Conference North
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Conference North |
|---|
| Football Conference 2008-09 |
 |
| Founded |
| 2004 |
| Nation |
 England |
| Feeder To |
| Conference National |
| Relegation To |
| NPL Premier Division Southern Premier Division |
| Number of Teams |
| 22 |
| Level on Pyramid |
| Level 6 |
| Cups |
| Conference League Cup |
| Current Champions (2007-08) |
| Kettering Town |
| Website |
| Conference |
The Conference North (currently billed as Blue Square North for sponsorship reasons) is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of the English football league system. It consists of teams located in northern England and the English Midlands.
Conference North was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of English non-League football. The champions are automatically promoted to Conference National. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to fifth place. The winners of the play-offs are also promoted to Conference National. The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues. Teams from this division, as well as from the Conference South, enter the FA Cup at the Second Qualifying Round.
Starting in 2007-08, and for the next three years, it will be known officially as the Blue Square North.
[edit] Conference North clubs, 2008-09
| Club |
Finishing position last season |
|---|---|
| A.F.C. Telford United | 2nd |
| Alfreton Town | 16th |
| Blyth Spartans | 18th |
| Burscough | 8th |
| Droylsden | 24th in Conference National |
| Farsley Celtic | 22nd in Conference National |
| Fleetwood Town | 1st in Northern Premier League |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 11th |
| Gateshead | 3rd in Northern Premier League |
| Harrogate Town | 6th |
| Hinckley United | 19th |
| Hucknall Town | 20th |
| Hyde United | 9th |
| King's Lynn | 1st in Southern League Premier Division |
| Redditch United | 13th |
| Solihull Moors | 17th |
| Southport | 4th |
| Stafford Rangers | 23rd in Conference National |
| Stalybridge Celtic | 3rd |
| Tamworth | 15th |
| Vauxhall Motors | 21st |
| Workington | 14th |
It was announced on June 7, 2008 that both Nuneaton Borough and Boston United would not be permitted to play in Conference North for the 2008-09 season, after the liquidation of the former and the continued administration of the latter. As a result Vauxhall was spared relegation, and Redditch—which had been transferred to Conference South—returned. [1] [2]
[edit] Past Conference North winners
| Season | Winner | Playoff Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | Southport | Altrincham |
| 2005-06 | Northwich Victoria | Stafford Rangers |
| 2006-07 | Droylsden | Farsley Celtic |
| 2007-08 | Kettering Town | Barrow |
