English football league system

The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for men's association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales and one from Guernsey also competing. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, allowing even the smallest club the theoretical possibility of ultimately rising to the very top of the system, although in practice it would take a team at the bottom levels at least two decades of consistently finishing at or near the top of each successive league to reach the top level, and even then additional restrictions, particularly in regard to stadium facilities, would then come into effect at the highest levels that could prevent a club from being allowed access to the top levels. There are more than 140 individual leagues, containing more than 480 divisions.[1]

The exact number of clubs varies from year to year as clubs join and leave leagues or fold altogether, but an estimated average of 15 clubs per division implies that more than 7,000 teams of nearly 5,300 clubs are members of a league in the English men's football league system.

As there are no official definitions of any level below 11, any references to the structure at level 12 and below should not be regarded as definitive.

The pyramid for women's football in England runs separately to nine tiers and some England-based men's clubs play outside the English football league system.

History

The (English) Football League was created in 1888 by Aston Villa director William McGregor. It was dominated by those clubs who had supported professionalism. The twelve founding members consisted of six from Lancashire (Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, Accrington, Everton and Preston North End) and six from the Midlands (Aston Villa, Derby County, Notts County, Stoke, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers). No sides from the South including London initially participated.

About the system

A diagram showing the areas covered by Level 9 of the English football league system.
Map showing the location of teams in levels 9–10 of the English football league system in 2011–12

The system consists of a pyramid of leagues, bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. A certain number of the most successful clubs in each league can rise to a higher league, whilst those that finish at the bottom of their league can find themselves sinking down a level. In addition to sporting performance, promotion is usually contingent on meeting criteria set by the higher league, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances.

In theory it is possible for a lowly local amateur club to rise to the pinnacle of the English game and become champions of the Premier League. While this may be unlikely in practice (at the very least, in the short run), there certainly is significant movement within the pyramid.

The top five levels contain one division each and are nationwide in scope. Below this, the levels have progressively more parallel leagues, with each covering progressively smaller geographic areas. Many leagues have more than one division. At the lower levels the existence of leagues becomes intermittent, although in some of the more densely populated areas there are leagues more than twenty layers below the Premier League.[2] There are also leagues in various parts of the country which are not officially part of the system as they do not have formal agreements with other leagues, but are recognised at various levels by county football associations. Clubs from these leagues may, if they feel they meet the appropriate standard of play and have suitable facilities, apply to join a league which does form part of the system.

The seven levels immediately below the Premier League and English Football League are known as the National League System and come under the jurisdiction of The Football Association.[3] It evolved over many years. In the most recent major re-organisation, two new leagues were entered at level six – the Conference North and Conference South (now National League North and South) – shifting the top divisions of the Southern League, Isthmian League and Northern Premier League down to level seven. In May 2014 The Football Association announced provisional plans for a new division between the English Football League and the National League which would include "B" teams of higher level clubs. They later reneged on the plan to include Premier League "B" teams in the new division[4] and shortly thereafter scrapped the idea altogether.[5]

The English football league system does not include the amateur version of the game often called Sunday league football. These leagues are independent entities with no promotion or relegation involving the football pyramid. However, some Sunday League clubs have been known to join pyramid leagues if they desire to progress higher. There are also some Saturday leagues which are not officially part of the pyramid, although teams frequently leave these for pyramid leagues. The FA admitted a previously non-promoting Saturday league, the Lincolnshire League, to the league pyramid in May 2017.[6]

Structure

At the top is the single division of the Premier League (Level 1, which is often referred to as the "top flight"), containing 20 clubs, all of which, up to the 2010–11 season, were based in England. However, two Welsh teams (Swansea City and Cardiff City) joined as of the 2011–12 season and the 2013–14 season; although Cardiff City have since been relegated to the Championship, Swansea City has remained in top flight ever since their promotion. Below the Premier League is the English Football League (EFL), which is divided into three divisions of 24 clubs each: The Championship (Level 2), League One (Level 3) and League Two (Level 4). The 92 clubs in the Premier League and English Football League are all full-time professional clubs. They are often referred to as 'League' clubs because, before the establishment of the Premier League in 1992, the EFL included all 92 clubs, in four divisions. Clubs outside this group are referred to as 'non-League' clubs, although they too play most of their football in league-type competitions.

