United Counties League Premier Division North

The United Counties League Premier Division North, along with their counterparts in the South, is the fifth step of the National League System and the ninth level of the English football pyramid overall.

The division was only established before the 2021/22 campaign, as the United Counties Premier Division South was previously the sole Premier Division of the United Counties League.

Member clubs participate in cup competitions organised by their county FA and other competitions. The United Counties League Premier Division North contains 20 teams.

How does promotion and relegation work in the division?

The league is a feeder for a number of Step 4 leagues, including the Southern League Div One Central or the Northern Premier League South East.

One team per season is automatically promoted to Step 4, with the champions earning promotion depending on whether their stadium meets the minimum requirements of the higher division.

In previous seasons, the runners-up in the table would face a Step 4 team for the right to play at a higher level. However, the current system is a more basic play-off.

The teams that finish from second place to fifth place then face off in a four-team play-off tournament, with the winners of the play-offs securing their place in the play-off finals. The winner of the final are then promoted to the higher leagues.

At the other end of the table, the two teams that finish at the bottom of the table are relegated to Division One, and two teams move up from Step 6 to replace the demoted teams.

United Counties League Premier Division North Winners

The first winners of the division in the 2021/22 season were Long Eaton United. The following season, 2022/23, Anstey Nomads first top of the table and in season 2023–24, Sherwood Colliery were crowned as champions of the United Counties League Premier Division North.