In non-league football, some clubs are living on a financial tightrope. They do not bring in the same sort of finances that their more illustrious counterparts in the EFL or even, at the extreme, the Premier League does.
One considerable expense for football clubs can be travel costs, as they attempt to get to and from their games. The football authorities are aware of these struggles, which is why most leagues are regionalised.
This makes it slightly easier for teams to travel to games and cuts down on those travel expenses. However, what happens when clubs are placed in a league that is not in their region?
Midlands clubs often moved between each region
There are relatively rare occasions when clubs are placed in a league outside their own region, which obviously creates issues. This is usually caused by too many clubs from a particular region suffering relegation from the National League.
The National League contains clubs from all over the country, so it is not regionalised. However, the leagues below it, the National League North and the National League South, are, of course, regionalised.
In the National League, the teams that finish in the bottom four positions in the table are relegated to Step 2 of the National League system, which is the National League North and South.
For example, if three teams from the North of the country are relegated and one from the south or vice-versa, it creates a problem. There won’t be enough room for three clubs to all drop into the National League North, as it will already have the required number of teams for the following season. That means the league needs to be revised.
One way the football authorities deal with this issue is by using the Midlands as a versatile region. Some areas of the Midlands consider themselves to be the north, while others say they are the south.
Some Midlands clubs will be placed in northern regional leagues, while others will be allocated to a southern regional league. The clubs that are the furthest North are allocated to the northern leagues, and the same is true for teams in the South.
Examples of regional differences
An example of a club struggling with what they believed was in the wrong region came from Step 6 after the leagues were restructured ahead of the 2020/21 season. Wem Town from Shropshire was allocated to the North West Counties Football League First Division South.
However, before the restructuring, they had been playing their football in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division. The club withdrew from the National League system completely.
It wasn’t the only reason for their withdrawal from the NAS. Still, it was a significant part of their withdrawal, despite the local county claiming there would be more derbies and less mileage in the North West Counties Football League First Division South.
Bishop’s Stortford was another example of a club in the wrong region in season 2023/24. Although based in Hertfordshire, they were playing in the National League North. The issue was moot, though, as they suffered relegation and play in the Southern League Premier Central in season 2024/25.
Gloucester City was also in the National League North in season 2023/24 despite being located in Hempstead. However, like Bishop’s Stortford, they suffered relegation at the end of the campaign. They play their football in the Southern League Premier Division South in season 2024/25, which makes more sense geographically.
Oxford City is a club located in the south. However, after being relegated from the National League in 2023/24, they will play in the National League North in 2024/25.
Their presence in the National League South is the perfect example of authorities having to adjust leagues, even if the club’s geography doesn’t fit their league allocations.
Clubs from outside of England allocated spots in the NAS
Some clubs from outside of the English mainland play in the English National League System. The Channel Islands clubs Guernsey F.C. and Jersey Bulls F.C. play in the English non-league, as does F.C. Isle of Man.
Guernsey and Jersey are generally regionalised in the south, as that is where they are closest to England. Meanwhile, the Isle of Man plays in the North West Counties Football League. The trio is affiliated with the English FA but is not internationally recognised.
These clubs are a good example of clubs having to travel long distances to be able to play in a competitive league. Unfortunately, due to their geography, they don’t really have a choice if they want to survive and remain competitive.