2018–19 National League


The 2018–19 [|National League] season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the fourth season under English football's new title of National League, fifteenth season consisting of three divisions and the fortieth season overall.

National League

The National League consists of 24 clubs.

Promotion and relegation

The following clubs changed divisions after the 2017–18 season:
Despite a 2–1 defeat to Boston United on 21 April 2018, Salford City became 2017–18 National League North champions after Harrogate Town lost 3–1 to Bradford Park Avenue. Havant & Waterlooville were crowned 2017-18 National League South champions on 28 April 2018 after a 3–2 victory over Concord Rangers. On 13 May 2018, Harrogate Town were promoted after a 3–0 win against Brackley Town in the 2017–18 National League North playoff final. All three teams will play in the National League for the first time in their History. On the same day as Harrogate's promotion, Braintree Town were also promoted after beating Hampton & Richmond 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the 2017–18 National League South playoff final, securing an instant return to the National League.
On 24 April 2018, after 97 years as an EFL club, Chesterfield were relegated to the National League following Morecambe's 0–0 draw against Cambridge United. On 5 May 2018, despite a 3–0 victory against Chesterfield, Barnet became the second club to be relegated from League Two following Morecambe's 0–0 draw against Coventry City, ending their three-year stay in the EFL.
These teams will replace Macclesfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, Chester, Guiseley, Torquay United and Woking. Macclesfield Town were crowned 2017–18 National League champions and promoted to League Two on 21 April 2018 after a 2–0 victory over Eastleigh, ending their six-year absence from the EFL. Tranmere Rovers were promoted to League Two on 12 May 2018 after a 2–1 victory over Boreham Wood in the playoff final and returned to the EFL after a three-year absence. Boreham Wood and Sutton United were invited to compete in the 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup in a new expansion of that competition as the highest-finishing remaining teams in the division.
Chester were the first team to be relegated from National League on 8 April 2018 after a 2–0 loss to Tranmere Rovers. Despite staying up on the final day for the past two seasons, it was not to be third time lucky for Guiseley who joined them on 17 April 2018 after a 1–0 loss to relegation rivals Barrow. Torquay United became the third team to be relegated from the National league on 21 April 2018 after a 1–1 draw with Hartlepool United, confirming the club's first ever relegation to the Sixth Tier. The fourth and final team to suffer relegation was Woking, who were relegated on 28 April 2018 following a 2–1 defeat to Dover Athletic, ending their five-year stay in the National League.

Team changes

To National League

Promoted from [|National League North]
Promoted from National League South
Relegated from League Two
Promoted to League Two
Relegated to National League North
Relegated to National League South
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Aldershot TownAldershotRecreation Ground7,200
BarnetLondon The Hive Stadium6,418
BarrowBarrow-in-FurnessHolker Street5,045
Boreham WoodBorehamwoodMeadow Park4,502
Braintree TownBraintreeCressing Road4,085
BromleyLondon Hayes Lane5,300
ChesterfieldChesterfieldProact Stadium10,504
Dagenham & RedbridgeLondon Victoria Road6,078
Dover AthleticDoverCrabble Athletic Ground5,745
EastleighEastleighTen Acres5,250
Ebbsfleet UnitedNorthfleetStonebridge Road4,500
Halifax TownHalifaxThe Shay14,061
FyldeWeshamMill Farm6,000
GatesheadGatesheadGateshead International Stadium11,800
Harrogate TownHarrogateWetherby Road3,800
Hartlepool UnitedHartlepoolVictoria Park7,856
Havant & WaterloovilleHavantWest Leigh Park5,300
Leyton OrientLondon Brisbane Road9,271
Maidenhead UnitedMaidenheadYork Road3,377
Maidstone UnitedMaidstoneGallagher Stadium4,200
Salford CitySalfordMoor Lane5,108
Solihull MoorsSolihullDamson Park4,313
Sutton UnitedLondon Gander Green Lane5,013
WrexhamWrexhamRacecourse Ground10,771

Personnel and sponsoring

League table


Play-offs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Results table

Managerial changes

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Danny RoweFylde26
2 Paul McCallumEastleigh25
3 Macauley BonneLeyton Orient22
4 Adam RooneySalford City20
5 Scott BodenGateshead / Chesterfield19
6 Jack MuldoonHarrogate Town16
7 Michael CheekEbbsfleet United15
8 Adi YussufSolihull Moors14
9 Adrian CliftonMaidenhead United13
9 JJ HooperBromley13
9 Liam NobleHartlepool United13
9 Alfie RutherfordHavant & Waterlooville13
13 Jermaine HyltonSolihull Moors12
13 Danny KedwellEbbsfleet United12

Monthly Awards

Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
MonthPlayer of the MonthClubManager of the MonthClub
August 2018 Akil WrightWrexham Jamie FullartonHalifax Town
September 2018 Marvin EkpitetaLeyton Orient Graham AlexanderSalford City
October 2018 Mike WilliamsonGateshead Sam RickettsWrexham
November 2018 Elliot JusthamDag & Red Justin EdinburghLeyton Orient
December 2018 Michael CheekEbbsfleet United Ian EvattBarrow
January 2019 Kevin LokkoDover Athletic Tim FlowersSolihull Moors
February 2019 Paul McCallumEastleigh Alan DevonshireMaidenhead United
March 2019 Carl PiergianniSalford City Justin EdinburghLeyton Orient
April 2019 Mo SagafBraintree Town Andy HessenthalerDover Athletic

