English National League facts for kids
The National League is a football league in England. Some teams from Wales also play in it. It's the fifth-highest level of Football in England. This league has both professional and non-professional football clubs.
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How the National League Started
The National League began in 1979. It was formed by combining teams from two other leagues: the Northern Premier League and the Southern League.
Growing and Changing
In 1987, a big change happened. Teams from the National League could start moving up to a higher league, called Football League Two. Since 2003, two teams can now get promoted each year.
The league's name also changed. In 2015, it was called the Conference National. Then it became the National League. A company called Vanarama started sponsoring the league that same year. So, it's now officially known as the Vanarama National League.
New Divisions and More Teams
In 2004, two new divisions were added below the main National League. These are called the National League North and the National League South. Two years later, in 2006, the league grew even bigger. It went from having 22 teams to 24 teams.
National League Champions
Here are some of the teams that have won the National League recently:
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 2013-14 | Luton Town F.C. |
| 2014-15 | Barnet F.C. |
| 2015-16 | Cheltenham Town F.C. |
| 2016-17 | Lincoln City F.C. |
| 2017-18 | Macclesfield Town F.C. |
| 2018-19 | Leyton Orient F.C. |
