Oberliga West and one club from the Verbandsliga Westfalen, the Lüner SV.

The winners and runners-up of this league were admitted to the promotion play-off to the Bundesliga, which was staged in two groups of originally four, later five teams each with the winner of each group going up.

The bottom teams in varying number were relegated to the Verbandsligas.

Bundesliga Nord were: The following teams were relegated to the Amateurligas: In 1994, the Regionalligas were re-established, after 20 years, this time as the third tier of German Football.

In 2000, this league was disbanded again and its clubs spread over the Regionalligas Süd and Nord.