The National League is the fifth tier of the game in England and it is the gateway to professional football.

The competition normally consists of 24 clubs which are a mixture of professional and semi-professional sides.

At the end of the season, the Champions are automatically promoted to League Two while the other six best teams go into a play-off in order to determine the second promotion place.

At the foot of the table, four teams face relegation to the National League North and National League South.