Wetherby Road | 3,800 |
Hednesford Town | Keys Park | 6,500 |
Hyde | Ewen Fields | 4,250 |
Leamington | New Windmill Ground | 2,300 |
Lowestoft Town | Crown Meadow | 3,000 |
North Ferriby United | Grange Lane | 2,700 |
Oxford City | Court Place Farm | 2,000 |
Solihull Moors | Damson Park | 3,050 |
Stalybridge Celtic | Bower Fold | 6,500 |
Stockport County | Edgeley Park | 10,841 |
Tamworth | The Lamb Ground | 4,000 |
Worcester City | Aggborough Stadium | 6,302 |
Top scorers
- As of 25 April 2015[9]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Omar Bogle | Solihull Moors | 29 |
2 | Dayle Southwell | Boston United | 28 |
3 | Danny Rowe | AFC Fylde | 26 |
Adi Yussuf | Oxford City | ||
5 | Adam Boyes | Guiseley | 23 |
Andy Cook | Barrow | ||
7 | Ritchie Allen | AFC Fylde | 20 |
James Dean | Chorley | ||
9 | Obi Anoruo | Colwyn Bay | 18 |
Tom Denton | North Ferriby United |
Conference South
Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2013–14 Isthmian League Premier Division
- Wealdstone (League Champions)
Teams promoted from 2013–14 Southern League Premier Division
- Hemel Hempstead Town (League Champions)
- St Albans City (Play-off Winners)
The division ran one club short due to the expulsion of Salisbury City.
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bromley (C, P) | 40 | 23 | 8 | 9 | 79 | 46 | +33 | 77 | Promotion to National League |
2 | Boreham Wood (O, P) | 40 | 23 | 6 | 11 | 79 | 44 | +35 | 75 | Qualification for Conference South play-offs[lower-alpha 1] |
3 | Basingstoke Town | 40 | 22 | 7 | 11 | 67 | 43 | +24 | 73 | |
4 | Whitehawk | 40 | 22 | 6 | 12 | 62 | 47 | +15 | 72 | |
5 | Havant & Waterlooville | 40 | 21 | 7 | 12 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 70 | |
6 | Gosport Borough | 40 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 63 | 40 | +23 | 67 | |
7 | Concord Rangers | 40 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 60 | 44 | +16 | 65 | |
8 | Ebbsfleet United | 40 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 60 | 41 | +19 | 60 | |
9 | Hemel Hempstead Town | 40 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 64 | 60 | +4 | 60 | |
10 | Chelmsford City | 40 | 17 | 5 | 18 | 65 | 71 | −6 | 56 | |
11 | Eastbourne Borough | 40 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 55 | |
12 | Wealdstone | 40 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 54 | |
13 | St Albans City | 40 | 16 | 6 | 18 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 54 | |
14 | Bath City | 40 | 15 | 8 | 17 | 59 | 57 | +2 | 53 | |
15 | Sutton United | 40 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 50 | 54 | −4 | 50 | |
16 | Bishop's Stortford | 40 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 55 | 69 | −14 | 46 | |
17 | Weston-super-Mare | 40 | 13 | 5 | 22 | 55 | 86 | −31 | 44 | |
18 | Maidenhead United | 40 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 54 | 70 | −16 | 43 | |
19 | Hayes & Yeading United | 40 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 39 | 58 | −19 | 42 | |
20 | Farnborough (R) | 40 | 8 | 6 | 26 | 42 | 101 | −59 | 30 | Relegation to Isthmian League Premier Division |
21 | Staines Town (R) | 40 | 7 | 4 | 29 | 39 | 82 | −43 | 25 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Four teams play for one spot and promotion to National League.
Play-offs
Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||
2 | Boreham Wood | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
5 | Havant & Waterlooville | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
2 | Boreham Wood (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||||||
4 | Whitehawk | 1 | |||||||||
3 | Basingstoke Town | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
4 | Whitehawk | 1 | 1 | 2 |
First leg
29 April 2015[7] | Havant & Waterlooville | 0–2 | Boreham Wood | West Leigh Park, Havant |
19:45 | Morais 3' Montgomery 39' |
Attendance: 1,296[10] |
Second leg
2 May 2015[7] | Boreham Wood | 2–2 (4–2 agg.) | Havant & Waterlooville | Meadow Park, Borehamwood |
15:00 | Shakes 63' Angol 67' |
Dutton 16' Mullings 83' |
Attendance: 906[12] |
2 May 2015[7] | Basingstoke Town | 0–1 (1–2 agg.) | Whitehawk | The Camrose, Basingstoke |
15:00 | Robinson 51' | Attendance: 1,749[13] |
Final
9 May 2015[7] | Boreham Wood | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Whitehawk | Meadow Park, Borehamwood |
15:00 | Angol 67' Morias 91' |
Report | Deering 80' (pen.) | Attendance: 2,201 |
Results
Stadia and locations
Team | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Basingstoke Town | The Camrose | 6,000 |
Bath City | Twerton Park | 8,840 |
Bishop's Stortford | Woodside Park | 4,525 |
Boreham Wood | Meadow Park | 4,502 |
Bromley | Hayes Lane | 6,000 |
Chelmsford City | Melbourne Stadium | 3,019 |
Concord Rangers | Thames Road | 1,500 |
Eastbourne Borough | Priory Lane | 4,134 |
Ebbsfleet United | Stonebridge Road | 5,011 |
Farnborough | Cherrywood Road | 4,000 |
Gosport Borough | Privett Park | 4,500 |
Havant & Waterlooville | West Leigh Park | 5,250 |
Hayes & Yeading United | York Road | 3,000 |
Hemel Hempstead Town | Vauxhall Road | 3,152 |
Maidenhead United | York Road | 3,000 |
St Albans City | Clarence Park | 4,500 |
Staines Town | Wheatsheaf Park | 3,009 |
Sutton United | Gander Green Lane | 5,013 |
Wealdstone | The Vale | 2,640 |
Weston-super-Mare | Woodspring Stadium | 3,500 |
Whitehawk | The Enclosed Ground | 2,000 |
Top scorers
- As of 25 April 2015[14]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Justin Bennett | Gosport Borough | 24 |
2 | Lee Angol | Boreham Wood | 23 |
3 | Jordan Parkes | Hemel Hempstead Town | 20 |
Dave Tarpey | Maidenhead United | ||
5 | Danny Mills | Whitehawk | 18 |
David Pratt | Bath City | ||
7 | Jake Robinson | Whitehawk | 17 |
8 | Moses Ademola | Bromley | 15 |
Michael Cheek | Chelmsford City | ||
Scott Donnelly | Havant & Waterlooville | ||
Matt Paterson | Gosport Borough |
References
- "English Conference 2014–15". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- Hereford expelled from Football Conference
- Salisbury demoted down to Conference South
- "Forest Green deducted three points for fielding ineligible player". BBC Sport. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- "Telford United: Relegated Conference club docked points". BBC Sport. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- "Nuneaton Town docked points for fielding ineligible player". BBC Sport. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- "The Official Football Conference League Website". footballconference.co.uk/. Football Conference. Archived from the original on 2014-02-07. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
- "Football Conference Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- "Football Conference Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 2015-06-15. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- "Havant & Waterlooville vs Boreham Wood". Be Soccer.
- "Whitehawk vs Basingstoke Town". Be Soccer.
- "Boreham Wood vs Havant & Waterlooville". Be Soccer.
- "Basingstoke Town vs Whitehawk". Be Soccer.
- "Football Conference Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 March 2015.