National League South

The National League South, formerly Conference South (billed as The Motorama National League South for sponsorship reasons[1]), is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is at the second level of the National League System, and at the sixth tier overall of the English football league system.

"Conference South" redirects here. It is 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
Founded2004
CountryEngland
Number of teams22
Level on pyramid6
Step 2 (National League System)
Promotion toNational League
Relegation toIsthmian League Premier Division
Southern League Premier Division
Domestic cup(s)FA Cup
FA Trophy
Conference League Cup (defunct)
International cup(s)Europa League
(via FA Cup)
Current championsWealdstone
(2019–20)
WebsiteNational League
2019–20 season

It was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of the National League System. The champion team each year is automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to seventh place (expanded from four to six teams in the 2017–18 season).[2] The three bottom clubs are 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),[3] 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.[4] The 2018–19 champions are Torquay United.

The National League South will expand to 24 teams in 2021, when the bottom two clubs will be relegated and four promoted from Step 3. Four will be relegated starting in 2022.[5][6]

Current member clubs, 2019–20

The current member clubs for the 2019–20 season are as follows:

The area covered by National League South is coloured in yellow. National League South teams also come from counties bordering National League North (purple).
Club Finishing position 2018–19
Bath City5th
Billericay Town8th
Braintree Town23rd in National League (relegated)
Chelmsford City4th
Chippenham Town13th
Concord Rangers6th
Dartford10th
Dorking Wanderers1st in Isthmian League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet14th
Eastbourne Borough18th
Havant & Waterlooville22nd in National League (relegated)
Hampton & Richmond Borough15th
Hemel Hempstead Town16th
Hungerford Town19th
Maidstone United24th in National League (relegated)
Oxford City12th
Slough Town11th
St Albans City9th
Tonbridge Angels4th in Isthmian League Premier Division (won play-offs)
Wealdstone7th
Welling United3rd
Weymouth1st in Southern League Premier Division

Current league stadia 2019–20
Locations of the National League South 2019–20 teams (Greater London and Essex shown in more detail below)
Locations of the National League South 2019–20 teams (Greater London clubs)
Locations of the National League South 2019–20 teams (Essex clubs)

The stadiums of all teams in the league for the 2019–20 season are listed below in capacity order:

Home Club Stadium Name Capacity
WeymouthBob Lucas Stadium6,600
Havant & WaterloovilleWest Leigh Park5,300
St Albans CityClarence Park5,007
Billericay TownNew Lodge5,000
Maidstone UnitedGallagher Stadium4,200
Eastbourne BoroughPriory Lane4,151
DartfordPrinces Park4,100
Braintree TownCressing Road4,085
Welling UnitedPark View Road4,000
WealdstoneGrosvenor Vale3,607
Bath CityTwerton Park3,528
Dulwich HamletChampion Hill3,000
Tonbridge AngelsLongmead Stadium3,000
Hampton & Richmond BoroughBeveree Stadium3,500
Concord RangersThames Road3,300
Oxford CityCourt Place Farm3,218
Hemel Hempstead TownVauxhall Road3,152
Chelmsford CityMelbourne Stadium3,000
Chippenham TownHardenhuish Park3,000
Hungerford TownBulpit Lane2,500
Dorking WanderersMeadowbank Stadium2,000
Slough TownArbour Park2,000

League winners
Conference South trophy
SeasonWinnerPlayoff Winner
2004–05Grays AthleticEastbourne Borough **
2005–06WeymouthSt Albans City
2006–07HistonSalisbury City
2007–08LewesEastbourne Borough
2008–09AFC WimbledonHayes & Yeading United
2009–10Newport CountyBath City
2010–11Braintree TownEbbsfleet United
2011–12WokingDartford
2012–13Welling UnitedSalisbury City
2013–14EastleighDover Athletic
2014–15BromleyBoreham Wood
2015–16Sutton UnitedMaidstone United
2016–17Maidenhead UnitedEbbsfleet United
2017–18Havant & WaterloovilleBraintree Town
2018–19Torquay UnitedWoking
2019–20WealdstoneTBD

** Not promoted. In 2004–05 only three promotion places were available to the Conference National. The third place was decided in a Playoff at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium, which Eastbourne lost 2–1 to the Conference North playoff winners, Altrincham.

League records
Biggest home win 8 – Maidenhead United 8 Truro City 0, 8 September 2012,

Ebbsfleet United 8 Bishops Stortford 0, 21 March 2017

Biggest away win 7 – Dorchester Town 0 Grays Athletic 7, 23 October 2004
Highest scoring match 11 – Bognor Regis Town 6 Welling United 5, 11 September 2004
Bath City 7 Farnborough 4, 17 February 2015
Consecutive wins 12 – Welling United, 2012–13
Consecutive games unbeaten 25 – Sutton United, 2015–16
Most wins in a season 32 – Newport County 2009–10
Fewest wins in a season 5 – Sutton United 2007–08
Fisher Athletic 2008–09
Weston-super-Mare & Weymouth 2009–10
Thurrock 2011–12
Most defeats in a season 34 – Fisher Athletic 2008–09
Fewest defeats in a season 3 – Newport County 2009–10
Most draws in a season 18 – Hampton & Richmond Borough 2017-18
Fewest draws in a season 3 – Redbridge 2004–05
Eastleigh 2005–06
Fisher Athletic 2008–09
Most goals scored in a season 118 – Grays Athletic, 2004–05
Fewest goals scored in a season 22 – Fisher Athletic 2008–09
Most goals conceded in a season 103 – Weymouth 2009–10
Fewest goals conceded in a season 26 – Newport County, 2009–10
Most clean sheets in a season 23 – Newport County 2009–10
Most points in a season 103 – Newport County 2009–10
Most individual goals in a season 44 – Dave Tarpey, Maidenhead United, 2016–17 [7]
Most individual goals in a game 6 – Mitchell Bryant, Weymouth 0 Basingstoke Town 6, 13 February 2010
Highest attendance 5,351 – Torquay United vs. Hungerford Town, 22 April 2019
Highest average attendance 3,219 – AFC Wimbledon, 2008–09
Lowest home attendance 52 out of 2,812 - Truro City vs. Torquay United, 1 January 2019
Highest away attendance 2,760 out of 2,812 - Truro City vs. Torquay United, 1 January 2019

References
  1. "The National League is to be rebranded from next season". Chester Live. 29 January 2019.
  2. "National League North 2017-18 Season Preview - The Vanarama National League". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  3. "Skrill announced as new Football Conference sponsor". Non-League Bets. 26 July 2013.
  4. "BBC Sport – Football Conference to be renamed as National League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  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. "HIGHLIGHTS: Dave Tarpey hits fourth hat-trick of season as Maidenhead United thrash Bath City 5-1". windsorexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
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