2015–16 National League

The 2015–16 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the first season under the new title of National League, twelfth season consisting of three divisions and the thirty-seventh season overall. The National League covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The National League is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, whilst the National League North and National League South exist at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the play-off of the Premier division will be promoted to Football League Two, while the bottom four are relegated to the North or South divisions. The champions of the North and South divisions will be promoted to the Premier division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions are relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian League or Southern League.

On 6 April 2015, it was announced that as of the 2015–16 season the League was to undergo a name change from the Football Conference to the National League. As well as the name change, the league's logo has been re-designed and the league's broadcaster BT Sport has signed a new three-year contract. The structure of the league and the title sponsor Vanarama however remain the same.[1]

National League

National League
Season 2015–16
Champions Cheltenham Town
(2nd divisional title)
Promoted Cheltenham Town
Relegated Altrincham
Halifax Town
Kidderminster Harriers
Welling United
Top goalscorer Pádraig Amond, Grimsby Town and Dan Holman, Cheltenham Town (30 goals)
Biggest home win Grimsby Town 7 – 0 Halifax Town
Biggest away win Halifax Town 1 – 7 Cheltenham Town
Highest scoring Torquay United 3 – 7 Bromley
Chester 8 – 2 Aldershot Town
Longest winning run Forest Green Rovers and Cheltenham Town (9 matches)
Longest unbeaten run Cheltenham Town (21 matches)
Longest winless run Kidderminster Harriers (18 matches)
Highest attendance 7,650 Grimsby Town v Lincoln City
Average attendance 5,008 Tranmere Rovers

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Conference North

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Conference South

Teams relegated from 2014–15 Football League Two

Stadia and locations

Team Stadium Capacity
Aldershot Town EBB Stadium 7,100
Altrincham Moss Lane 6,085
Barrow Holker Street 5,000
Boreham Wood Meadow Park 4,502
Braintree Town Cressing Road 4,145
Bromley Hayes Lane 5,000
Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road 7,066
Chester Deva Stadium 6,000
Dover Athletic Crabble Athletic Ground 6,500
Eastleigh Silverlake Stadium 5,200
F.C. Halifax Town The Shay 14,061
Forest Green Rovers The New Lawn 5,147
Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 10,000
Grimsby Town Blundell Park 9,062
Guiseley Nethermoor Park 3,000
Kidderminster Harriers Aggborough 6,238
Lincoln City Sincil Bank 10,120
Macclesfield Town Moss Rose 6,355
Southport Merseyrail Community Stadium 6,008
Torquay United Plainmoor 6,500
Tranmere Rovers Prenton Park 16,789
Welling United Park View Road 4,000
Woking Kingfield Stadium 6,036
Wrexham Racecourse Ground 10,771

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Cheltenham Town (C, P) 46 30 11 5 87 30 +57 101 Promotion to Football League Two
2 Forest Green Rovers (Q) 46 26 11 9 69 41 +28 89 Qualification for National League play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
3 Braintree Town (Q) 46 23 12 11 56 38 +18 81
4 Grimsby Town (Q) 46 22 14 10 82 45 +37 80
5 Dover Athletic (Q) 46 23 11 12 75 53 +22 80
6 Tranmere Rovers 46 22 12 12 61 44 +17 78
7 Eastleigh 46 21 12 13 64 53 +11 75
8 Wrexham 46 20 9 17 71 56 +15 69
9 Gateshead 46 19 10 17 59 70 11 67
10 Macclesfield Town 46 19 9 18 60 48 +12 66
11 Barrow 46 17 14 15 64 71 7 65
12 Woking 46 17 10 19 71 68 +3 61
13 Lincoln City 46 16 13 17 69 68 +1 61
14 Bromley 46 17 9 20 67 72 5 60
15 Aldershot Town 46 16 8 22 54 72 18 56
16 Southport 46 14 13 19 51 65 14 55
17 Chester 46 14 12 20 67 71 4 54
18 Torquay United 46 13 12 21 54 76 22 51
19 Boreham Wood 46 12 14 20 44 49 5 50
20 Guiseley 46 11 16 19 47 70 23 49
21 Halifax Town (R) 46 12 12 22 55 82 27 48 Relegation to National League North or National League South
22 Altrincham (R) 46 10 14 22 48 72 24 44
23 Kidderminster Harriers (R) 46 9 13 24 49 70 21 40
24 Welling United (R) 46 8 11 27 35 73 38 35
Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2016. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League Two.

