The National League has long been one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in English football, yet its promotion structure remains unfairly restrictive.
With only two teams earning a place in the Football League each season, the system is outdated and in desperate need of reform. The success of recent promoted teams, the struggles of stagnating League Two sides, and the overall improvement in National League quality all point to one solution: a third promotion spot.
Wrexham and Stockport Prove the Quality is There
The argument that National League clubs aren’t ready for League Two has been thoroughly debunked in recent years. Stockport County stormed to the League Two title in their second season after promotion, while Wrexham, following their own return to the EFL, have immediately become one of the strongest sides in the division.
Both clubs have shown that the gap between the fifth and fourth tiers is not as vast as some claim – if anything, the National League’s top teams are often better prepared than many of their League Two counterparts.
Okay, they may be special cases, but Chesterfield, Bromley and Harrogate have all survived in League Two, while returning sides such as Lincoln City and Bristol Rovers have become League One staples. Clubs that come up usually do well.
Few Promoted Sides Go Straight Back Down
Another major flaw in the current system is the idea that National League clubs struggle to adapt once promoted. In reality, this rarely happens. Over the past decade, the vast majority of sides coming up have not only survived but thrived. Barrow, Bromley, and Harrogate Town have all established themselves as stable League Two clubs, while the likes of Tranmere Rovers have at least become stable. Even Forest Green, back in the National League now, enjoyed a little flurry in League One.
Contrast this with League Two, where the same teams find themselves stuck in a cycle of relegation battles year after year. Some clubs, such as Morecambe, consistently struggle, and yet they are given a reprieve each season because of the lack of relegation spots. Even some of those that come up do struggle, Tranmere being and example, but they don’t fall out of the league because of the few relegation spots.
National League sides are often stronger, better run, and more ambitious – they simply need the opportunity to prove it.
The National League is Unrecognisable From 20 Years Ago
The idea that the National League is merely ‘non-league football’ in the traditional sense is outdated. Twenty years ago, many clubs were part-time, and the division felt like a step below the Football League in terms of professionalism. Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. The vast majority of clubs are full-time, operating with budgets and infrastructures that rival or even surpass those in League Two.
With former EFL clubs like Oldham, Southend, Barnet and York City in the division, the National League is effectively an extension of the Football League. Many of these clubs boast better facilities, fanbases, and financial backing than their League Two counterparts. Keeping only two promotion spots artificially restricts ambition and keeps the league’s top sides trapped longer than necessary.
The Solution: Three Up, Three Down
The fairest and most logical solution is simple: three teams should be promoted from the National League each season, mirroring the three relegation spots in League Two. This would allow more clubs the opportunity to progress, keep League Two fresher and more competitive, and reward ambitious National League sides for their quality and professionalism.
It’s time for the Football League to acknowledge what is obvious to everyone who watches the National League regularly. The division has outgrown its outdated promotion structure, and three promotion spots should become the standard. Football should be about meritocracy – and right now, the National League is being held back by an unfair system.