The top tier of non-League football is the National League. It contains a national division (National League) of 24 clubs (Level 5), and is the lowest level with a single nationwide league. There are two divisions at Level 6, covering the north (National League North) and south (National League South), with 22 clubs each. Some of these clubs are full-time professional and the others are semi-professional. Below the National League, some of the stronger clubs are semi-professional, but continuing down the tiers, soon all the clubs are amateur. Lower-level leagues also tend to cater for progressively smaller geographic regions.

Next down from the National League are three regional leagues, each associated with different geographical areas, although some overlap exists. They are the Northern Premier League (which covers the north of England and north Wales), Southern Football League (which covers the Midlands, south and southwest of England, and south Wales) and the Isthmian League (which covers the south east of England). All of the leagues have a Premier Division of 24 teams (Level 7). Below these, and split by region, the Northern Premier League and Southern Football League each have two parallel divisions of 22 teams (Level 8). The Isthmian League has two parallel level 8 divisions of 24 teams each.

Level 9 contains the top divisions of a large group of fourteen sub-regional leagues. Each of these leagues has a different divisional set up, but they all have one thing in common: there are yet more leagues below them, each covering smaller and smaller geographical levels.

Promotion and relegation rules for the top eight levels

Approximate areas covered by level 8 of the League System. The Red shades cover the Northern Premier League; the Blue shades cover the Southern League; Green and Yellow cover the Isthmian League
Possible areas for a four division level 7 (step 3), planned for 2018-19 onwards.[7]
  1. Premier League (level 1, 20 teams): The bottom three teams are relegated.
  2. English Football League Championship (level 2, 24 teams): Top two automatically promoted; next four compete in the playoffs, with the winner gaining the third promotion spot. The bottom three are relegated.
  3. English Football League One (level 3, 24 teams): Top two are automatically promoted; next four compete in playoffs, with the winner gaining the third promotion spot. The bottom four are relegated.
  4. English Football League Two (level 4, 24 teams): Top three teams are automatically promoted; next four compete in playoffs, with the winner gaining the fourth promotion spot. The bottom two are relegated.
  5. National League (level 5, 24 teams): The champions are promoted; next four compete in playoffs, with the winner gaining the second promotion spot. The bottom four are relegated to either North or South division as appropriate.
  6. National League North and National League South (level 6, 22 teams each, running in parallel): The champions in each division are automatically promoted; next four teams in each division compete in playoffs, with the playoff winner in each division getting the second promotion spot. The bottom three teams in each division relegated to either Northern Premier League, Southern League or Isthmian League as appropriate. If, after promotion and relegation, the number of teams in the North and South divisions are not equal, one or more teams are transferred between the two divisions to even them up again.
  7. Northern Premier League Premier Division, Southern Football League Premier Division and Isthmian League Premier Division (level 7, 24 teams each, running in parallel): The champions in each division are automatically promoted; next four teams in each division compete in playoffs, with the playoff winner in each division getting the second promotion spot. The bottom four teams in each division relegated to a level 8 division as appropriate. If, after promotion and relegation, the number of teams in the divisions are not equal, one or more teams are transferred between the three divisions to even them up again.
  8. Northern Premier League Division One North, Northern Premier League Division One South, Southern Football League Division One Central, Southern Football League Division One South & West, Isthmian League Division One North and Isthmian League Division One South (level 8, running in parallel, 22 teams in each of the Northern Premier League and Southern Football League level 8 divisions, and 24 teams in each Isthmian League level 8 division): The champions in each division are automatically promoted; next four teams in each division compete in playoffs, with the playoff winner in each division getting the second promotion spot. The bottom two teams in each Northern Premier League and Southern Football League level 8 division and the bottom three teams in each Isthmian League level 8 division are relegated to a level 9 division as appropriate. If, after promotion and relegation, the number of teams in the divisions are not equal, one or more teams are transferred between the divisions to even them up again.

Cup eligibility

Being members of a league at a particular level also affects eligibility for Cup, or single-elimination, competitions.

Below Level 11 the pyramid becomes regional and the cups become accordingly regional. Further down the pyramid is split on a county basis, counties having their own cups accordingly. This excludes some tournaments marked "Senior Cups", which often are competitions between teams representing top professional clubs in a given district, and may be little more than derbies, such as the Gloucestershire Cup, which originally included all teams in Gloucestershire, but then came to be contested as a Bristol derby.

The system

For details of changes made below the level of the English Football League, see History of the English non-League football system.

The table below shows the current structure of the system. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (for levels 1–8, if it differs from its historic name) and number of clubs is given. At levels 1–8, each division promotes to the division(s) that lie directly above it and relegates to the division(s) that lie directly below it. Below that level, individual league articles detail promotion and relegation arrangements.

