Step 4 of the National League System

step 4 football leagueStep four of the National League system consists of eight different regional leagues that all contain 20 teams. The teams are split into three different leagues: the Northern Premier League, the Southern Football League and the Isthmian League. All three then have different regional leagues based on their location in the country.

In the past, the various leagues have also contained clubs from Wales, such as Caernarfon Town, Colwyn Bay, Bangor City, Newtown, and Rhyl. One Scottish club, Gretna, has also featured in the leagues. The Channel Islands club Guernsey have also played in the leagues.

Eight teams are promoted to step 3, including the champions of each regional league and each winner of the play-offs. Relegation to step 5 is slightly more complicated, as the NLS committee decides on who is demoted to the lower level.

The leagues in step 4 of the National League system are considered part of the seventh and eighth tier of the English game overall. Most clubs in all eight leagues are semi-professional.

Leagues In Step Four