After a gruelling season in the National League, everything has now been decided, and clubs can plan for season 2024/25.
As with any new season, there will be intrigue over the teams that have won promotion and how they fare in the competition. In this article, we take a closer look at the National League’s new boys, all of whom are familiar to fifth-tier fans.
Tamworth
The Staffordshire team earned promotion by topping the National League North table, eight points clear of nearest rivals Scunthorpe United.
Head coach Andy Peaks built the foundation of their promotion on a solid defence. The Lambs had the best defence in the division, conceding just 29 goals.
At the other end of the pitch, Tamworth’s top goalscorer was former Coventry City youngster Kyle Finn, who scored 14 goals. It was a stellar return for a player who had never scored a goal at that level before the season began.
Tamworth are no strangers to the fifth tier, as they have featured in the National League in the past. Between 2003 and 2014, Tamworth spent nine seasons in the fifth tier, with just two coming in the sixth tier during the run.
Boston United
The Pilgrims finished sixth place in the National League North table, 21 points adrift of the league winners. Ian Culverhouse’s team earned promotion to the fifth tier via a play-off final 2-1 win over Brackley Town.
Striking duo Jimmy Knowles and Kelsey Mooney scored 16 and 19 goals, respectively, in the successful campaign that helped propel their team to promotion.
United has not only appeared in the National League in recent years but was playing EFL football as recently as 2007.
However, in 2006/07, United went into administration, leading to a ten-point deduction. Due to financial issues, they were then relegated down two divisions to the Conference North.
In season 2008/09, worse was to follow as they suffered relegation into the North Premier League. That was the last season in which United featured in the fifth tier of the English game.
They had featured in sixth-tier play-offs on five occasions before their triumph in season 2023/24 and will be keen to avoid making an immediate return to National League North.
Yeovil Town
The Glovers earned promotion by winning the National League South. Mark Cooper’s team finished 11 points ahead of second-place Chelmsford in the promotion race.
In terms of statistics, Yeovil had the second-best defence in the National League South and the joint second-best attack in the division. Former Swindon town youngster Jordan Young was the team’s top goalscorer, scoring 14 goals from midfield.
Ex-West Ham player and veteran striker Frank Nouble also weighed in with 11 goals in 45 appearances.
Town was in the sixth tier for just one season after relegation from the National League in season 22/23. Before this season, they had not featured in the sixth tier of the game since season 1996/97 when they earned promotion to the fifth tier from the Isthmian.
Relegation to the sixth tier must have been a culture shock, as Yeovil spent from 2003 until 2018 in the EFL, with the highlight of their run being playing in the English second tier in season 2013/14.
Judging from the evidence of season 2023/24, Town should be more than equipped to deal with life back in the fifth tier of the English game.
Braintree Town
The Iron finished fifth place in the National League South table, 14 points adrift of champions Yeovil Town. However, Town earned promotion via a thrilling 4-3 win over Worthing in the play-off final.
Braintree Town was in the sixth tier for five seasons, having suffered relegation from the National League in 2018/19 after finishing in the league’s bottom four.
Before their relegation, Braintree had been regulars in the fifth tier of the English game, although they did suffer the spectre of relegation during that time. The Essex club is not unfamiliar with the National League, having featured in the division relatively recently.
Who were the clubs they replaced?
With four clubs coming up, four had to go down to their respective sixth-tier divisions. The unfortunate clubs they replaced were Boreham Wood Kidderminster, Dorking Wanderers and Oxford City.
The four clubs may well be looking for an instant return, just like Yeovil however, as many clubs have found the National League North and South are not easy divisions to escape, so it may be some time before we see some of the relegated teams again in the National League.
Which of the promoted teams will impact the National League most in season 2024/25?