2009–10 Football Conference
The 2009–10 Football Conference season was the sixth season with the Football Conference consisting of three divisions, and the thirty-first season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The Conference Premier is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, whilst the Conference North and Conference South exist at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the play-off of the National division were promoted to Football League Two. The bottom four were scheduled to be relegated to the North or South divisions, but in the event two teams were expelled and only the bottom two clubs were relegated with them. The champions of the North and South divisions were promoted to the National division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions were relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian League or Southern League. For sponsorship reasons, the Conference Premier was frequently referred to as the Blue Square Premier.
Conference Premier
A total of 24 teams contested the division, including 18 sides from last season, two relegated from the Football League Two, two promoted from the Conference North and two promoted from the Conference South.Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2008–09 Conference NorthTeams promoted from 2008–09 Conference South
Teams relegated from 2008–09 Football League Two
Luton Town became the first team to drop from the Football League Championship to the Conference in successive seasons and in the process ended an 89-year stay in the Football League.
On 26 February 2010, Chester City were expelled from the Conference for numerous rule breaches. Since no appeal was forthcoming, their results were expunged on 8 March 2010.
League table
Play-offs
Stadia and locations
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Wrexham | Racecourse Ground | 15,550 |
| Oxford United | Kassam Stadium | 12,500 |
| Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | 11,800 |
| Luton Town | Kenilworth Road | 10,226 |
| Mansfield Town | Field Mill | 10,000 |
| Cambridge United | Abbey Stadium | 9,617 |
| York City | Bootham Crescent | 9,196 |
| Stevenage Borough | The Lamex Stadium | 7,100 |
| 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 |
| Chester | Deva Stadium | 5,328 |
| Forest Green Rovers | The New Lawn | 5,147 |
| Ebbsfleet United | Stonebridge Road | 5,011 |
| Crawley Town | Broadfield Stadium | 4,996 |
| AFC Wimbledon | Kingsmeadow | 4,720 |
| Barrow | Holker Street | 4,256 |
| Eastbourne Borough | Priory Lane | 4,134 |
| Grays Athletic | New Recreation Ground | 4,100 |
| Tamworth | The Lamb Ground | 4,000 |
| Histon | Bridge Road | 3,800 |
| Salisbury City | Raymond McEnhill Stadium | 3,500 |
Results
Season statistics
Top scorers
| Pos | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Richard Brodie | York City | 26 |
| 1 | Matt Tubbs | Salisbury City | 26 |
| 3 | Tom Craddock | Luton Town | 23 |
| 4 | James Constable | Oxford United | 22 |
| 5 | Danny Kedwell | AFC Wimbledon | 21 |
| 6 | Danny Crow | Cambridge United | 19 |
| 7 | Jake Speight | Mansfield Town | 17 |
| 8 | Moses Ashikodi* | Ebbsfleet United | 16 |
| 8 | Kevin Gallen | Luton Town | 16 |
| 8 | Magno Vieira | Ebbsfleet United | 16 |
| 11 | Daryl Clare** | Gateshead | 15 |
| 11 | Chris Senior | Altrincham | 15 |
| 13 | Rob Duffy | Mansfield Town | 14 |
| 13 | Yemi Odubade | Stevenage Borough | 14 |
| 13 | Lee Tomlin | Rushden & Diamonds | 14 |
- 1.Moses Ashikodi scored six goals for Kettering Town
- 2.Daryl Clare scored two goals for Mansfield Town
Scoring
- First goal of the season: Lee Boylan for Stevenage Borough against Tamworth, 12:56 minutes
- Last goal of the season: Adam Marriott for Cambridge United against Altrincham, 92:58 minutes
- First penalty kick of the season: Lee Boylan for Stevenage Borough against Tamworth, 12:56 minutes
- First own goal of the Season: Jamie Stuart for Salisbury City, 46:42
- First hat-trick of the season: Matthew Tubbs for Salisbury City against Hayes & Yeading
- Quickest hat-trick: 7 minutes – Mitchell Cole for Stevenage Borough against Eastbourne Borough
- Fastest goal scored in a match: 36 seconds – Lewis Taylor for AFC Wimbledon against Forest Green Rovers
- Goal scored at the latest point of a game: 90+6 minutes and 51 seconds – Keith Keane for Luton Town against Oxford United
- Widest winning margin: 8 goals
- *Rushden & Diamonds 8–0 Gateshead
- *Luton Town 8–0 Hayes & Yeading United
- Widest away winning margin: 6 goals – Eastbourne Borough 0–6 Stevenage Borough
- Most goals in one half: 7 goals – Luton Town 8–0 Hayes & Yeading United
- Most goals in one half by a single team: 7 goals – Luton Town 8–0 Hayes & Yeading United
- Most goals scored by the losing team: 4 goals – Rushden & Diamonds 5–4 Grays Athletic
- Most own goals scored in one match: 2 goals – AFC Wimbledon 2–2 Wrexham
Discipline
- First yellow card of the season: Jason Walker for Barrow against Cambridge United, 2 minutes and 57 seconds
- First red card of the season: Sean Newton for Barrow against Cambridge United, 52 minutes and 31 seconds
- Card given at latest point in a game: Damian Batt at 90+8 minutes and 17 seconds for Oxford United against Tamworth
Sequences
- Longest winning run: 9 games – Luton Town, ended 10 April 2010.