Play-offs

  Semifinals Final
                     
2  Forest Green Rovers 1  
5  Dover Athletic 0  
     
   
3  Braintree Town 1
4  Grimsby Town 0  

First leg

Second leg

Results

Home ╲ Away ALD ALT BRWBORBRABROCHLCHRDOVEASHALFGRGATGRIGUIKIDLINMACSOUTORTRAWELWOKWRE
Aldershot Town 20 01 12 21 11 02 31 11 12 32 03 12 34 10 10 12 03 12 00 00 10 01 01
Altrincham 40 10 10 04 00 21 03 12 11 13 01 23 21 11 22 33 00 11 11 21 50 31 11
Barrow 13 32 00 20 11 12 32 21 10 41 22 00 13 11 11 10 11 10 40 34 11 21 20
Boreham Wood 01 01 02 10 23 00 00 30 11 31 01 23 13 10 02 11 00 02 01 00 20 11 01
Braintree Town 12 30 11 02 10 10 20 10 20 20 11 00 00 01 21 13 10 10 00 00 10 21 10
Bromley 13 13 50 12 12 12 30 11 22 10 22 30 12 20 32 20 10 00 02 01 20 21 31
Cheltenham Town 00 10 21 41 11 41 31 32 11 20 11 00 31 50 20 31 20 30 10 01 20 40 21
Chester 82 11 12 22 10 11 11 11 10 21 12 42 11 11 31 23 02 00 41 01 40 12 32
Dover Athletic 52 21 31 21 00 23 12 00 12 10 01 40 11 00 32 41 21 12 50 00 21 20 21
Eastleigh 11 20 31 10 02 20 10 10 25 21 32 12 01 11 31 11 10 10 32 01 00 21 11
F.C. Halifax Town 02 10 31 32 36 22 17 01 42 00 02 11 42 11 11 22 11 22 23 11 11 03 20
Forest Green Rovers 00 20 40 10 10 21 22 21 31 21 01 01 01 30 30 31 21 21 31 02 10 12 00
Gateshead 32 22 11 21 23 31 11 10 23 21 14 01 10 30 11 20 03 01 12 14 12 15 21
Grimsby Town 41 50 41 00 01 41 01 12 10 00 70 11 21 11 10 20 02 10 22 11 31 31 10
Guiseley 04 10 31 11 11 20 02 33 01 14 21 01 02 22 10 01 03 11 43 22 20 44 31
Kidderminster Harriers 20 11 00 11 01 01 12 22 11 32 10 02 01 22 01 02 31 01 22 02 01 10 13
Lincoln City 20 11 22 31 20 01 11 21 23 30 01 01 11 11 10 12 53 31 20 10 11 23 11
Macclesfield Town 02 30 12 00 31 20 01 12 00 12 01 41 10 21 10 21 11 00 12 12 21 21 00
Southport 11 30 21 03 11 53 04 12 00 04 01 01 12 04 20 34 22 31 01 22 33 22 32
Torquay United 02 20 22 12 00 37 03 20 23 01 00 41 02 11 11 32 13 10 10 01 20 01 01
Tranmere Rovers 31 10 01 02 12 40 01 20 01 12 10 11 31 10 21 22 32 01 10 21 12 10 12
Welling United 01 11 12 03 12 12 11 21 12 22 20 11 01 04 10 12 21 01 01 11 11 21 02
Woking 21 20 22 00 11 20 01 52 01 21 11 21 11 13 01 11 31 25 12 22 41 20 01
Wrexham 30 31 41 10 23 20 21 30 01 23 31 22 40 00 33 20 31 23 01 31 22 10 13

Updated to games played on 30 April 2016.
Source: Football Conference
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers

As of matches played 30 April 2016 [3]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Republic of Ireland Pádraig Amond Grimsby Town 30
England Dan Holman Cheltenham Town
3 England Andy Cook Barrow 24
4 England Ross Hannah Chester 23
5 England Kristian Dennis Macclesfield Town 22
England Daniel Wright Cheltenham Town
7 England Moses Emmanuel Bromley 20
England Matt Rhead Lincoln City
England Ricky Miller Dover Athletic
10 England James Norwood Tranmere Rovers 19

National League North

National League North
Season 2015–16
Champions Solihull Moors
Promoted Solihull Moors
Relegated Corby Town
Hednesford Town
Lowestoft Town

Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated from 2014–15 Conference Premier

