Conference North

Conference North
Country England & Wales
Founded 2004
Number of teams 22
Level on pyramid 6
Step 2 (National League System)
Promotion to Conference Premier
Relegation to Northern Premier League Premier Division
Southern League Premier Division
Domestic cup(s) FA Cup
FA Trophy
Conference League Cup
Current champions Barrow
(2014–15)
Website Football Conference
2014–15 Football Conference

The Conference North is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference Premier. Along with the Conference South. It is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of the English football league system. It consists of teams located in Northern England, Suffolk, the English Midlands and North Wales. As part of a sponsorship deal with Vanarama, the Conference North is now known as the Vanarama Conference North[1]

History

The Conference North was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of English non-League football.[2] The champions are automatically promoted to Conference Premier. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to fifth place. The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues. Teams from this division, as well as from the Conference South, enter the FA Cup at the Second Qualifying Round.

Current member clubs 2014–15

The current member clubs for the 2014–15 season are as follows:

The area covered by Conference North is coloured in red. Conference North teams also come from counties bordering Conference South (purple).
Club
 Finishing position 2013–14
A.F.C Fylde3rd in Northern Premier League (won play-offs)
Barrow11th
Boston United6th
Brackley Town7th
Bradford Park Avenue10th
Chorley1st in Northern Premier League
Colwyn Bay12th
Gainsborough Trinity16th
Gloucester City17th
Guiseley5th
Harrogate Town9th
Hednesford Town4th
Hyde24th in Conference National
Leamington13th
Lowestoft Town4th in Isthmian Premier League (won play-offs)
North Ferriby United2nd
Oxford City20th (Reprieved)
Solihull Moors8th
Stalybridge Celtic19th
Stockport County14th
Tamworth23rd in Conference National
Worcester City15th

League champions

Blue Square North Trophy awarded to Southport, 2009–10 season.

All the winners of the league title and winners of the play-off final since the league's formation in 2004 are as follows:

SeasonWinnerPlayoff Winner
2004–05SouthportAltrincham
2005–06Northwich VictoriaStafford Rangers
2006–07DroylsdenFarsley Celtic
2007–08Kettering TownBarrow
2008–09TamworthGateshead
2009–10SouthportFleetwood Town
2010–11Alfreton TownAFC Telford United
2011–12HydeNuneaton Town
2012–13ChesterF.C. Halifax Town
2013–14AFC Telford UnitedAltrincham
2014–15Barrow

Current league stadia

The stadiums of all teams in the league for the 2014–15 season are listed below in capacity order:

Home Club Stadium Name Capacity
Stockport CountyEdgeley Park10,841
Gloucester CityWhaddon Road7,066
Boston UnitedYork Street6,643
Hednesford TownKeys Park6,500
Stalybridge CelticBower Fold6,500
BarrowHolker Street5,000
Worcester CityAggborough6,444
Gainsborough TrinityThe Northolme4,304
Tamworth F.C.The Lamb Ground4,195
Chorley F.C.Victory Park, Chorley4,100
Hyde F.C.Ewen Fields4,073
Harrogate TownWetherby Road3,800
Brackley TownSt. James Park3,500
Bradford Park AvenueHorsfall Stadium3,500
A.F.C. FyldeKellamergh Park3,180
Solihull MoorsDamson Park3,050
Lowestoft Town F.C.Crown Meadow3,000
GuiseleyNethermoor Park3,000
North Ferriby UnitedGrange Lane2,700
Colwyn BayLlanelian Road2,500
LeamingtonNew Windmill Ground2,300
Oxford CityCourt Place Farm2,000

League records

Record home win Fleetwood Town 8–0 Redditch United, 14 November 2009,[3] and Altrincham 8–0 Hinckley United, 17 November 2012[4]
Record away win Redditch United 0–9 Boston United, 21 August 2010[5]
Highest-scoring game Stalybridge Celtic 3–7 Hyde, 1 January 2007 and A.F.C. Fylde 6-4 Gloucester City, 25 April 2015
Most points in a season Chester – 107 points, Season 2012–13
Most wins in a season Chester – 34, Season 2012–13
Fewest defeats in a season Chester – 3, Season 2012–13
Most goals scored in a season Chester – 103, Season 2012–13
Best goal difference Chester – +71, Season 2012–13
Most league titles 2 – Southport
Most consecutive wins 15 games (21 Feb 2006 to 22 Apr 2006) – Northwich Victoria
Most consecutive clean sheets 10 games (30 Aug 2010 to 09 Nov 2010) – Boston United
Longest unbeaten run 30 games (15 Sep 2012 to 06 Apr 2013) – Chester

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Vanarama announced as new Football Conference sponsor". Non-League Bets. 30 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Football Conference – History". Football Conference. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Fleetwood Town 8-0 Redditch Utd". BBC Sport. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "ALTRINCHAM VS. HINCKLEY UNITED 8 – 0". Soccerway. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Redditch United 0-9 Boston United". BBC Sport. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2012.

External links