Conference National
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| Countries |  England /  Wales |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1979 (as Alliance Premier League) |
| Number of teams | 24 |
| Levels on pyramid | 5 |
| Promotion to | League Two |
| Relegation to | Conference North Conference South |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup FA Trophy Conference League Cup |
| Current champions | Stevenage Borough (2009–10) |
| Website | Conference |
 Football Conference 2010–11 |
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Conference National (currently named the Blue Square Bet Premier for sponsorship reasons)[1] 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. While all of the clubs in the top four tiers of English football are full-time professional, the Conference National has a mixture of full-time and semi-professional clubs. The Conference National is the lowest nationwide division in the English football pyramid.
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History
The league was formed as the Alliance Premier League in 1979, coming into force for the 1979-80 season. 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 1986-87, when the Football League began accepting direct promotion and relegation between the Conference (which the league had been renamed by then) and the bottom division of the Football League which at that time was known as the Football League Fourth Division and is now Football League Two. The first team to be promoted by this method was Scarborough and the first team relegated was Lincoln City, who regained their Football League status a year later as Conference champions.
The league's first sponsors were Gola, who sponsored it during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons. When Gola's sponsorship ceased, carmaker Vauxhall Motors – the British subsidiary of American combine General Motors – took over and sponsored the league until the end of the 1997-98 season. The 1998-99 Conference campaign began without sponsors for the Conference, but just before the end of the season a sponsorship was agreed with Nationwide Building Society. This lasted until the end of the 2006-07 season, after which current sponsors Blue Square took over.
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 the next highest placed club, that has the required facilities. In 2004-05, the Conference increased its size by adding two lower divisions, the Conference North and Conference South respectively, with the original division being renamed Conference National. For the 2006-07 season, the Conference National expanded from 22 to 24 teams by relegating two teams and promoting four teams, and also introduced a "four up and four down" system between the Conference National and the Conference North and Conference South.
In April 2007, it was announced all the Football Conference had agreed a three year sponsorship deal with online betting firm Blue Square. Under the deal, all three Conference leagues would be sponsored by Blue Square from the 2007-08 season. This would also lead to a renaming of the leagues with the Conference National becoming the Blue Square Premier, the Conference North becoming Blue Square North and the Conference South becoming Blue Square South.[1]
In April 2010, it was announced that Blue Square would continue to sponsor the competition for another three years. From the start of the 2010/11 season the divisions will be renamed with the Blue Square Premier becoming the Blue Square BET Premier, the Blue Square North becoming the Blue Square BET North and the Blue Square South becoming the Blue Square BET South.
Media coverage
In August 2006 Setanta Sports signed a five year deal with the Conference. Under the deal, Setanta Sports started showing live matches in the 2007-08 season, with 79 live matches each season. Included in the deal were the annual Play Off matches as well as the Conference League Cup, a cup competition for the three Football Conference divisions. [2] Setanta showed two live matches a week, with one on Thursday evening and one at the weekend. [3] In Australia the Conference National was broadcast by Setanta Sports Australia. Setanta Sports suffered financial problems and ceased broadcasting in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2009.[4] Sky Sports broadcast the Conference Play off final 2010 at Wembley stadium.