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Northern Premier League

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Southern Football League

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Solihull Moors (C, P) 42 25 10 7 84 48 +36 85 Promotion to the National League
2 North Ferriby United (Q) 42 22 10 10 82 49 +33 76 Qualification for National League North play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
3 Fylde (Q) 42 22 9 11 76 53 +23 75
4 Harrogate Town (Q) 42 21 9 12 73 46 +27 72
5 Boston United (Q) 42 22 5 15 73 60 +13 71
6 Nuneaton Town[lower-alpha 2] 42 20 13 9 71 46 +25 70
7 Tamworth 42 16 15 11 55 45 +10 63
8 Chorley 42 18 9 15 64 55 +9 63
9 Stockport County 42 15 14 13 50 49 +1 59
10 Alfreton Town 42 15 13 14 58 54 +4 58
11 Curzon Ashton 42 14 15 13 55 52 +3 57
12 Stalybridge Celtic 42 14 11 17 62 75 13 53
13 F.C. United of Manchester 42 15 8 19 60 75 15 53
14 Bradford Park Avenue 42 13 11 18 51 59 8 50
15 Gloucester City 42 12 14 16 39 49 10 50
16 Gainsborough Trinity 42 14 8 20 46 62 16 50
17 Worcester City 42 12 12 18 55 61 6 48
18 A.F.C. Telford United 42 13 8 21 47 60 13 47
19 Brackley Town 42 11 13 18 45 54 9 46
20 Lowestoft Town (R) 42 12 10 20 48 69 21 46 Relegation to Northern Premier League,
Southern Football League or Isthmian League
21 Hednesford Town (R) 42 8 14 20 50 77 27 38
22 Corby Town (R) 42 7 11 24 47 93 46 32
Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2016. Source: Football Conference
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the National League.
  2. Nuneaton were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in their win over Corby Town on 27 February 2016.[4]

Play-offs

  Semifinals Final
                     
2  North Ferriby United 0  
5  Boston United 2  
     
   
3  Fylde 1
4  Harrogate Town 0  

First leg

Second leg

Results

Home ╲ Away FYL TEL ALFBOSBRKBPACHOCORCZAFCUGAIGLOHARHEDLOWNFUNUNSOLSTLSTPTAMWRC
A.F.C. Fylde 10 01 52 22 10 10 21 12 40 22 10 21 20 10 23 22 12 50 23 22 23
A.F.C. Telford United 12 11 22 20 31 20 30 00 51 02 01 04 13 10 11 15 03 20 01 10 20
Alfreton Town 12 23 12 11 01 10 11 22 01 10 11 32 40 01 01 22 22 13 03 10 21
Boston United 03 10 21 12 30 12 20 21 31 10 10 33 31 41 12 21 14 03 40 11 11
Brackley Town 00 00 14 13 00 11 12 20 40 32 10 10 11 22 24 23 01 23 01 10 20
Bradford Park Avenue 12 10 22 12 10 10 10 42 31 14 11 31 11 30 44 23 11 31 00 02 31
Chorley 32 21 12 20 10 22 30 20 30 31 01 01 22 20 23 23 22 00 10 11 20
Corby Town 12 32 23 23 11 20 22 04 23 12 31 03 00 35 14 13 13 03 04 20 03
Curzon Ashton 02 10 02 02 11 21 42 22 00 30 11 12 32 41 03 10 13 00 00 20 31
F.C. United of Manchester 12 13 13 12 32 21 20 10 33 12 12 43 11 61 32 32 22 01 12 11 02
Gainsborough Trinity 02 11 11 10 10 01 21 11 02 01 33 21 31 11 20 10 16 31 01 02 11
Gloucester City 13 10 11 10 00 13 11 10 31 10 02 01 22 01 32 01 02 30 00 12 01
Harrogate Town 22 01 12 00 10 21 24 50 11 50 31 00 21 40 33 03 60 21 21 00 10
Hednesford Town 01 20 33 32 02 00 13 33 03 03 02 22 23 21 11 24 00 21 12 21 01
Lowestoft Town 31 30 10 30 12 30 20 22 00 14 10 11 12 00 03 01 22 02 22 04 21
North Ferriby United 30 20 01 43 21 10 40 50 00 10 40 30 01 11 00 12 11 10 20 31 33
Nuneaton Town 11 00 20 13 10 10 22 00 01 22 20 01 00 30 10 31 01 33 11 30 11
Solihull Moors 30 21 21 01 30 21 02 41 20 12 32 00 10 12 21 13 31 41 10 12 30
Stalybridge Celtic 11 55 11 05 31 11 01 23 11 10 00 10 01 42 31 20 25 13 11 35 31
Stockport County 04 01 10 21 11 20 13 22 00 12 20 30 12 30 02 11 11 24 03 11 00
Tamworth 31 21 12 12 12 00 21 00 21 11 20 22 10 10 11 10 11 11 11 11 30
Worcester City 22 30 11 21 00 31 23 12 22 00 20 12 00 14 21 20 01 22 50 23 12

Updated to games played on 30 April 2016.
Source: Football Conference
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Team Stadium Capacity
A.F.C. Fylde Kellamergh Park 3,180
A.F.C. Telford United New Bucks Head 6,300
Alfreton Town North Street 3,600
Boston United York Street 6,643
Brackley Town St. James Park 3,500
Bradford Park Avenue Horsfall Stadium 3,500
Chorley The Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium 4,100
Corby Town Steel Park 3,893
Curzon Ashton Tameside Stadium 4,000
F.C. United of Manchester Broadhurst Park 4,400
Gainsborough Trinity The Northolme 4,304
Gloucester City Whaddon Road 7,066
Harrogate Town Wetherby Road 3,800
Hednesford Town Keys Park 6,500
Lowestoft Town Crown Meadow 3,000
North Ferriby United Grange Lane 2,700
Nuneaton Town Liberty Way 4,314
Solihull Moors Damson Park 3,050
Stalybridge Celtic Bower Fold 6,500
Stockport County Edgeley Park 10,841
Tamworth The Lamb Ground 4,000
Worcester City Aggborough 6,302

Top scorers

As of matches played 30 April 2016 [5]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 England Dayle Southwell Boston United 24
2 England Brendon Daniels Harrogate Town 22
3 England Danny Rowe AFC Fylde 21
4 England Tom Denton North Ferriby United 20
5 Jamaica Darren Stephenson Chorley 18
6 Netherlands Akwasi Asante Solihull Moors 17
England Liam King North Ferriby United
8 Nigeria Chibuzor Chilaka Bradford Park Avenue 16
England Greg Mills Corby Town
10 England Lee Hughes Worcester City 15
England Jake Reed Lowestoft Town

National League South

National League South
Season 2015–16
Champions Sutton United
Promoted Sutton United
Relegated Basingstoke Town
Havant & Waterlooville
Hayes & Yeading United

Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated from 2014–15 Conference Premier

Teams transferred from 2014–15 Conference North

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Isthmian League

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Southern Football League

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Sutton United (C, P) 42 26 12 4 83 32 +51 90 Promotion to the National League
2 Ebbsfleet United (Q) 42 24 12 6 73 36 +37 84 Qualification for National League South play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
3 Maidstone United (Q) 42 24 5 13 55 40 +15 77
4 Truro City (Q) 42 17 14 11 62 55 +7 65
5 Whitehawk (Q) 42 18 10 14 75 62 +13 64
6 Hemel Hempstead Town 42 16 13 13 72 66 +6 61
7 Maidenhead United 42 16 11 15 66 62 +4 59
8 Dartford 42 16 11 15 58 56 +2 59
9 Gosport Borough 42 15 11 16 53 63 10 56
10 Concord Rangers 42 15 10 17 66 68 2 55
11 Bishop's Stortford 42 15 10 17 56 63 7 55
12 Oxford City 42 13 15 14 70 60 +10 54
13 Wealdstone 42 12 17 13 63 64 1 53
14 Bath City 42 14 11 17 50 61 11 53
15 Chelmsford City 42 15 7 20 66 64 +2 52
16 Weston-super-Mare 42 14 9 19 63 76 13 51
17 Eastbourne Borough 42 13 11 18 60 63 3 50
18 St Albans City 42 13 10 19 58 65 7 49
19 Margate 42 13 8 21 51 73 22 47
20 Havant & Waterlooville (R) 42 12 11 19 52 75 23 47 Relegation to Northern Premier League,
Southern Football League or Isthmian League
21 Hayes & Yeading United (R) 42 11 13 18 51 76 25 46
22 Basingstoke Town (R) 42 9 11 22 46 69 23 38
Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2016. Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the National League.