National League North

Team changes

To National League North

Promoted from Northern Premier League Premier Division
Promoted from Southern League Premier Division
Relegated from National League
Promoted to National League
Relegated to Northern Premier League Premier Division
Relegated to Southern League Premier Division Central
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
AFC Telford UnitedTelfordNew Bucks Head6,300
Alfreton TownAlfretonNorth Street3,600
AltrinchamAltrinchamMoss Lane6,085
Ashton UnitedAshton-under-LyneHurst Cross4,500
Blyth SpartansBlythCroft Park4,435
Boston UnitedBostonYork Street6,643
Brackley TownBrackleySt. James Park3,500
Bradford BradfordHorsfall Stadium3,500
ChesterChesterDeva Stadium6,500
ChorleyChorleyVictory Park4,100
Curzon AshtonAshton-under-LyneTameside Stadium4,000
DarlingtonDarlingtonBlackwell Meadows3,300
FC United of ManchesterManchesterBroadhurst Park4,400
GuiseleyGuiseleyNethermoor Park4,200
HerefordHerefordEdgar Street4,913
Kidderminster HarriersKidderminsterAggborough6,238
LeamingtonLeamingtonNew Windmill Ground2,300
Nuneaton BoroughNuneatonLiberty Way4,614
SouthportSouthportHaig Avenue6,008
Spennymoor TownSpennymoorThe Brewery Field6,000
Stockport CountyStockportEdgeley Park10,852
York CityYorkBootham Crescent8,256

Personnel and sponsoring

League table


Play-offs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Results table

Managerial changes

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Glen TaylorSpennymoor Town21
2 Daniel UdohTelford United17
3 Jake BeesleyBradford Park Avenue16
3 Colby BishopLeamington16
3 Matthew WarburtonStockport County16
6 Joshua HancockAltrincham15
6 Reece StycheAlfreton Town15
6 Kurt WilloughbyFC United of Manchester15
9 Daniel MaguireBlyth Spartans14
9 Josh WilsonChorley14
10 Ashley ChambersKidderminster Harriers13

Monthly Awards

Each month the Vanarama National League North announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
MonthPlayer of the MonthClubManager of the MonthClub
August 2018 Matthew StensonLeamington Jamie VermiglioChorley
September 2018 Ed WilliamsKidderminster Harriers Jason AinsleySpennymoor Town
October 2018 Gary RobertsChester Phil ParkinsonAltrincham
November 2018 David MorganSouthport Liam WatsonSouthport

National League South

The National League South consisted of 22 clubs.

Team changes

To National League South

Promoted from Isthmian League Premier Division
Promoted from Southern Football League Premier Division
Relegated from National League
Promoted to National League
Relegated to Isthmian League Premier Division
Relegated to Southern League Premier Division South
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Bath CityBath Twerton Park8,840
Billericay TownBillericayNew Lodge3,500
Chelmsford CityChelmsfordMelbourne Stadium3,019
Chippenham TownChippenhamHardenhuish Park3,000
Concord RangersCanvey IslandThames Road3,300
DartfordDartfordPrinces Park4,100
Dulwich HamletLondonChampion Hill 3,000
East Thurrock UnitedCorringhamRookery Hill4,000
Eastbourne BoroughEastbournePriory Lane4,151
Gloucester CityEveshamJubilee Stadium 3,000
Hampton & RichmondLondon Beveree Stadium3,500
Hemel Hempstead TownHemel HempsteadVauxhall Road3,152
Hungerford TownHungerfordBulpit Lane2,500
Oxford CityOxford Court Place Farm2,000
Slough TownSloughArbour Park2,000
St Albans CitySt AlbansClarence Park4,500
Torquay UnitedTorquayPlainmoor6,500
Truro CityTruroTreyew Road3,200
WealdstoneLondon Grosvenor Vale3,607
Welling UnitedLondon Park View Road4,000
Weston-super-MareWeston-super-MareWoodspring Stadium3,500
WokingWokingKingfield Stadium6,036

League table


Play-offs

Quarter-final

Semi-finals

Final

Results table

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Jamie ReidTorquay United29
2 Rhys MurphyChelmsford City25
3 Kabongo TshimangaOxford City24
4 Tyler HarveyTruro City22
5 Alex WallConcord Rangers21
6 Moses EmmanuelBillericay Town17
6 Saikou JannehTorquay United17
6 Nathaniel JarvisChippenham Town17
9 Chris DicksonHampton & Richmond Borough16
9 Jack MidsonConcord Rangers16

Monthly Awards

Each month the Vanarama National League South announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
MonthPlayer of the MonthClubManager of the MonthClub
August 2018 Jake RobinsonBillericay Town Alan DowsonWoking
September 2018 Jack TurnerSlough Town Ian AllinsonSt Albans City
October 2018 Moses EmmanuelBillericay Town Gary JohnsonTorquay United
November 2018 Josh CaseyWoking Leigh RobinsonTruro City
December 2018 Shaun MacDonaldTorquay United Mark JonesOxford City
January 2019 Jack GiddensEast Thurrock United Jerry GillBath City
February 2019 Chris WhelpdaleChelmsford City Jamie Coyle
Adam Flanagan		Dartford
March 2019 Marvel EkpitetaHungerford Town Neil Baker
Jon Underwood		Slough Town
April 2019 Fabien RobertGloucester City Mike CookGloucester City

Step 3 Super Playoffs

With the introduction of a new division at Step 3 of the National League System, an altered promotion playoff process was implemented for the 2018–19 season for clubs to reach the National Leagues North and South for the 2019–20 season.
As per prior seasons, 3 teams were relegated each from the North and South leaving 6 vacancies to fill. Each of the winners of the four Step 3 leagues were automatically promoted to the National Leagues North & South for 2019–20.
The Champions of the Step 3 leagues are:
Each of the four leagues ran a playoff involving the teams finishing from second to fifth. The winners of these playoffs proceeded to the Super Playoffs.
The playoff winners are:
The winners of the following two fixtures will be promoted: