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Conference National (often referred to as the Nationwide Conference for sponsorship reasons) is the top division of the Football Conference. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system.
History
The league was formed as the 'Alliance Premier League' in 1979. It was the first attempt to create a fully national league underneath the football league, drawing its clubs from the Northern Premier League and the Southern League. It greatly improved the quality of football at this lower level, as well as improving the financial status of the top clubs. This was reflected in 1986, when the Football League began accepting direct promotion/relegatation between the Conference (as it was known by then) and its lowest level - at that time the Football League Fourth Division.
Since 2002-03, the league has been granted a second promotion place, with a play-off deciding who joins the champions in the football league. Previously, no promotion from the Conference would occur if the winners did not have adequate stadium facilities. As of the start of the 2002-03 season, if a club achieves the automatic promotion or the play-off places but does not have an adequate stadium, their place will be re-allocated to someone who does have adequate facilities. In 2004-05, the Conference increased its size by adding two lower divisions, the Conference North and Conference South respectedly. As of 2005, then, at the end of each season the three bottom clubs are liable to be relegated to either Conference North or Conference South. However, from 2006 the Conference is expanding from 22 to 24 teams. At the end of the 2005/06 season 2 teams will be relegated whilst 4 will be promoted (2 from Conference North and 2 from Conference South). From the 2006/07 season there will be a 4 up/4 down system between the Conference National and its two feeder divisions.
The champions of the division are Accrington Stanley.
Conference National clubs, 2006-07
| Club | Finishing position this season |
|---|---|
| Aldershot Town | 13th |
| Altrincham | 22nd |
| Burton Albion | 9th |
| Cambridge United | 12th |
| Crawley Town | 17th |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 10th |
| Exeter City | 7th |
| Forest Green Rovers | 19th |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 16th |
| Grays Athletic | 3rd |
| Halifax Town | 4th |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 15th |
| Morecambe | 5th |
| Northwich Victoria | 1st in Conference North |
| Oxford United | 23rd in League Two |
| Rushden & Diamonds | 24th in League Two |
| Southport | 18th |
| St. Albans City | 2nd in Conference South |
| Stafford Rangers | 2nd in Conference North |
| Stevenage Borough | 6th |
| Tamworth | 20th |
| Weymouth | 1st in Conference South |
| Woking | 11th |
| York City | 8th |
Past Conference National winners
External links
Conference National | Conference National | Conference National | Conference National | Conference National | Conference National | 英格蘭足球協會全國聯賽
"Conference National"