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The National Leagues System Pyramid
How the National League Pyramid works. Which Division is at which level.
Promotion and relegation through all the NLS Leagues and Divisions.
STEP 1. GRADE 1
ELITE GAME STATUS
1 Division
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Premier Division
2 promotion places available to the FOOTBALL LEAGUE. The division Champion plus
the winner of the 4 club eliminator and then 4
club playoff.
STEP 2. GRADE 2
ELITE GAME STATUS
2 Divisions
National League North
National League South
4 promotion places available. Each division champion plus
the winner of each division
4 club eliminator and then
4 club playoff.
STEP 3. GRADE 3
4 Divisions
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE
Premier Division
SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Premier Central
Premier South
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE
Premier
8 promotion places available.
4 automatic, 4 through playoffs
STEP 4. GRADE 4
8 Divisions
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE
Division 1 East
Division 1 Midlands
Division 1 South West
SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Division 1 Central
Division 1 South
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE
Division 1 North
Division 1 South Central
Division 1 South East
16 promotion places available.
8 automatic, 8 through playoffs
STEP 5. GRADE 5
14 LEAGUES
16 DIVISIONS
16 automatic promotion places
From 2023/24 season-
4 team divisional
play-offs for an additional
promotion place
STEP 5 LEAGUES
Combined Counties D1 North
Combined Counties D1 South
Eastern Counties League Premier
Essex Senior League
Hellenic League Premier
Midland Football League Premier
North West Counties Premier
Northern Counties East Premier
STEP 5 LEAGUES (cont'd)
Northern League Division 1
Southern Combination Premier
Southern Counties East Premier
Spartan South Midlands Premier
United Counties League Prem North
United Counties League Prem South
Wessex League Premier
Western League Premier
STEP 6. GRADE 6
13 LEAGUES
17 DIVISIONS
17 automatic promotion places
4 team divisional
play-offs for an additional
promotion place
STEP 6 LEAGUES
South West Peninsula Premier East
South West Peninsula Premier West
Southern Combination Division 1
Southern Counties East D1
Spartan South Midlands D1
United Counties League D1
Wessex League Division 1
Western League Division 1
STEP 6 LEAGUES (cont'd)
Combined Counties League D1
Eastern Counties League D1 North
Eastern Counties League D1 South
Hellenic League Division 1
Midland Football League D1
North West Counties D1 North
North West Counties D1 South
Northern Counties East D1
Northern League Division 2
