Step 3 of the National League System
Step three of the National League system consists of four different leagues, including the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the Southern League Premier Central, the Southern League Premier Division South and the Isthmian League Premier Division. The leagues make up the seventh and eighth tier of the English game overall.
All four of the leagues have sub and regional divisions, which teams are relegated to if they finish in the bottom four of the 22 competing teams.
The Northern Premier League contains 22 teams from Northern England and the northern, central areas of the Midlands and western parts of East Anglia.
The Southern Football Premier Central has 22 teams from East Anglia, the South and Midlands of England, and South Wales. Meanwhile, 22 teams from Greater London, East and South East England feature in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Like in step 2 of the National League system, most clubs in step 3 operate on a semi-professional basis.
Most of the leagues are historic, as the Southern League dates back to 1894. The youngest of the four leagues in step 3 is the Northern Premier League, which was founded in 1968.
Leagues In Step Three
- Northern Premier League Premier Division
- Southern League Premier Central,
- Southern League Premier Division South
- Isthmian League Premier Division