National League South
| Country | England |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 |
| Number of teams | 22 |
| Level on pyramid |
6 Step 2 (National League System) |
| Promotion to | National League |
| Relegation to |
Isthmian League Premier Division Southern League Premier Division |
| Domestic cup(s) |
FA Cup FA Trophy Conference League Cup (defunct) |
| Current champions |
Sutton United (2015–16) |
| Website | National League |
 2015–16 season | |
The National League South, formerly Conference South (billed as The Vanarama National League South for sponsorship reasons[1]) is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, taking its place immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North it is at the second level of the National League System, and at the sixth tier overall of the English football league system.
It was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of the National League System. The champion team each year is automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs of the teams finishing in second place to fifth place. The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues.
For sponsorship reasons it has been known as Blue Square South (2007–2010), Blue Square Bet South (2010–2013), Skrill South (2013–2014)[2] and the Vanarama Conference South following a new three-year sponsorship deal announced in July 2014. From the start of the 2015–16 season, the league is known as the National League South.[3]
Current member clubs 2015–16
The current member club for the 2015–16 season are as follows:
| Club |
Finishing position 2014–15 |
|---|---|
| Basingstoke Town | 3rd |
| Bath City | 14th |
| Bishop's Stortford | 16th |
| Chelmsford City | 10th |
| Concord Rangers | 7th |
| Dartford | 22nd (relegated from Conference Premier) |
| Eastbourne Borough | 11th |
| Ebbsfleet United | 8th |
| Gosport Borough | 6th |
| Havant & Waterlooville | 5th |
| Hayes & Yeading United | 19th |
| Hemel Hempstead Town | 9th |
| Maidenhead United | 18th |
| Maidstone United | 1st in Isthmian League Premier Division |
| Margate | 3rd in Isthmian League Premier Division (won play-offs) |
| Oxford City | 6th in Conference North (transferred) |
| St Albans City | 13th |
| Sutton United | 15th |
| Truro City | 3rd in Southern League Premier Division (won play-offs) |
| Wealdstone | 12th |
| Weston-super-Mare | 17th |
| Whitehawk | 4th |
Current league stadia 2015–16
The stadiums of all teams in the league for the 2015–16 season are listed below in capacity order:
| Home Club | Stadium Name | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Bath City | Twerton Park | 8,840 |
| Basingstoke Town | The Camrose | 6,000 |
| Havant & Waterlooville | West Leigh Park | 5,250 |
| Sutton United | Borough Sports Ground | 5,013 |
| Ebbsfleet United | Stonebridge Road | 5,011 |
| Bishop's Stortford | ProKit UK Stadium | 4,525 |
| Gosport Borough | Privett Park (Aerial Direct Stadium) | 4,500 |
| St Albans City | Clarence Park | 4,500 |
| Eastbourne Borough | Priory Lane | 4,134 |
| Dartford | Princes Park | 4,100 |
| Truro City | Treyew Road | 3,500 |
| Weston-super-Mare | Woodspring Stadium | 3,500 |
| Concord Rangers | The Aspect Arena | 3,300 |
| Hemel Hempstead Town | Vauxhall Road | 3,152 |
| Maidstone United | Gallagher Stadium | 3,070 |
| Chelmsford City | Melbourne Stadium | 3,065 |
| Hayes & Yeading United | York Road | 3,000 |
| Maidenhead United | ||
| Margate | Hartsdown Park | 3,000 |
| Wealdstone | The Vale | 2,640 |
| Oxford City | Court Place Farm | 2,000 |
| Whitehawk | The Enclosed Ground | 2,000 |
League winners
** Not promoted. In 2004–05 only three promotion places were available to the Conference National. The third place was decided in a Playoff at Stoke's Britannia Stadium, which Eastbourne lost 2–1 to the Conference North Playoff winners, Altrincham.
League records
| Biggest home win | 8 – Maidenhead United 8 Truro City 0, 8 September 2012 |
| Biggest away win | 7 – Dorchester Town 0 Grays Athletic 7, 23 October 2004 |
| Highest scoring match | 11 – Bognor Regis Town 6 Welling United 5, 11 September 2004 Bath City 7 Farnborough 4, 17 February 2015 |
| Consecutive wins | 12 – Welling United, 2012–13 |
| Consecutive games unbeaten | 25 – Sutton United, 2015–16 |
| Most wins in a season | 32 – Newport County 2009–10 |
| Fewest wins in a season | 5 – Sutton United 2007–08 Fisher Athletic 2008–09 Weston-super-Mare & Weymouth 2009–10 Thurrock 2011–12 |
| Most defeats in a season | 34 – Fisher Athletic 2008–09 |
| Fewest defeats in a season | 3 – Newport County 2009–10 |
| Most draws in a season | 17 – Welling United 2005–06 Lewes 2006–07 Braintree Town 2009–10 Boreham Wood 2012–13 |
| Fewest draws in a season | 3 – Redbridge 2004–05 Eastleigh 2005–06 Fisher Athletic 2008–09 |
| Most goals scored in a season | 118 – Grays Athletic, 2004–05 |
| Fewest goals scored in a season | 22 – Fisher Athletic 2008–09 |
| Most goals conceded in a season | 103 – Weymouth 2009–10 |
| Fewest goals conceded in a season | 26 – Newport County, 2009–10 |
| Most clean sheets in a season | 23 – Newport County 2009–10 |
| Most points in a season | 103 – Newport County 2009–10 |
| Most individual goals in a season | 34 – Adam Birchall, Dover Athletic, 2010–11 |
| Most individual goals in a game | 6 – Mitchell Bryant, Weymouth 0 Basingstoke Town 6, 13 February 2010 |
| Highest attendance | 5,022 – Weymouth vs. St Albans City, 17 April 2006 |
| Highest average attendance | 3,219 – AFC Wimbledon, 2008–09 |
References
- ↑ "Vanarama announced as new Football Conference sponsor". Non-League Bets. 30 July 2014.
- ↑ "Skrill announced as new Football Conference sponsor". Non-League Bets. 26 July 2013.
- ↑ "BBC Sport – Football Conference to be renamed as National League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
External links
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