The National League is a notoriously tough league to escape. Some clubs relegated from the EFL take years to return, or in some cases, never return to league football.
With the start of the 2025/26 National League campaign less than a month away, we thought we would check out the favourites for promotion to the EFL in the new campaign.
Carlisle United
As is usually the case, teams that suffer relegation from the EFL tend to be fancied to earn instant returns. However, it’s not always easy for relegated teams to make an instant return, as previously mentioned.
The experience of football icon Mark Hughes at the helm should help the Cumbrians mount a realistic title challenge. The former Wales boss was only appointed in February, with the club already deep in trouble.
As expected, many under-performing players have left United in the summer. However, they have managed to bring in players such as ex-Everton defender Morgan Feeney, as well as young full-back Sam Murray from Manchester United.
One issue for Carlisle is their lack of recent experience in the division, as they haven’t played in the fifth tier for two decades. They are also on a downward spiral of two straight relegations, so Hughes has a big job on his hands changing the mentality.
York City
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The Yorkshire outfit finished as runners-up in season 2024/25, having garnered 96 points, with eventual champions Barnet finishing six points ahead of them in an epic battle for the title. Unfortunately for the Minstermen, they suffered defeat in the play-off semi-finals against Oldham Athletic.
York is one of those former EFL clubs that have been stuck in the fifth-tier longer than they would have hoped for, having suffered relegation from League Two in the 2015/16 season.
As is always the case with most clubs in the off-season, York has seen a reshuffling of their squad. However, they have managed to keep hold of striker Ollie Pearce, who was the fifth-tier’s top goalscorer with 29 goals last season. The 29-year-old could once again be a key player if York are once again going to challenge for promotion.
Forest Green Rovers
Like Carlisle, Forest Green have endured a difficult couple of seasons. Similar to their fellow National League new boys, Rovers suffered back-to-back relegations from League One to the National League, but they dropped into the fifth-tier for the 2023/24 season.
The Gloucestershire outfit adapted pretty quickly to life in the National League, finishing in third place in their season back in the fifth tier since the 2016/17 season. However, they suffered a semi-final play-off defeat against Southend United.
Forest Green have brought in a number of players with National League experience, including Laurent Mendy, Yahya Bamba and Tre Pemberton. They have also signed Jayden Clarke from League Two Gillingham, while goalkeeper Luke McNicolas has joined from Wrexham.
The Green Army will be confident of mounting another promotion challenge this season.
Southend United
The Shrimpers produced their highest league finish since suffering relegation in season 2020/21, finishing seventh-place in the table and qualifying for the play-offs.
However, unfortunately for United, they suffered a 3-2 extra-time defeat against another former EFL team, Oldham Athletic, in the play-off final at Wembley.
Everybody connected with the club will be hoping that making the play-off final will inspire them to another promotion challenge in season 2025/26.
United will feel that they have a squad capable of mounting another promotion charge, especially as there haven’t been too many summer exits. However, they have managed to bring in Sam Austin, Harry Boyes, Ben Goodlife and Slavi Spasov.
The latter scored 15 goals in the National League South for Slough Town. The young Bulgarian will be hoping that he can make a smooth step up in divisions. If he can, then he could be a key player.
Scunthorpe United
The Yorkshire team are on a bit of a crest of a wave following their promotion from National League North last season. They finished in second place in the table, but are considered dangerous outsiders for promotion, mainly due to their winning momentum from the previous campaign.
The promotion last season was finally some good news for United, who had suffered back-to-back relegations in seasons 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Scunthorpe’s promotion to the fifth tier was inspired by the goals of winger Callum Roberts, who scored 20 times, while striker Danny Whitehall also scored 14 times in the sixth tier.
United have brought in Jean Belehouan and Branden Horton from Gateshead. Another interesting signing is 20-year-old attacking midfielder Dubem Eze, who has arrived on a season-long loan deal from Bolton Wanderers.
Eze had played youth football for Chelsea and Norwich before his switch to Bolton. He has previous experience in non-league football, having featured for Chorley and Halifax in the sixth and fifth tiers of the English leagues, respectively.