National League System (football)

Ahead of the 2020-21 season, Step 7 was abolished, being replaced by feeder leagues overseen by local county FAs.

At the lower levels the existence of leagues becomes intermittent, although in some areas there are as many as twenty layers.

Clubs that are successful in their league can rise higher in the pyramid, whilst those that finish at the bottom can find themselves sinking further down.

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.

For instance, in the 2005–06 season 100 clubs applied to be considered for promotion, of which 51 met the grading requirements, and 29 of those finished in the top 3 in their leagues.

Under the direction of The Football Association, the National League System evolved over many years.

All clubs in the NLS are eligible to compete in the FA Cup, but are seeded into it according to Step standing.

Step 1 to 4 clubs are eligible for the FA Trophy and Step 5 to 6 clubs (and some at NLS Feeder League level) for the FA Vase, as well as their respective regional league cups and county cups.

For the 2012–13 season, the FA announced a re-structuring of the National League System's lowest level, Step 7.

In March 2018, representatives of the National League system confirmed that a pure pyramid in a 1-2-4-8-16 was the goal.

[2] On 24 April, it was announced that the Northern Premier League had been awarded the operation of the eighth division at Step 4.