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EspañolCONFERENCE NATIONAL
| Blue Square Premier |
|---|
| ''Conference National 2007-08'' |
 Football Conference.png |
| 'Founded' |
| 1979 (as the Alliance Premier League) |
| 'Nation' |
| 'Promotion To' |
| Football League Two |
| 'Relegation To' |
| Conference North Conference South |
| 'Number of Teams' |
| 24 |
| 'Level on Pyramid' |
| Level 5 |
| 'Cups' |
| FA Cup (Qualification Needed)FA TrophySetanta Shield |
| 'Current Champions (2006-07)' |
| Dagenham & Redbridge |
| 'Website' |
| Conference |
'Conference National' (currently billed as the 'Blue Square Premier' for sponsorship reasons) [1] is the top division of the Football Conference. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system. It is the most profitable and competitive fifth-tier football league in the world.
| Contents |
| History |
| Conference National clubs, 2007-08 |
| Past Conference National winners |
| Play-off results |
| Conference National Stadia 2007-08 |
| References |
| External links |
History
The league was formed as the 'Alliance Premier League' in 1979. It was the first attempt to create a fully national league underneath the football league, drawing its clubs from the Northern Premier League and the Southern League. It greatly improved the quality of football at this lower level, as well as improving the financial status of the top clubs. This was reflected in 1986, when the Football League began accepting direct promotion/relegation between the Conference (as it was known by then) and its lowest level - at that time the Football League Fourth Division.
Since 2002-03, the league has been granted a second promotion place, with a play-off deciding who joins the champions in the football league. Previously, no promotion from the Conference would occur if the winners did not have adequate stadium facilities. As of the start of the 2002-03 season, if a club achieves the automatic promotion or the play-off places but does not have an adequate stadium, their place will be re-allocated to the next highest-placed club that has the required facilities. In 2004-05, the Conference increased its size by adding two lower divisions, the Conference North and Conference South respectively. In 2006 the Conference expanded from 22 to 24 teams by relegating 2 teams and promoting 4 teams. From the 2006/07 season there is a 4 up/4 down system between the Conference National and its two feeder divisions.
The champions of the division are Dagenham & Redbridge who were promoted to Football League Two along with Morecambe F.C. who won the 2007 Playoff Final.
In April 2007, it was announced all 3 Conference leagues would be sponsored by betting firm Blue Square instead of Nationwide from the 2007/08 season. This would also lead to a renaming of the leagues with the Conference National becoming the Blue Square Premier, the Conference North becoming Blue Square North and the Conference South becoming Blue Square South.
Conference National clubs, 2007-08
| Club | Finishing position last season |
|---|---|
| Aldershot Town | 9th |
| Altrincham | 21st ² |
| Burton Albion | 6th |
| Cambridge United | 17th |
| Crawley Town | 18th |
| Droylsden | 1st in Conference North |
| Ebbsfleet United1 | 7th |
| Exeter City | 5th |
| Farsley Celtic | 5th in Conference North (promoted via play-offs) |
| Forest Green Rovers | 14th |
| Grays Athletic | 19th |
| Halifax Town | 16th |
| Histon | 1st in Conference South |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 10th |
| Northwich Victoria | 13th |
| Oxford United | 2nd |
| Rushden & Diamonds | 12th |
| Salisbury City | 2nd in Conference South (promoted via play-offs) |
| Stafford Rangers | 20th |
| Stevenage Borough | 8th |
| Torquay United | 24th in League Two |
| Weymouth | 11th |
| Woking | 15th |
| York City | 4th |
1 Formerly known as Gravesend & Northfleet
² Not relegated due to Boston United being placed in Conference North
Past Conference National winners
Play-off results
Conference National Stadia 2007-08
References
1. News story on official Football League site
External links
★ National Conference official site
★ Conference National clubs' locations
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