Level one in the pyramid, the top division of English football, is run by the Premier League (which gives its name to the competition in that division), the winners of which are regarded as the champions of England. Levels two to four are run by the English Football League. Together, these four divisions make up what is known as "league football".

The leagues below level four are classed as "non-league football", meaning they are outside the Football League. The leagues at levels five to eleven comprise the National League System (NLS), and come under the direct jurisdiction of the Football Association. The top level (level 5) of the NLS is known as "step 1" by the FA, the next (level 6) as "step 2", and so on.

Level

League(s)/Division(s)

1

Premier League
20 clubs – 3 relegations

2

EFL Championship
24 clubs – 3 promotions, 3 relegations

3

EFL League One
24 clubs – 3 promotions, 4 relegations

4

EFL League Two
24 clubs – 4 promotions, 2 relegations

5

National League
24 clubs – 2 promotions, 4 relegations

6

National League North
22 clubs – 2 promotions, 3 relegations

National League South
22 clubs – 2 promotions, 3 relegations

7

Northern Premier League Premier Division
24 clubs – 2 promotions, 4 relegations

Southern League Premier Division
24 clubs – 2 promotions, 4 relegations

Isthmian League Premier Division
24 clubs – 2 promotions, 4 relegations

8

Northern Premier League Division One North
22 clubs – 2p, 2r

Northern Premier League Division One South
22 clubs – 2p, 2r

Southern League Division One Central
22 clubs – 2p, 2r

Southern League Division One South & West
22 clubs – 2p, 2r

Isthmian League Division One North
24 clubs – 2p, 3r

Isthmian League Division One South
24 clubs – 2p, 3r

9

(All divisions run in parallel)
Combined Counties League Premier Division – 23 clubs
Eastern Counties League Premier Division – 21 clubs
Essex Senior League – 22 clubs
Hellenic League Premier Division – 19 clubs
Midland Football League Premier Division – 22 clubs
North West Counties League Premier Division – 22 clubs
Northern Counties East League Premier Division – 22 clubs
Northern League Division One – 22 clubs
Southern Combination Football League Premier Division – 20 clubs
Southern Counties East League Premier Division – 20 clubs
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division – 22 clubs
United Counties League Premier Division – 22 clubs
Wessex League Premier Division – 22 clubs
Western League Premier Division – 20 clubs

10

(All divisions run in parallel)
Combined Counties League Division One – 18 clubs
East Midlands Counties League – 22 clubs
Eastern Counties League Division One – 21 clubs
Hellenic League Division One East – 14 clubs
Hellenic League Division One West – 16 clubs
Midland Football League Division One – 20 clubs
North West Counties League First Division – 22 clubs
Northern Counties East League Division One – 22 clubs
Northern League Division Two – 22 clubs
South West Peninsula League Premier Division – 20 clubs
Southern Combination Football League Division One – 18 clubs
Southern Counties East League Division One – 19 clubs
Spartan South Midlands League Division One – 21 clubs
United Counties League Division One – 20 clubs
Wessex League Division One – 21 clubs
West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division – 20 clubs
Western League Division One – 22 clubs

11

Anglian Combination Premier Division – 16 clubs
Bedfordshire County Football League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Premier Division – 18 clubs
Central Midlands League North Division – 18 clubs
Central Midlands League South Division – 17 clubs
Cheshire Football League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Dorset Premier League – 17 clubs
Essex and Suffolk Border League Premier Division – 14 clubs
Essex Olympian League Premier Division – 14 clubs
Gloucestershire County League – 17 clubs
Hampshire Premier League Senior Division – 17 clubs
Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division – 18 clubs
Humber Premier League Premier Division – 15 clubs
Kent County League Premier Division – 15 clubs
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division – 17 clubs
Lincolnshire League – 15 clubs
Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division – 15 clubs
Manchester League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Middlesex County Football League Premier Division – 18 clubs
Midland Football League Division Two – 16 clubs
Northamptonshire Combination Football League Premier Division – 15 clubs
Northern Football Alliance Premier Division – 16 clubs