- Longest unbeaten run: 17 games – Stevenage Borough, ended 1 December 2009.
- Longest losing run: 8 games – Grays Athletic, ended 27 February 2010.
- Longest run without winning: 20 games – Grays Athletic, ended 13 April 2010.
- Longest run of successive home wins: 7 games
- *Luton Town – from 9 March 2010 to 17 April 2010.
- *Stevenage Borough – from 1 January 2010 to 3 April 2010.
- Longest run of successive away wins: 8 games – Stevenage Borough, from 24 February 2010 until end of season.
Clean sheets
- Most clean sheets: 27 – Stevenage Borough.
- Fewest clean sheets: 7 – Eastbourne Borough and Ebbsfleet United.
- Consecutive clean sheets: 6 games without conceding:
- *AFC Wimbledon – from 24 November 2009 to 1 January 2010.
- *Oxford United – from 29 August 2009 to 22 September 2009.
- *Stevenage Borough – from 5 April 2010 until end of season.
Monthly awards
Conference North
A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 17 sides from last season, one relegated from the Conference Premier and four promoted from the lower leagues.In April 2009, the Conference decided to demote King's Lynn at the end of the 2008–09 season, because their ground did not meet Conference standards. Farsley Celtic resigned from the league on 8 March 2010 and their playing record was expunged on 12 March. Both Harrogate Town and Vauxhall Motors were reprieved from relegation following Farsley Celtic's withdrawal from the league, Chester's expulsion from the Conference Premier and Northwich Victoria's demotion to the Northern Premier League under financial rules.
Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2008–09 Northern Premier LeagueTeams promoted from 2008–09 Southern Football League
Teams relegated from 2008–09 Conference Premier
- Northwich Victoria
League table
Play-offs
Stadia and locations
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Stalybridge Celtic | Bower Fold | 6,500 |
| A.F.C. Telford United | New Bucks Head | 6,300 |
| Southport | Haig Avenue | 6,008 |
| Redditch United | The Valley | 5,000 |
| Gloucester City | The Corinium Stadium | 4,500 |
| Northwich Victoria | Victoria Stadium | 4,500 |
| Blyth Spartans | Croft Park | 4,450 |
| Hinckley United | De Montfort Park | 4,329 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | The Northolme | 4,304 |
| Stafford Rangers | Marston Road | 4,150 |
| Hyde United | Ewen Fields | 4,100 |
| Farsley Celtic | Throstle Nest | 3,900 |
| Fleetwood Town | Highbury Stadium | 3,663 |
| Alfreton Town | North Street | 3,600 |
| Ilkeston Town | New Manor Ground | 3,500 |
| Harrogate Town | Wetherby Road | 3,300 |
| Workington | Borough Park | 3,101 |
| Solihull Moors | Damson Park | 3,050 |
| Corby Town | Rockingham Triangle | 3,000 |
| Droylsden | Butcher's Arms Ground | 3,000 |
| Eastwood Town | Coronation Park | 2,500 |
| Vauxhall Motors | Rivacre Park | 2,500 |
Results
Monthly awards
Conference South
A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 17 sides from last season, three relegated from the Conference Premier and two promoted from the Isthmian League.Team Bath announced that they were to leave the Football Conference from the end of the 2008–09 season. The club decided to fold, after being informed they could not be promoted to the professional leagues, which also led to them no longer being able to play FA Cup games. Thus Thurrock were reprieved from relegation.
Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2008–09 Isthmian LeagueTeams relegated from 2008–09 Conference Premier
Play-offs
Stadia and locations
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Bath City | Twerton Park | 8,800 |
| Dover Athletic | Crabble Stadium | 6,500 |
| Weymouth | The Wessex Stadium | 6,500 |
| Woking | Kingfield Stadium | 6,036 |
| Basingstoke Town | The Camrose | 6,000 |
| Havant & Waterlooville | West Leigh Park | 5,250 |
| Dorchester Town | Avenue Stadium | 5,009 |
| Bromley | Hayes Lane | 5,000 |
| Worcester City | St George's Lane | 4,749 |
| Newport County | Newport Stadium | 4,700 |
| St Albans City | Clarence Park | 4,500 |
| Welling United | Park View Road | 4,500 |
| Braintree Town | Cressing Road | 4,145 |
| Bishop's Stortford | Woodside Park | 4,000 |
| Thurrock | Ship Lane | 3,500 |
| Weston-super-Mare | Woodspring Stadium | 3,500 |
| Chelmsford City | Melbourne Stadium | 3,000 |
| Eastleigh | Silverlake Stadium | 3,000 |
| Hampton & Richmond | Beveree Stadium | 3,000 |
| Lewes | The Dripping Pan | 3,000 |
| Maidenhead United | York Road | 3,000 |
| Staines Town | Wheatsheaf Park | 3,000 |