Football pyramid

[roversdude]

Morning guys
Has anyone got a simplified explanation of how the National League (Conference) and immediate feeder leagues maintain numbers. I was asked what happens if all clubs relegated from NL are from the same region and the knock on effect. To be honest I couldn’t answer it lol

[Wiltshire Exile]

Morning dude!
These links may be of some help in explaining your query, though not totally, I’m afraid:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_football_league_system
https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/26667/non-league-restructuring-change-2020/
https://www.nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=7630

[roversdude]

Thanks Wilts certainly goes someway to explaining it. Strange that a team could be promoted from Northern Premier, have a bad season and be relegated to Southern Premier.

[idler]

I think that because of their location Port Vale played in both 3rd division North and South some years ago.
Almost as daft as us playing Hereford in a Leylandi DAF Northern group game; and losing.

[IDM]

Aren’t Hereford in the national league north this season.?

Clubs in the loosely defined boundaries between regional divisions often switch to balance the numbers..

[Wiltshire Exile]

Aren’t Hereford in the national league north this season.?

Clubs in the loosely defined boundaries between regional divisions often switch to balance the numbers..

Correct, IDM. And even further south than Hereford in the Vanarama North Division is Gloucester City. Having to travel to places such as Gateshead, Darlington and Spennymoor...sometimes in midweek. Crazy!

[IDM]

I wonder if it is sometimes to do with travel links, ie up the m5 to the Midlands then split to anywhere else.?

[RoversAlias]

They have to draw the line somewhere I suppose, it is tricky for those clubs in the middle geographically.

I think around the start of this century, Burton got moved from the Southern Premier to the Northern Premier (or the other way round) and immediately won their new league. Haven't looked back since!

[Wiltshire Exile]

I wonder if it is sometimes to do with travel links, ie up the m5 to the Midlands then split to anywhere else.?

I’m sure that travel could be one of the factors to consider when the make up of the Leagues are being discussed. I believe that Gloucester City, due to their location in the south west, receive about £5,000 per season towards their very large travel expenses in the National League North.