NLS Regulations 2025/26 - Promotion and Relegation
Wed 2nd July 2025 | General | By Media Team
The FA have published the National League System Regulations for the 2025/26 season.
These Regulations apply to all Leagues and Divisions at Steps 1 to 6 of the System and govern the structure and operation of the non-league pyramid within English football.
The full Regulations can be found here but in this article we will draw particular attention to the promotion and relegation rules affecting the NWCFL for the coming season:
Step 4 and Step 5
The Clubs finishing in the bottom four places in each of the eight divisions at Step 4 at the end of the Regular Season will be relegated and placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 5 for the following Playing Season.
Clubs relegated for finishing in the bottom four places in each of the eight divisions at Step 4 will be replaced by the Clubs finishing in 1st position in each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5 together with a further 16 Clubs (one Club from each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5) determined by a series of Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in 1st position but does not meet the minimum criteria for promotion to the next Step, the Club finishing in 2nd position shall be promoted and the Club finishing in 3rd position (and so on) shall be the Club in the next eligible position to take part in the Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in a Play Off Position but does not meet the Criteria for participation in Play Off Matches, the Club finishing in the next eligible position shall take part in the Play Off Matches. In each division at Step 5, the Play Off Matches shall be played so that the highest placed of the eligible Clubs plays against the lowest placed of the eligible Clubs and the other two eligible Clubs play each other. The ties will be played on a single match basis with the home Club being the Club with the best points per match ratio in the Regular Season. If there are only three eligible Clubs, then the highest placed eligible Club shall receive a bye and play the winner of the other Play Off Match, and the winner of that match will be promoted. Clubs finishing below 7th position will not be eligible to take part in Play Off Matches.
Step 5 and Step 6
The Clubs in the bottom two places in each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5 at the end of the Regular Season will be relegated and placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 6 for the following Playing Season.
These Clubs will be replaced by (i) the Clubs finishing in 1st position at the end of the Regular Season in each of the two divisions operated by the South West Peninsula League; (ii) the Clubs finishing in 1st position at the end of the Regular Season in each of the remaining fifteen divisions at Step 6; and (iii) a further fifteen Clubs determined by a series of Play Off Matches within those remaining fifteen divisions (i.e. not including the two divisions operated by the South West Peninsula League). Where a Club finishes in 1st position but does not meet the criteria for promotion to the next Step, the Club finishing in 2nd position shall be promoted and the Club finishing in 3rd position (and so on) shall be the Club in the next eligible position to take part in the Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in a Play Off Position but does not meet the Criteria for participation in Play Off Matches, the Club finishing in the next eligible position shall take part in the Play Off Matches. In each division at Step 6, the Play Off Matches shall be played so that the highest placed of the eligible Clubs plays against the lowest placed and the other two Clubs play each other. The ties will be played on a single match basis with the home Club being the Club with the best points per game ratio in the Regular Season. If there are only three eligible Clubs then the highest placed shall receive a bye to the second match where it will play the winner of the other Play Off Match and the winner of that match will be promoted. Clubs finishing below 7th position will not be eligible to take part in Play Off Matches. The promoted Clubs will be placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 5 for the following Playing Season.
Step 6 and relegation
At the end of the Regular Season the Clubs in the bottom three positions of each of the seventeen Step 6 divisions will be liable to relegation. Where a Step 6 division is operating with fewer than 18 Clubs at the end of the Regular Season (or where the number of Clubs could fall below 18 following promotion, relegation and/or lateral movements), the Committee shall decide at its absolute discretion whether the Clubs in the bottom three, bottom two or bottom positions of that division will be liable to relegation. The final number of Clubs to be relegated will be confirmed once promotion candidates from Feeder Leagues and any vacancies are known. If reprieves are required the Clubs third from bottom in each applicable division will be ranked on a points per match basis (then goal difference, then goals scored if required) - the Club(s) with the best points per match will be reprieved. If all third from bottom Clubs are reprieved, and a further reprieve(s) is required, the same process will apply for Clubs in second from bottom in each applicable division (and so on).
As for how that affects our divisions, there is no real change from the 2024/25 season. The Champions and Play-Off Winners of each division will be promoted; the bottom two clubs in the Premier Division will be relegated and the bottom three clubs in each of the First Division North & South will be 'liable to relegation'. New for this season is that the 'Step 6 and relegation' section has been tweaked to give the FA Leagues Committee absolute discretion to repreive clubs to ensure that individual Divisions remain a viable size - seemingly defined as consisting of at least 18 clubs.