Nottinghamshire Senior League Senior Division – 17 clubs
Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division – 12 clubs
Peterborough and District Football League Premier Division – 18 clubs
Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Football League Premier Division – 15 clubs
Somerset County League Premier Division – 18 clubs
South West Peninsula League Division One East – 18 clubs
South West Peninsula League Division One West – 18 clubs
Southern Combination Football League Division Two – 15 clubs
Spartan South Midlands League Division Two – 16 clubs
Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division – 18 clubs
Suffolk and Ipswich League Senior Division – 16 clubs
Surrey Elite Intermediate Football League Intermediate Division – 16 clubs
Teesside Football League Division One – 16 clubs
Thames Valley Premier Football League Premier Division – 14 clubs
Wearside League – 20 clubs
West Cheshire League Division One – 16 clubs
West Lancashire Football League Premier Division – 16 clubs
West Midlands (Regional) League Division One – 18 clubs
West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division – 14 clubs
West Yorkshire League Premier Division – 15 clubs
Wiltshire League Premier Division – 16 clubs
York League Premier Division – 15 clubs

The system is only defined as far as level 11. What follows is a representation of one possible structure, should the system be defined further.

Level

League(s)/Division(s)

12

Aldershot & District League Senior Division – 8 clubs
Anglian Combination Division One – 15 clubs
Aylesbury and District League Premier Division – 9 clubs
Bedfordshire County Football League Division One – 13 clubs
Brighton, Worthing & District Football League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Bristol Premier Combination Premier Division – 13 clubs
Bristol and Suburban League Premier Division One – 13 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Senior A Division – 16 clubs
Central Midlands League Division One – 16 clubs
Cheshire Football League League One – 12 clubs
Cornwall Combination – 19 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Dorset Football League Senior Division – 13 clubs
Durham Alliance League – 12 clubs
East Berkshire Football League Premier Division – 9 clubs
East Cornwall League Premier Division – 14 clubs
East Sussex Football League Premier Division – 10 clubs
Essex Alliance Football League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Essex and Suffolk Border League Division One – 16 clubs
Essex Olympian League Senior Division One – 13 clubs
Gloucester Northern Senior League Division One – 16 clubs
Hampshire Premier League Division One – 11 clubs
Hertfordshire Senior County League Division One – 17 clubs
Humber Premier League Division One – 15 clubs
Kent County League Division One East – 11 clubs
Kent County League Division One West – 12 clubs
Leicestershire Senior League Championship Division One – 16 clubs
Liverpool County Premier League Division One – 14 clubs
Manchester League Division One – 13 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Premier Division – 12 clubs
Middlesex County Football League Division One (Central & East) – 10 clubs
Middlesex County Football League Division One (West) – 11 clubs
Midland Football League Division Three – 16 clubs

Midlands Regional Alliance Premier Division – 12 clubs
North Berks Football League Division One – 12 clubs
North Bucks and District League Premier Division – 13 clubs
North Devon League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Northamptonshire Combination Football League Division One – 14 clubs
Northern Football Alliance Division One – 16 clubs
Nottinghamshire Senior League Division One – 15 clubs
Oxfordshire Senior League Division One – 8 clubs
Peterborough and District Football League Division One – 16 clubs
Plymouth and West Devon Football League Premier Division – 12 clubs
Portsmouth Saturday Football League Premier Division – 8 clubs
Salisbury & District (Saturday) League Premier Division – 9 clubs
Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Football League Division One – 15 clubs
Somerset County League Division One East – 14 clubs
Somerset County League Division One West – 14 clubs
South Devon League Premier Division – 14 clubs
Staffordshire County Senior League Division One – 16 clubs
Suffolk and Ipswich League Division One – 14 clubs
Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Premier Division – 12 clubs
Surrey South Eastern Combination Intermediate Division One – 12 clubs
Swindon & District Football League Premier Division – 12 clubs
Thames Valley Premier Football League Division One – 11 clubs
Trowbridge & District Football League Division One – 12 clubs
West Cheshire League Division Two – 16 clubs
West Lancashire Football League Division One – 14 clubs
West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two – 17 clubs
West Riding County Amateur League Division One – 12 clubs
West Sussex League Premier Division – 11 clubs
West Yorkshire League Division One – 16 clubs
Wycombe and District League Premier Division – 9 clubs
York League Senior Section – 9 clubs