Conference National clubs 2010-11
| Club | Finishing position last season |
|---|---|
| AFC Wimbledon | 8th |
| Altrincham | 14th |
| Barrow | 15th |
| Bath City | 4th in Conference South |
| Cambridge United | 10th |
| Crawley Town | 7th |
| Darlington | 24th in League Two |
| Eastbourne Borough | 19th |
| Fleetwood Town | 2nd in Conference North |
| Forest Green Rovers | 21st |
| Gateshead | 20th |
| Grimsby Town | 23rd in League Two |
| Hayes & Yeading United | 17th |
| Histon | 18th |
| Kettering Town | 6th |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 13th |
| Luton Town | 2nd |
| Mansfield Town | 9th |
| Newport County | 1st in Conference South |
| Rushden & Diamonds | 4th |
| Southport | 1st in Conference North |
| Tamworth | 16th |
| Wrexham | 11th |
| York City | 5th |
Past Conference National winners
| Season | Winner | Playoff Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1979–80 | Altrincham1 | |
| 1980–81 | Altrincham1 | |
| 1981–82 | Runcorn1 | |
| 1982–83 | Enfield1 | |
| 1983–84 | Maidstone United1 | |
| 1984–85 | Wealdstone1 | |
| 1985–86 | Enfield1 | |
| 1986–87 | Scarborough | |
| 1987–88 | Lincoln City | |
| 1988–89 | Maidstone United | |
| 1989–90 | Darlington | |
| 1990–91 | Barnet | |
| 1991–92 | Colchester United | |
| 1992–93 | Wycombe Wanderers | |
| 1993–94 | Kidderminster Harriers2 | |
| 1994–95 | Macclesfield Town2 | |
| 1995–96 | Stevenage Borough2 | |
| 1996–97 | Macclesfield Town | |
| 1997–98 | Halifax Town | |
| 1998–99 | Cheltenham Town | |
| 1999–00 | Kidderminster Harriers | |
| 2000–01 | Rushden & Diamonds | |
| 2001–02 | Boston United3 | |
| 2002–03 | Yeovil Town | Doncaster Rovers |
| 2003–04 | Chester City | Shrewsbury Town |
| 2004–05 | Barnet | Carlisle United |
| 2005–06 | Accrington Stanley | Hereford United |
| 2006–07 | Dagenham & Redbridge | Morecambe |
| 2007–08 | Aldershot Town | Exeter City |
| 2008–09 | Burton Albion | Torquay United |
| 2009–10 | Stevenage Borough | Oxford United |
- ^1 No promotion to the Football League until 1987.
- ^2 No promotion to the Football League due to stadium not being adequate for the Football League until 1997.
- ^3 Boston United were allowed to retain their championship title and subsequent promotion to the Football League despite having been found guilty of serious financial misconduct during their title winning season. Following their later relegation back from the Football League at the end of the 2006–07 season, due to ongoing financial concerns and irregularities at the club, Boston were demoted a further division and placed in Conference North.
Conference National Play-Off Results
| Season | First Semifinal (2nd vs 5th) | Second Semifinal (3rd vs 4th) | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 Morecambe Morecambe 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge |
Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Chester City Chester City 1-1 Doncaster Rovers |
Doncaster Rovers 3-2 Dagenham & Redbridge Doncaster won with a golden goal (Match Report) |
| 2003-04 | Aldershot Town 1-1 Hereford United Hereford United 0-0 Aldershot Town |
Barnet 2-1 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Barnet |
Aldershot Town 1-1 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury won 3-0 on penalties (Match Report) |
| 2004-05 | Aldershot Town 1-0 Carlisle United Carlisle United 2-1 Aldershot Town |
Stevenage Borough 1-1 Hereford United | Carlisle United 1-0 Stevenage Borough (Match Report) |
| 2005-06 | Halifax Town 3-2 Grays Athletic Grays Athletic 2-2 Halifax Town |
Morecambe 1-1 Hereford United Hereford United 3-2 Morecambe |
Hereford United 3-2 Halifax Town after extra time (Match Report) |
| 2006-07 | Exeter City 0-1 Oxford United Oxford United 1-2 Exeter City |
York City 0-0 Morecambe
Morecambe 2-1 York City |
Morecambe 2-1 Exeter City (Match Report) |
| 2007-08 | Burton Albion 2-2 Cambridge United Cambridge United 2-1 Burton Albion |
