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Non-League football

Non-League football describes football leagues played outside the top leagues of a country. Usually, it describes leagues which are not fully professional. The term is primarily used for football in England, where it is specifically used to describe all football played at levels below those of the Premier League (20 clubs) and the three divisions of the English Football League (EFL; 72 clubs). Currently, a non-League team would be any club playing in the National League or below that level. Typically, non-League clubs are either semi-professional or amateur in status, although the majority of clubs in the National League division (level 5) are fully professional, some of which are former EFL clubs who have suffered relegation.

The term non-League was commonly used in England long before the creation of the Premier League in 1992, prior to which the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League (from 2016, the EFL); at this time, the Football League was commonly referred to as simply "the League" and its clubs were "League clubs", so all clubs which were not members of the Football League were therefore 'non-League' clubs. Since 1992, the term "non-League" has come to mean clubs at a lower level than the Football League, as the original definition of being outside the Football League would include Premier League clubs.

Non-League football in England Edit

English Football League Edit

 
A non-League match between Maine Road and 1874 Northwich of the North West Counties Football League, part of the ninth level of English football.

The "League" (with a capital 'L') in "non-League football" refers specifically to the English Football League, rather than leagues in general — "non-League" clubs play most of their football within league competitions. There are many leagues below the level of the EFL, and some, such as the Northern League, are almost as old as the EFL itself. The most senior of these leagues are loosely organised by The Football Association, the sport's governing body in England, into a National League System (NLS). The NLS has six levels or steps, and includes over 18 separate leagues, many with more than one division.

Prior to the 1986–87 season, there was no automatic promotion and relegation between The Football League and the leagues of non-League football for nearly a hundred years. Instead, the process of re-election existed; at the end of each season, the bottom clubs of the EFL were required to re-apply for membership, whilst ambitious non-League clubs put themselves up as candidates for admittance against them. All member clubs of the Football League then voted for their choice. In most cases this was a mere formality; member clubs would typically vote for other existing members and the system ensured that Football League membership remained relatively static, with non-League clubs having very little chance of joining. Indeed, since the process had begun, only thirteen non-League clubs had ever achieved enough votes to win election as a member of the Football League.

However, a major change came in 1986 when automatic promotion and relegation of one club between the League and the Football Conference, the top league in non-League football, was introduced, subject to the eligible club meeting the required facility and financial standards. Scarborough became the first non-League club to win automatic promotion to the League, and Lincoln City became the first League club to be relegated to the ranks of non-League football. Since the 2002–03 season, two clubs from the Conference, now National League (the champions and the winners of a play-off) have been promoted at the end of each season.

The entire English football league system includes the Premier League, the EFL, the NLS leagues, and any local leagues that have feeder relationships with an NLS league.

Many non-League clubs enter the FA Cup, where they hope to become "giant-killers" by progressing from the qualifying rounds, and first and second rounds proper, to meet and beat opposition from the Premier League or EFL Championship. Since the end of the Second World War, ten non-League clubs have reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, and only one (Lincoln City in 2016–17 season) reached the quarter-final stage. The only non-League team to have won the competition since The Football League started is Tottenham Hotspur in 1901, although at that time the League had only two divisions, consisting almost entirely of Northern and Midland clubs. The leading clubs in the South played in the Southern Football League, which was of a comparable standard to the League clubs.[1] From its inaugural match in 1908 until 1912, the FA Charity Shield was contested between the champions of the League and the Southern Football League.

The FA Trophy and FA Vase Edit

The Football Association Challenge Trophy was introduced in 1969 to offer semi-professional non-League clubs a realistic chance of winning an FA competition. Amateur clubs could enter the FA Amateur Cup until 1974 when the Football Association abolished the distinction between professionals and amateurs. The Amateur Cup was replaced by the FA Vase in 1974 which is currently contested by clubs at Step 5 of the NLS and below while the Trophy is contested by clubs at Steps 1–4.

League system Edit

Women's football Edit

In women's football, the non-League term is used for those clubs in the divisions below the FA Women's Premier League's two regional second divisions.

Non-League football in other countries Edit

Germany Edit

In Germany, there is a similar term, unterklassig (literally "under-class"), which usually refers to regional leagues below the three national leagues 1. Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga and 3. Liga. The highest level of regional leagues, called Regionalliga, may or may not be included in the term.

Republic of Ireland Edit

In the Republic of Ireland, football outside the top two divisions consists of regional senior leagues based on which province the club comes from; although again these leagues are commonly referred to as 'non-League'.

Scotland Edit

In Scotland, "non-League football" refers to leagues outside the top four divisions of the national Scottish Professional Football League. These consist of a number of regional senior leagues which are part of the Scottish football pyramid system.

Spain Edit

Football below the professional level in Spain is commonly referred to as fútbol modesto (literally "modest football").[2][3]

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ "A history of admission to The Football League". Non-League Matters. from the original on 5 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Modern football is rubbish". The Nomad Today. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Todo lo que debes saber sobre las nuevas Segunda B y Tercera". BeSoccer (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2021.