13

Aldershot & District League Division One – 9 clubs
Altrincham and District Amateur Football League Division One – 11 clubs
Andover and District Football League – 10 clubs
Anglian Combination Division Two – 15 clubs
Aylesbury and District League Division One – 11 clubs
Banbury District and Lord Jersey FA Premier Division – 11 clubs
Basingstoke and District Football League Division One – 9 clubs
Bedfordshire County Football League Division Two – 12 clubs
Bournemouth Saturday League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Brighton, Worthing & District Football League Division One East – 13 clubs
Brighton, Worthing & District Football League Division One West – 9 clubs
Bristol Premier Combination Premier Division One – 14 clubs
Bristol and Suburban League Premier Division Two – 11 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Senior B Division – 16 clubs
Cheshire Football League League Two – 12 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division One – 13 clubs
Dorset Football League Division One – 12 clubs
Driffield and District League Premier Division – 9 clubs
East Berkshire Football League Division One – 9 clubs
East Cornwall League Division One – 15 clubs
East Riding County League Premier Division – 12 clubs
East Sussex Football League Division One – 7 clubs
Essex Alliance Football League Division One – 11 clubs
Essex and Suffolk Border League Division Two – 15 clubs
Essex Olympian League Senior Division Two – 12 clubs
Gloucester Northern Senior League Division Two – 16 clubs
Hertford and District League Premier Division – 10 clubs
Kent County League Division Two East – 11 clubs
Kent County League Division Two West – 12 clubs
Lancashire Amateur League Premier Division – 12 clubs
Leicester and District League Premier Division – 10 clubs
Liverpool County Premier League Division Two – 11 clubs
Mercian Regional Football League Premier Division – 14 clubs
Middlesex County Football League Division Two – 11 clubs
Mid-Essex League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Championship – 10 clubs
Midlands Regional Alliance Division One – 12 clubs

North Berks Football League Division Two – 11 clubs
North Bucks and District League Intermediate Division – 13 clubs
North Devon League Senior Division – 16 clubs
North Leicestershire League Premier Division – 10 clubs
Northamptonshire Combination Football League Division Two – 14 clubs
Northern Football Alliance Division Two – 15 clubs
Nottinghamshire Senior League Division Two – 16 clubs
Oxfordshire Senior League Division Two – 13 clubs
Peterborough and District Football League Division Two – 15 clubs
Plymouth and West Devon Football League Division One – 11 clubs
Portsmouth Saturday Football League Division One – 8 clubs
Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Football League Division Two – 15 clubs
Somerset County Football League Division Two East – 14 clubs
Somerset County Football League Division Two West – 14 clubs
South Devon League Division One – 14 clubs
Southampton Saturday Football League Premier Division – 10 clubs
Southend Borough Combination Premier Division – 6 clubs
Staffordshire County Senior League Division Two North – 12 clubs
Staffordshire County Senior League Division Two South – 11 clubs
Suffolk and Ipswich League Division Two – 14 clubs
Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Division One – 13 clubs
Surrey South Eastern Combination Intermediate Division Two – 13 clubs
Swindon & District Football League Division One – 9 clubs
Thames Valley Premier Football League Division Two – 11 clubs
Trelawny League Premier Division – 14 clubs
Trowbridge & District Football League Division Two – 11 clubs
West Cheshire League Division Three – 16 clubs
West Lancashire Football League Division Two – 12 clubs
West Riding County Amateur League Division Two – 9 clubs
West Sussex League Division One – 11 clubs
West Yorkshire Football League Division Two – 16 clubs
Witney and District League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Wycombe and District League Division One – 8 clubs
York League Division Two – 11 clubs

14

Aldershot & District League Division Two – 6 clubs
Altrincham and District Amateur Football League Division Two – 13 clubs
Anglian Combination Division Three – 18 clubs
Aylesbury and District League Division Two – 10 clubs
Banbury District and Lord Jersey FA Division One – 11 clubs
Basingstoke and District Football League Division Two – 10 clubs
Bedfordshire County Football League Division Three – 12 clubs
Bournemouth Saturday League Division One – 9 clubs
Brighton, Worthing & District Football League Division Two West – 10 clubs
Bristol and District League Senior Division – 14 clubs
Bristol and Suburban Association Football League Division One – 14 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division One A – 13 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division One B – 14 clubs
Cheltenham League Division One – 12 clubs
Craven and District League Premier Division – 12 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division Two – 13 clubs
Doncaster and District Senior League Premier Division – 10 clubs
Dorset Football League Division Two – 12 clubs
Driffield and District League Division One – 9 clubs
Duchy League Premier Division – 13 clubs
East Berkshire Football League Division Two – 10 clubs
East Riding County League Division One – 12 clubs
East Sussex Football League Division Two – 10 clubs
Essex Alliance Football League Division Two – 11 clubs
Essex Olympian League Senior Division Three – 13 clubs
Furness Premier League Premier Division – 14 clubs
Guildford and Woking Alliance League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Halifax and District League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Harrogate and District League Premier Division – 12 clubs
Hertford and District League Division One – 12 clubs
Huddersfield and District Association Football League Division One – 12 clubs
I Zingari Combination – 12 clubs
Kent County League Division Three East – 12 clubs
Kent County League Division Three West – 14 clubs
Kingston and District Football League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Lancashire Amateur League Division One – 14 clubs
Leicester and District League Division One – 13 clubs
Liverpool Old Boys' League Division One - 10 clubs

