The Conference National was joined by Carlisle United and York City, who had been relegated from the Football League.
Carlisle became the first club to compete in all top five tiers of English football, having reached the old First Division in 1974–75.
In addition to the winners and the teams that qualified for the play-offs, Exeter City fought gallantly in the FA Cup against Manchester United, holding them to a goalless draw in the third round on Old Trafford and finally going down 0–2 on home turf.
Winners and runners-up of Northern Premier League were unable to qualify in Conference National.
Source:[1] First Conference North/South season saw competition of best 44 teams by the results of previous season from Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and Isthmian League, except Crawley Town and Canvey Island, promoted directly to Conference National.