External links Edit

  • Non League UK

league, football, describes, football, leagues, played, outside, leagues, country, usually, describes, leagues, which, fully, professional, term, primarily, used, football, england, where, specifically, used, describe, football, played, levels, below, those, p. Non League football describes football leagues played outside the top leagues of a country Usually it describes leagues which are not fully professional The term is primarily used for football in England where it is specifically used to describe all football played at levels below those of the Premier League 20 clubs and the three divisions of the English Football League EFL 72 clubs Currently a non League team would be any club playing in the National League or below that level Typically non League clubs are either semi professional or amateur in status although the majority of clubs in the National League division level 5 are fully professional some of which are former EFL clubs who have suffered relegation The term non League was commonly used in England long before the creation of the Premier League in 1992 prior to which the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League from 2016 the EFL at this time the Football League was commonly referred to as simply the League and its clubs were League clubs so all clubs which were not members of the Football League were therefore non League clubs Since 1992 the term non League has come to mean clubs at a lower level than the Football League as the original definition of being outside the Football League would include Premier League clubs Contents 1 Non League football in England 1 1 English Football League 1 2 The FA Trophy and FA Vase 1 3 League system 1 4 Women s football 2 Non League football in other countries 2 1 Germany 2 2 Republic of Ireland 2 3 Scotland 2 4 Spain 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksNon League football in England EditEnglish Football League Edit nbsp A non League match between Maine Road and 1874 Northwich of the North West Counties Football League part of the ninth level of English football The League with a capital L in non League football refers specifically to the English Football League rather than leagues in general non League clubs play most of their football within league competitions There are many leagues below the level of the EFL and some such as the Northern League are almost as old as the EFL itself The most senior of these leagues are loosely organised by The Football Association the sport s governing body in England into a National League System NLS The NLS has six levels or steps and includes over 18 separate leagues many with more than one division Prior to the 1986 87 season there was no automatic promotion and relegation between The Football League and the leagues of non League football for nearly a hundred years Instead the process of re election existed at the end of each season the bottom clubs of the EFL were required to re apply for membership whilst ambitious non League clubs put themselves up as candidates for admittance against them All member clubs of the Football League then voted for their choice In most cases this was a mere formality member clubs would typically vote for other existing members and the system ensured that Football League membership remained relatively static with non League clubs having very little chance of joining Indeed since the process had begun only thirteen non League clubs had ever achieved enough votes to win election as a member of the Football League However a major change came in 1986 when automatic promotion and relegation of one club between the League and the Football Conference the top league in non League football was introduced subject to the eligible club meeting the required facility and financial standards Scarborough became the first non League club to win automatic promotion to the League and Lincoln City became the first League club to be relegated to the ranks of non League football Since the 2002 03 season two clubs from the Conference now National League the champions and the winners of a play off have been promoted at the end of each season The entire English football league system includes the Premier League the EFL the NLS leagues and any local leagues that have feeder relationships with an NLS league Many non League clubs enter the FA Cup where they hope to become giant killers by progressing from the qualifying rounds and first and second rounds proper to meet and beat opposition from the Premier League or EFL Championship Since the end of the Second World War ten non League clubs have reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup and only one Lincoln City in 2016 17 season reached the quarter final stage The only non League team to have won the competition since The Football League started is Tottenham Hotspur in 1901 although at that time the League had only two divisions consisting almost entirely of Northern and Midland clubs The leading clubs in the South played in the Southern Football League which was of a comparable standard to the League clubs 1 From its inaugural match in 1908 until 1912 the FA Charity Shield was contested between the champions of the League and the Southern Football League The FA Trophy and FA Vase Edit Main articles FA Trophy and FA Vase The Football Association Challenge Trophy was introduced in 1969 to offer semi professional non League clubs a realistic chance of winning an FA competition Amateur clubs could enter the FA Amateur Cup until 1974 when the Football Association abolished the distinction between professionals and amateurs The Amateur Cup was replaced by the FA Vase in 1974 which is currently contested by clubs at Step 5 of the NLS and below while the Trophy is contested by clubs at Steps 1 4 League system Edit For a full list of leagues in all 21 levels of non League football see English football league system Women s football Edit In women s football the non League term is used for those clubs in the divisions below the FA Women s Premier League s two regional second divisions Non League football in other countries EditGermany Edit In Germany there is a similar term unterklassig literally under class which usually refers to regional leagues below the three national leagues 1 Bundesliga 2 Bundesliga and 3 Liga The highest level of regional leagues called Regionalliga may or may not be included in the term Republic of Ireland Edit In the Republic of Ireland football outside the top two divisions consists of regional senior leagues based on which province the club comes from although again these leagues are commonly referred to as non League Scotland Edit In Scotland non League football refers to leagues outside the top four divisions of the national Scottish Professional Football League These consist of a number of regional senior leagues which are part of the Scottish football pyramid system Spain Edit Football below the professional level in Spain is commonly referred to as futbol modesto literally modest football 2 3 See also EditEngland national football C teamReferences Edit A history of admission to The Football League Non League Matters Archived from the original on 5 January 2015 Modern football is rubbish The Nomad Today 2 October 2019 Retrieved 24 December 2021 Todo lo que debes saber sobre las nuevas Segunda B y Tercera BeSoccer in Spanish Retrieved 24 December 2021 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Non league football Non League UK Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Non League football amp oldid 1173424992, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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