Mercian Regional Football League Division One – 12 clubs
Mid-Essex League Division One – 12 clubs
Mid-Somerset Football League Premier Division – 11 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Division One – 9 clubs
Midlands Regional Alliance Division Two – 10 clubs
Newcastle Corinthians League Division One – 9 clubs
North Berks Football League Division Three – 11 clubs
North Bucks and District League Division One – 13 clubs
North Devon League Intermediate Division One – 14 clubs
North Gloucestershire League Premier Division – 14 clubs
North Leicestershire League Division One – 10 clubs
North Northumberland League Division One – 10 clubs
Northamptonshire Combination Football League Division Three – 14 clubs
Peterborough and District Football League Division Three
Perry Street and District League Premier Division – 13 clubs
Redhill and District Football League Premier Division – 7 clubs
South Devon League Division Two – 14 clubs
Southampton Saturday Football League Senior Division One – 10 clubs
Southend Borough Combination Division One – 12 clubs
Spen Valley and District Football League Premier Division – 12 clubs
Stroud and District League Division One – 14 clubs
Suffolk and Ipswich League Division Three – 13 clubs
Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Division One – 11 clubs
Taunton & District Saturday League Division One – 11 clubs
Thames Valley Premier Football League Division Three – 11 clubs
Trelawny League Division One – 14 clubs
Tyneside Amateur League Division One – 13 clubs
Wakefield and District League Premier Division – 11 clubs
West Sussex League Division Two North – 12 clubs
West Sussex League Division Two South – 11 clubs
Weston-super-Mare and District Football League Division One – 11 clubs
Wimbledon & District Football League Premier Division – 10 clubs
Witney and District League Division One – 11 clubs
Yeovil and District League Premier Division – 12 clubs
York League Division Three – 11 clubs
Yorkshire Amateur League Premier Division – 11 clubs

15

Anglian Combination Division Four – 15 clubs
Aylesbury and District League Division Three – 10 clubs
Banbury District and Lord Jersey FA Division Two – 11 clubs
Bedfordshire County Football League Division Four – 11 clubs
Bournemouth Saturday League Division Two – 11 clubs
Bristol and District League Division One – 13 clubs
Bristol and Suburban Association Football League Division Two – 14 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division Two A – 14 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division Two B – 14 clubs
Cheltenham League Division Two – 12 clubs
Cirencester and District League Division One – 12 clubs
Colchester and East Essex Football League Premier Division – 9 clubs
Craven and District League Division One – 12 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division Three – 14 clubs
Doncaster and District Senior League Division One – 6 clubs
Dorset Football League Division Three – 12 clubs
Duchy League Division One – 12 clubs
East Berkshire Football League Division Three – 12 clubs
East Riding County League Division Two – 12 clubs
East Sussex Football League Division Three – 11 clubs
Essex Alliance Football League Division Three – 11 clubs
Essex Olympian League Senior Division Four – 14 clubs
Furness Premier League Division One – 10 clubs
Guildford and Woking Alliance League Division One – 11 clubs
Halifax and District League Division One – 13 clubs
Harrogate and District League Division One – 13 clubs
Hertford and District League Division Two – 11 clubs
Huddersfield and District Association Football League Division Two – 12 clubs
Isle of Wight Saturday League Division One – 11 clubs
Kingston and District Football League Division One – 10 clubs
Lancashire Amateur League Division Two – 14 clubs
Leicester and District League Division Two – 12 clubs
Liverpool Old Boys' League Division Two - 10 clubs
Mercian Regional Football League Division Two – 12 clubs
Mid-Essex League Division Two – 13 clubs