NLS Regulations 2025/26 - Promotion and Relegation
Wed 2nd July 2025 | General
By Media Team
The FA have published the National League System Regulations for the 2025/26 season.
These Regulations apply to all Leagues and Divisions at Steps 1 to 6 of the System and govern the structure and operation of the non-league pyramid within English football.
The full Regulations can be found here but in this article we will draw particular attention to the promotion and relegation rules affecting the NWCFL for the coming season:
Step 4 and Step 5
The Clubs finishing in the bottom four places in each of the eight divisions at Step 4 at the end of the Regular Season will be relegated and placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 5 for the following Playing Season.
Clubs relegated for finishing in the bottom four places in each of the eight divisions at Step 4 will be replaced by the Clubs finishing in 1st position in each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5 together with a further 16 Clubs (one Club from each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5) determined by a series of Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in 1st position but does not meet the minimum criteria for promotion to the next Step, the Club finishing in 2nd position shall be promoted and the Club finishing in 3rd position (and so on) shall be the Club in the next eligible position to take part in the Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in a Play Off Position but does not meet the Criteria for participation in Play Off Matches, the Club finishing in the next eligible position shall take part in the Play Off Matches. In each division at Step 5, the Play Off Matches shall be played so that the highest placed of the eligible Clubs plays against the lowest placed of the eligible Clubs and the other two eligible Clubs play each other. The ties will be played on a single match basis with the home Club being the Club with the best points per match ratio in the Regular Season. If there are only three eligible Clubs, then the highest placed eligible Club shall receive a bye and play the winner of the other Play Off Match, and the winner of that match will be promoted. Clubs finishing below 7th position will not be eligible to take part in Play Off Matches.
Step 5 and Step 6
The Clubs in the bottom two places in each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5 at the end of the Regular Season will be relegated and placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 6 for the following Playing Season.
These Clubs will be replaced by (i) the Clubs finishing in 1st position at the end of the Regular Season in each of the two divisions operated by the South West Peninsula League; (ii) the Clubs finishing in 1st position at the end of the Regular Season in each of the remaining fifteen divisions at Step 6; and (iii) a further fifteen Clubs determined by a series of Play Off Matches within those remaining fifteen divisions (i.e. not including the two divisions operated by the South West Peninsula League). Where a Club finishes in 1st position but does not meet the criteria for promotion to the next Step, the Club finishing in 2nd position shall be promoted and the Club finishing in 3rd position (and so on) shall be the Club in the next eligible position to take part in the Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in a Play Off Position but does not meet the Criteria for participation in Play Off Matches, the Club finishing in the next eligible position shall take part in the Play Off Matches. In each division at Step 6, the Play Off Matches shall be played so that the highest placed of the eligible Clubs plays against the lowest placed and the other two Clubs play each other. The ties will be played on a single match basis with the home Club being the Club with the best points per game ratio in the Regular Season. If there are only three eligible Clubs then the highest placed shall receive a bye to the second match where it will play the winner of the other Play Off Match and the winner of that match will be promoted. Clubs finishing below 7th position will not be eligible to take part in Play Off Matches. The promoted Clubs will be placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 5 for the following Playing Season.
Step 6 and relegation
At the end of the Regular Season the Clubs in the bottom three positions of each of the seventeen Step 6 divisions will be liable to relegation. Where a Step 6 division is operating with fewer than 18 Clubs at the end of the Regular Season (or where the number of Clubs could fall below 18 following promotion, relegation and/or lateral movements), the Committee shall decide at its absolute discretion whether the Clubs in the bottom three, bottom two or bottom positions of that division will be liable to relegation. The final number of Clubs to be relegated will be confirmed once promotion candidates from Feeder Leagues and any vacancies are known. If reprieves are required the Clubs third from bottom in each applicable division will be ranked on a points per match basis (then goal difference, then goals scored if required) - the Club(s) with the best points per match will be reprieved. If all third from bottom Clubs are reprieved, and a further reprieve(s) is required, the same process will apply for Clubs in second from bottom in each applicable division (and so on).
As for how that affects our divisions, there is no real change from the 2024/25 season. The Champions and Play-Off Winners of each division will be promoted; the bottom two clubs in the Premier Division will be relegated and the bottom three clubs in each of the First Division North & South will be 'liable to relegation'. New for this season is that the 'Step 6 and relegation' section has been tweaked to give the FA Leagues Committee absolute discretion to repreive clubs to ensure that individual Divisions remain a viable size - seemingly defined as consisting of at least 18 clubs.
