National League (division)

National League
Founded1979 (1979) (as Alliance Premier League)
CountryEngland
Number of clubs24
Level on pyramid5
Step 1 (National League System)
Promotion toEFL League Two
Relegation to
  • National League North
  • National League South
Domestic cup(s)
League cup(s)National League Cup
International cup(s)
Current championsBarnet (4th title)
(2024–25)
Most championshipsBarnet (4 titles)
Broadcaster(s)DAZN
Websitethenationalleague.org.uk
Current: 2025–26 National League

The National League, officially known as the Enterprise National League[1] for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in England. The National League is the first division of the National Leagues and step 1 of the National League System and fifth-highest tier overall in the English football league system, after the Premier League and the EFL leagues and is contested by 24 clubs. Through the National League, clubs get promoted to the EFL League Two, one of the divisions of the English Football League.[2] Formerly the Conference National, the league was renamed the National League from the 2015–16 season.[3]

Notable former English Football League clubs that compete in the National League include: Forest Green Rovers, Morecambe, Carlisle United, Rochdale, Yeovil Town, Hartlepool United, Southend United, Scunthorpe United, Boston United, Sutton United and York City. The longest tenured team currently competing in the National League is Eastleigh, who have been competing in the National League since 2013-14.

  1. ^ "Enterprise becomes new sponsor of National League". BBC Sport. 23 June 2025. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  2. ^ Mukherjee, Soham (5 April 2023). "How does National League promotion work? Race to the English Football League explained". GOAL. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Football Conference to be renamed as National League", BBC Sport, 6 April 2015