National League South

"Conference South" redirects here. Not to be confused with Big South Conference, Conference League South, or Southern Conference.
Not to be confused with the National League's divisions.

National League South
Conference South Trophy
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 championsYeovil Town (1st title)
(2023–24)
Top goalscorerShaun Jeffers (129)
WebsiteNational League
Current: 2024–25 National League South

The National League South, formerly Conference South, is one of the two second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is in the second level of the National League System, and is the sixth tier overall of the English football league system, and includes teams from the South East, London, and the South West, as well as teams from Essex.

The National League South was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of the National League System. Each year the champion of the league is automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winner of a play-off 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 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 are four relegations from the South since 2023.

  1. ^ "National League South 2017-18 Season Preview". Vanarama National League. 5 August 2017. 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.