Exeter City 1-2 Torquay United |
Cambridge United 0-1 Exeter City (Match Report) |
| 2008-09 | Stevenage Borough 3-1 Cambridge United |
Torquay United 2-0 Histon Histon 1-0 Torquay United |
Cambridge United 0-2 Torquay United (Match Report) |
| 2009-10 | Luton Town 0-1 York City York City 1-0 Luton Town |
Oxford United 2-0 Rushden & Diamonds Rushden & Diamonds 1-1 Oxford United |
Oxford United 3-1 York City |
Conference National stadia 2010-11
| Home Club | Stadium Name | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Darlington | The Darlington Arena | 25,000* |
| Wrexham | Racecourse Ground | 15,500 |
| Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | 11,800 |
| Luton Town | Kenilworth Road | 10,226 |
| Mansfield Town | Field Mill | 10,000 |
| Cambridge United | Abbey Stadium | 9,617 |
| Grimsby Town | Blundell Park | 9,546 |
| York City | Bootham Crescent | 9,196 |
| Bath City | Twerton Park | 8,840 |
| Hayes & Yeading United | Church Road | 6,500 |
| Rushden & Diamonds | Nene Park | 6,441 |
| Kidderminster Harriers | Aggborough | 6,238 |
| Kettering Town | Rockingham Road | 6,170 |
| Altrincham | Moss Lane | 6,085 |
| Southport | Haig Avenue | 6,008 |
| Forest Green Rovers | The New Lawn | 5,147 |
| Crawley Town | Broadfield Stadium | 4,996 |
| AFC Wimbledon | Kingsmeadow | 4,720 |
| Newport County | Newport Stadium | 4,700 |
| Barrow | Holker Street | 4,256 |
| Eastbourne Borough | Priory Lane | 4,134 |
| Tamworth | The Lamb Ground | 4,000 |
| Histon | Bridge Road | 3,800 |
| Fleetwood Town | Highbury Stadium | 3,663 |
* Restricted to 10,000.
Records
- Most wins in a season: 31* - Aldershot Town (2007-08)
- Most consecutive wins: 12 - Burton Albion (2008-09)
- Fewest defeats in a season: 3 - Yeovil Town (2002-03)
- Most goals scored in a season: 103 - Barnet (1990-91), Hereford United (2003-04)
- Fewest goals conceded in a season: 24 - Kettering Town (1993-94) / Stevenage Borough (2009-10)
- Most points in a season*: 101 - Aldershot Town (2007-08)
- Fewest points in a season: 18** - Leigh RMI (2004-05)
- Highest goal difference: 63 - Yeovil Town (2002-03)
- Biggest win: 9-0 - Runcorn beat Enfield (3 March 1990), Sutton United beat Gateshead (22 September 1990), Hereford United beat Dagenham & Redbridge (27 February 2004), Rushden & Diamonds beat Weymouth (21 February 2009)
- Record attendance: 11,963 Oxford United vs Rushden & Diamonds at The Kassam Stadium (Play-off semi-final second leg, 3 May 2010)
- *Stevenage Borough would have achieved 32 wins and amassed 105 points in the 2009-10 season, but 2 wins (and therefore the six points from those games) against Chester City were expunged, after Chester were expelled from the league before the season ended. This left Stevenage on 30 wins and 99 points from 44 games.
- **Redditch United also finished on 18 points in the 1979-80 season. However, this was under 2 points for a win, and would equate to 23 points under the current system.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Conference announces new sponsors". BBC News. 11 April 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6544241.stm. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
- ↑ Banham, Mark (29 August 2006). "Setanta signs five-year deal for Conference games". Benchmark Capital. http://www.benchmark.com/news/europe/2006/08_29_2006.php. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
- ↑ "Conference Signs TV Deal". Benchmark Capital. 29 August 2006. http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2006_aug_08.htm. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
- ↑ Setanta goes off air in Great Britain Digital Spy, 23 June 2009
External links
- National Conference official site
- Conference National clubs locations
- A forum for the fans of Conference National teams
- A forum for the fans of the Blue Square leagues
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