National League South

The National League South, formerly Conference South, 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.

Not to be confused with the National League's divisions.

National League South
Conference South trophy pictured in 2009
Founded2004
CountryEngland
Number of teams24
Level on pyramid6
Step 2 (National League System)
Promotion toNational League
Relegation toIsthmian League Premier Division
Southern League Premier Division South
Domestic cup(s)FA Cup
FA Trophy
Conference League Cup (defunct)
International cup(s)Europa League
(via FA Cup)
Current championsMaidstone United
(2021–22)
WebsiteNational League
Current: 2022-23 National League South

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).[1] The three bottom clubs were 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),[2] 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.[3] The 2018–19 champions were Torquay United.

The National League South was reduced to 21 clubs for 2020–21[4] and was expected to expand to 24 teams in 2021–22.[5][6] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, the 2020–21 National League South season was curtailed and voided after written resolutions were put to a vote. No teams were relegated.[7] Expansion would be implemented before the 2022–23 season, when the bottom club was relegated and four were promoted from Step 3.[8] There will be four relegations from the South starting in 2023.

Current member clubs, 2022–23

The current member clubs for the 2022-23 season are as follows:

Division of Level 6 teams by English Counties (2022–23)
Club Finishing position 2021–22
Bath City18th
Braintree Town17th
Chelmsford City19th
Cheshunt5th in Isthmian League (promoted)
Chippenham Town7th
Concord Rangers14th
Dartford4th
Dover Athletic23rd in National League (relegated)
Dulwich Hamlet10th
Eastbourne Borough6th
Ebbsfleet United3rd
Farnborough3rd in Southern League (promoted)
Hampton & Richmond Borough11th
Havant & Waterlooville8th
Hemel Hempstead Town15th
Hungerford Town12th
Oxford City5th
Slough Town13th
St Albans City9th
Taunton Town1st in Southern League (promoted)
Tonbridge Angels16th
Welling United20th
Weymouth22nd in National League (relegated)
Worthing1st in Isthmian League (promoted)

Current league stadia 2022–23
Bath
Chippenham
Dartford
Dover Athletic
Eastbourne Borough
Ebbsfleet
Farnborough
Havant & Waterlooville
Hemel Hempstead
Hungerford
Oxford City
Slough Town
St Albans
Taunton Town
Tonbridge Angels
Weymouth
Worthing
London and environ teams
Cheshunt
Dulwich Hamlet
Hampton & Richmond
Welling United
Essex teams
Braintree Town
Chelmsford City
Concord Rangers
Locations of the National League South 2022–23 teams (Greater London and Essex shown in more detail below)
Cheshunt
Dulwich Hamlet
Hampton & Richmond Borough
Welling
Locations of the National League South 2022–23 teams (Greater London and environ clubs)
Braintree Town
Chelmsford City
Concord Rangers
Locations of the National League South 2022–23 teams (Essex clubs)

The stadiums of all teams in the league for the 2022–23 season are listed below in capacity order:

Home club Stadium name Capacity
FarnboroughCherrywood Road7,000
WeymouthBob Lucas Stadium6,600
Dover AthleticCrabble Athletic Ground5,745
Havant & WaterloovilleWest Leigh Park5,300
St Albans CityClarence Park5,007
Ebbsfleet UnitedStonebridge Road4,800
Eastbourne BoroughPriory Lane4,151
DartfordPrinces Park4,100
Braintree TownCressing Road4,085
Welling UnitedPark View Road4,000
WorthingWoodside Road4,000
Bath CityTwerton Park3,528
Dulwich HamletChampion Hill3,334
Tonbridge AngelsLongmead Stadium3,000
Hampton & Richmond BoroughBeveree Stadium3,500
Concord RangersThames Road3,300
Oxford CityCourt Place Farm3,218
Hemel Hempstead TownVauxhall Road3,152
Chelmsford CityMelbourne Stadium3,000
Chippenham TownHardenhuish Park3,000
Hungerford TownBulpit Lane2,500
Taunton TownWordsworth Drive2,500
Slough TownArbour Park2,000

League winners
SeasonWinnerPlayoff winner
2004–05Grays AthleticEastbourne Borough **
2005–06WeymouthSt Albans City
2006–07HistonSalisbury City
2007–08LewesEastbourne Borough
2008–09AFC WimbledonHayes & Yeading United
2009–10Newport CountyBath City
2010–11Braintree TownEbbsfleet United
2011–12WokingDartford
2012–13Welling UnitedSalisbury City
2013–14EastleighDover Athletic
2014–15BromleyBoreham Wood
2015–16Sutton UnitedMaidstone United
2016–17Maidenhead UnitedEbbsfleet United
2017–18Havant & WaterloovilleBraintree Town
2018–19Torquay UnitedWoking
2019–20WealdstoneWeymouth
2020–21None, season curtailed and voided
2021-22 Maidstone United Dorking Wanderers

** 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 8–0 Truro City, 8 September 2012
Ebbsfleet United 8–0 Bishop's Stortford, 21 March 2017, Dorking Wanderers 8-0 Havant and Waterlooville, 26 December 2021
Biggest away win 7 – Dorchester Town 0–7 Grays Athletic, 23 October 2004
Highest scoring match 11 – Bognor Regis Town 6–5 Welling United, 11 September 2004
Bath City 7–4 Farnborough, 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[9]
Most individual goals in a game 6 – Mitchell Bryant, Weymouth 0–6 Basingstoke Town, 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

See also

References
  1. "National League South 2017-18 Season Preview". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  2. "Skrill announced as new Football Conference sponsor". Non-League Bets. 26 July 2013.
  3. "BBC Sport – Football Conference to be renamed as National League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  4. "National League South to have 21 Clubs". North Kent Non League. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. Edkins, Matt (17 April 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: FA outline second phase of Non-League restructuring". The Non-League Football Paper (Interview).
  6. "Update on non-League, women's & grassroots football seasons". The Football Association. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  7. Osborn, Oliver (18 February 2021). "National League Statement | Outcome Of Written Resolutions". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. Osborn, Oliver (1 July 2021). "National League Statement | OAGM Round-Up". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  9. "HIGHLIGHTS: Dave Tarpey hits fourth hat-trick of season as Maidenhead United thrash Bath City 5-1". Windsor Express. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
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