Mid-Somerset Football League Division One – 11 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Division Two – 10 clubs
Newcastle Corinthians League Division Two – 10 clubs
North Berks Football League Division Four – 12 clubs
North Bucks and District League Division Two – 12 clubs
North Devon League Intermediate Division Two – 12 clubs
North Gloucestershire League Division One – 12 clubs
North Leicestershire League Division Two – 10 clubs
North Northumberland League Division Two – 11 clubs
Northampton Town and District Football League Premier Division – 6 clubs
Northamptonshire Combination Football League Division Four – 14 clubs
Plymouth and West Devon Football League Division Three – 10 clubs
Perry Street and District League Division One – 13 clubs
Peterborough and District Football League Division Four – 15 clubs
Plymouth and West Devon Combination Football League Division Three
Redhill and District Football League Division One – 10 clubs
Sevenoaks and District Football League Premier Division - 11 clubs
South Devon League Division Three – 14 clubs
Southampton Saturday Football League Junior Division One – 11 clubs
Southend Borough Combination Division Two – 11 clubs
Spen Valley and District Football League Division One – 9 clubs
Stroud and District League Division Two – 13 clubs
Suffolk and Ipswich League Division Four – 13 clubs
Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Division Two – 12 clubs
Taunton & District Saturday League Division Two – 11 clubs
Thames Valley Premier Football League Division Four – 10 clubs
Trelawny League Division Two – 14 clubs
Wakefield and District League Division One – 11 clubs
West Sussex League Division Three North – 11 clubs
West Sussex League Division Three South – 10 clubs
Weston-super-Mare and District Football League Division Two – 11 clubs
Wimbledon & District Football League Division One – 10 clubs
Witney and District League Division Two – 12 clubs
Yeovil and District League Division One – 12 clubs
York League Division Four – 12 clubs
Yorkshire Amateur League Championship Division – 12 clubs

16

Anglian Combination Division Five North – 15 clubs
Anglian Combination Division Five South – 16 clubs
Banbury District and Lord Jersey FA Division Three – 12 clubs
Bournemouth Saturday League Division Three – 11 clubs
Bristol and District League Division Two – 15 clubs
Bristol and Suburban Association Football League Division Three – 13 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division Three A – 14 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division Three B – 14 clubs
Cheltenham League Division Three – 12 clubs
Cirencester and District League Division Two – 14 clubs
Colchester and East Essex Football League Division One – 13 clubs
Craven and District League Division Two – 14 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division Four – 13 clubs
Dorset Football League Division Four – 11 clubs
Duchy League Division Two – 12 clubs
East Berkshire Football League Division Four – 10 clubs
East Riding County League Division Three – 12 clubs
East Sussex Football League Division Four – 11 clubs
Essex Olympian League Senior Division Five – 13 clubs
Furness Premier League Division Two – 11 clubs
Guildford and Woking Alliance League Division Two – 13 clubs
Halifax and District League Division Two – 12 clubs
Harrogate and District League Division Two – 13 clubs
Hertford and District League Division Three – 13 clubs
Huddersfield and District Association Football League Division Three – 12 clubs
Isle of Wight Saturday League Division Two – 11 clubs
Kingston and District Football League Division Two – 12 clubs
Lancashire Amateur League Division Three – 14 clubs
Leicester and District League Division Three – 11 clubs

Liverpool Old Boys' League Division Three - 12 clubs
Mid-Essex League Division Three – 13 clubs
Mid-Somerset Football League Division Two – 13 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Division Three – 9 clubs
North Berks Football League Division Five – 13 clubs
North Gloucestershire League Division Two – 12 clubs
North Leicestershire League Division Three – 12 clubs
Northampton Town and District Football League Division One - 4 clubs
Northamptonshire Combination Football League Division Five – 14 clubs
Perry Street and District League Division Two – 13 clubs
Peterborough and District Football League Division Five – 13 clubs
Redhill and District Football League Division Two – 7 clubs
South Devon League Division Four – 14 clubs
Southampton Saturday Football League Junior Division Two – 11 clubs
Southend Borough Combination Division Three – 11 clubs
Stroud and District League Division Three – 13 clubs
Suffolk and Ipswich League Division Five – 12 clubs
Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Division Three – 11 clubs
Taunton & District Saturday League Division Three – 9 clubs
Thames Valley Premier Football League Division Five – 9 clubs
Trelawny League Division Three – 14 clubs
Wakefield and District League Division Two – 11 clubs
West Sussex League Division Four North – 11 clubs
West Sussex League Division Four South – 10 clubs
Weston-super-Mare and District Football League Division Three – 12 clubs
Wimbledon & District Football League Division Two – 10 clubs
Witney and District League Division Three – 12 clubs
Yeovil and District League Division Two – 10 clubs
Yorkshire Amateur League Division One – 13 clubs