Play-offs

  Semifinals Final
                     
2  Ebbsfleet United 2  
5  Whitehawk 1  
     
   
3  Maidstone United 2
4  Truro City 0  

First leg

Second leg

Results

Home ╲ Away BAS BAT BSTCHECONDAREABEBBGOSH&WH&YHEMMAIMAIMAROXCSACSUTTRUWEAWSMWHI
Basingstoke Town 12 11 12 02 01 15 12 01 11 10 20 21 01 00 20 22 12 20 11 22 31
Bath City 00 22 20 01 00 10 11 01 50 23 11 21 02 20 13 10 13 03 21 21 03
Bishop's Stortford 12 32 12 32 12 11 12 20 30 00 10 02 01 41 30 21 02 03 21 01 21
Chelmsford City 02 31 41 52 01 03 00 61 22 40 01 41 30 23 04 21 02 12 02 23 43
Concord Rangers 50 12 22 10 23 41 00 00 01 03 03 20 12 21 02 12 03 12 22 41 12
Dartford 00 41 31 11 12 10 01 23 42 20 22 20 11 11 22 20 22 01 12 21 24
Eastbourne Borough 12 52 01 20 00 11 12 30 22 20 23 12 10 14 11 10 11 00 30 33 11
Ebbsfleet United 10 01 42 31 42 11 42 20 22 00 60 31 01 12 11 10 10 00 23 21 22
Gosport Borough 32 31 00 21 23 13 31 12 21 25 26 21 00 12 00 00 02 31 11 10 22
Havant & Waterlooville 10 11 21 01 21 20 40 14 13 10 12 31 21 20 21 11 02 00 12 11 23
Hayes & Yeading United 30 03 02 05 22 22 44 05 00 00 11 25 10 02 21 13 13 22 00 11 34
Hemel Hempstead Town 22 11 12 11 12 10 10 12 10 20 40 01 01 12 31 22 22 21 22 55 03
Maidenhead United 43 31 41 10 22 21 20 00 00 22 21 23 02 31 21 01 11 00 11 20 30
Maidstone United 31 10 11 01 22 12 21 02 21 10 31 21 12 21 01 10 12 21 10 31 01
Margate 21 11 11 41 01 02 01 02 10 41 12 43 32 10 02 01 04 11 00 02 26
Oxford City 22 11 31 22 51 21 22 11 12 13 22 02 00 23 11 41 01 12 32 30 00
St Albans City 30 01 11 11 22 40 31 02 13 60 11 22 32 12 30 13 03 01 10 21 60
Sutton United 20 11 20 20 22 20 21 20 10 30 01 22 22 02 41 11 50 22 52 00 22
Truro City 20 31 01 10 21 30 10 11 22 30 02 42 44 13 21 06 20 02 12 13 11
Wealdstone 44 20 31 00 12 21 01 12 11 32 30 00 00 22 41 22 11 02 44 23 22
Weston-super-Mare 21 11 11 03 03 21 12 21 04 32 02 24 20 12 10 52 41 02 22 12 12
Whitehawk 10 01 23 42 02 01 12 01 30 11 13 01 32 10 22 20 60 20 00 30 02

Updated to games played on 30 April 2016.
Source: Football Conference
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Locations of the National League South 2015–16 teams (Greater London and environ clubs)
Team Stadium Capacity
Basingstoke Town The Camrose 6,000
Bath City Twerton Park 8,840
Bishop's Stortford ProKit UK Stadium 4,525
Chelmsford City Melbourne Stadium 3,019
Concord Rangers Thames Road 3,300
Dartford Princes Park 4,100
Eastbourne Borough Priory Lane 4,134
Ebbsfleet United Stonebridge Road 5,011
Gosport Borough Privett Park 4,500
Havant & Waterlooville West Leigh Park 5,250
Hayes & Yeading United York Road (groundshare with Maidenhead United) 3,000
Hemel Hempstead Town Vauxhall Road 3,152
Maidenhead United York Road 3,000
Maidstone United Gallagher Stadium 3,063
Margate Hartsdown Park 3,000
Oxford City Court Place Farm 2,000
St Albans City Clarence Park 4,500
Sutton United Borough Sports Ground 5,013
Truro City Treyew Road 3,857
Wealdstone The Vale 2,640
Weston-super-Mare Woodspring Stadium 3,500
Whitehawk The Enclosed Ground 2,000

Top scorers

As of matches played 30 April 2016 [6]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 England Elliott Buchanan Bishop's Stortford 28
2 England Matthew Godden Ebbsfleet United 26
3 England Danny Mills Whitehawk 23
England Justin Bennett Gosport Borough
5 England Dan Fitchett Sutton United 20
6 England Scott Wilson Weston-super-Mare 19
England Steve Cawley Concord Rangers
8 England Bradley Bubb Oxford City 18
England Nathaniel Pinney Eastbourne Borough
England Elliot Bradbrook Dartford
England Louie Theophanous St Albans City

References

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