17

Bournemouth Saturday League Division Four – 12 clubs
Bristol and District League Division Three – 14 clubs
Bristol and Suburban Association Football League Division Four – 12 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division Four A – 12 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division Four B – 14 clubs
Cheltenham League Division Four – 11 clubs
Colchester and East Essex Football League Division Two – 13 clubs
Craven and District League Division Three – 13 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division Five – 13 clubs
Dorset Football League Division Five – 10 clubs
Duchy League Division Three – 13 clubs
East Riding County League Division Four – 12 clubs
East Sussex Football League Division Five – 9 clubs
Guildford and Woking Alliance League Division Three – 11 clubs
Huddersfield and District Association Football League Division Four – 14 clubs
Isle of Wight Saturday League Division Three – 15 clubs
Kingston and District Football League Division Three – 11 clubs
Lancashire Amateur League Division Four – 13 clubs
Liverpool Old Boys' League Division Four- 12 clubs
Mid-Essex League Division Four – 14 clubs

Mid-Somerset Football League Division Three – 14 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Division Four – 9 clubs
North Gloucestershire League Division Three – 12 clubs
Northampton Town and District Football League Division Two - 6 clubs
Perry Street and District League Division Three – 13 clubs
Redhill and District Football League Division Three – 10 clubs
South Devon League Division Five – 13 clubs
Southampton Saturday Football League Junior Division Three – 10 clubs
Stroud and District League Division Four – 14 clubs
Suffolk and Ipswich League Division Six – 13 clubs
Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Division Four – 12 clubs
Taunton & District Saturday League Division Four – 10 clubs
Trelawny League Division Four – 14 clubs
Wakefield and District League Division Three – 11 clubs
West Sussex League Division Five North – 10 clubs
West Sussex League Division Five South – 10 clubs
Weston-super-Mare and District Football League Division Four – 11 clubs
Wimbledon & District Football League Division Three – 10 clubs
Witney and District League Division Four – 12 clubs
Yeovil and District League Division Three – 12 clubs
Yorkshire Amateur League Division Two – 12 clubs

18

Bristol and District League Division Four – 13 clubs
Bristol and Suburban Association Football League Division Five – 12 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division Five A – 13 clubs
Cambridgeshire Football Association County League Division Five B – 12 clubs
Central and South Norfolk League Division One – 12 clubs
Cheltenham League Division Five – 13 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division Six – 14 clubs
Duchy League Division Four – 12 clubs
East Riding County League Division Five – 12 clubs
Guildford and Woking Alliance League Division Four – 14 clubs
Lancashire Amateur League Division Five – 12 clubs

Mid-Essex League Division Five – 14 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Division Five – 10 clubs
North Gloucestershire League Division Four – 12 clubs
Redhill and District Football League Division Four – 10 clubs
Southampton Saturday Football League Junior Division Four – 9 clubs
St. Edmundsbury Football League Division One – 7 clubs
Stroud and District League Division Five – 14 clubs
Taunton & District Saturday League Division Five – 10 clubs
Trelawny League Division Five – 14 clubs
Weston-super-Mare and District Football League Division Five – 11 clubs
Yorkshire Amateur League Division Three – 12 clubs

19

Bristol and District League Division Five – 12 clubs
Central and South Norfolk League Division Two – 11 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division Seven – 12 clubs
Duchy League Division Five – 12 clubs
East Riding County League Division Six – 11 clubs
Guildford and Woking Alliance League Division Five – 12 clubs

Lancashire Amateur League Division Six – 12 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Division Six – 11 clubs
St. Edmundsbury Football League Division Two – 7 clubs
Stroud and District League Division Six – 14 clubs
Yorkshire Amateur League Division Four – 12 clubs
(NOTE: No league has its top division at level 19)

20

Bristol and Avon League – 11 clubs
Central and South Norfolk League Division Three – 12 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division Eight – 12 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Division Seven – 10 clubs

St. Edmundsbury Football League Division Three – 7 clubs
Stroud and District League Division Seven – 14 clubs
Yorkshire Amateur League Division Five – 10 clubs
(NOTE: This is the lowest level at which any league has its top division)

21

Central and South Norfolk League Division Four – 9 clubs
Devon and Exeter Football League Division Nine – 12 clubs
Mid-Sussex Football League Division Eight – 9 clubs
Yorkshire Amateur League Division Six – 11 clubs

22

Mid-Sussex Football League Division Nine – 10 clubs

See also

References

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