National League Sides Demand A Third Promotion Spot

All 72 National League sides in tiers five and six of English football have written to the English Football League demanding the expansion of the number of teams promoted to League Two from two to three starting from the 2025/26 campaign. These three positions are currently occupied by Barnet, Forest Green Rovers and York City.

Between 1987 and 2003, the National League only had one promotion spot, but that was expanded through the introduction of the play-off system. In theory, this would allow more teams the chance to play in the Football League, but realistically, the same few clubs tended to swap places.

All 72 National League clubs are supporting a letter to the EFL requesting a vote to create three promotion places into their league.

It's time to Put Football First. #3UP | #PutFootballFirst

— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) February 5, 2025

The National League General Manager, Mark Ives, is trying to push this idea to the attention of the EFL, who have stalled talks with the National League regarding this subject, aiming to sort out the funding disagreement between the Premier League and the Football League before agreeing to new ideas with the fifth tier.

How Have Recently Promoted Sides Faired In League Two?

Last season, Chesterfield won the National League with relative ease, and they have continued that form into this season, as they currently sit in 10th in League Two, just a couple of wins from the play-offs. Bromley won the National League play-offs last season, and they too are comfortable in the Football League, occupying 16th.

The season prior was a famous season in the National League as Wrexham and Notts County battled it out for automatic promotion. In the end Wrexham won the league and are now in League One after back to back promotions. Meanwhile, Notts County are in League Two, but look like they could get promoted to join Wrexham this season.

All this talk of 3 up, 3 down got me reminiscing about the biggest NL game of all time.

There was so much riding on Wrexham v Notts County in 2023, incredible day.

A game that did social media/TV numbers comparable, and even in excess of PL levels

— Adam Summerton (@adamsummerton) February 5, 2025

In the 2021/22 season Stockport won the league and after a year where they stayed in League Two, were promoted with Wrexham last season to League One. Grimsby won the play-offs that year and have remained in a solid spot in League Two since then.

How Do Relegated Sides Fare In The National League?

While promoted sides tend to do well in the Football League, the opposite is more often that not, not the case. Forest Green are an exception, as after getting relegated last season, they are currently in second place in the National League, while fellow relegated team Sutton United are down in 10th.

The season prior to that saw Hartlepool and Rochdale drop out of the Football League and they are now both mid table clubs in the fifth tier. Neither of them pushed for a play-off spot last season and finished within two points of each other halfway down the table.

🔵 Hartlepool United are amongst the 72 National League clubs who have written to the EFL board demanding the introduction of 3 promotion & relegation spots between League 2 & the NL.

Currently its 2 up, 2 down.

As time passes the argument for this only grows stronger.#Pools

— Rob Law (@RobLawTees) February 5, 2025

The 2021/22 season saw two historic clubs, Scunthorpe and Oldham, relegated from League Two after financial difficulties showed on the pitch. Scunthorpe won just four games that whole season, while Oldham at least put up a little bit of a fight. Now, Scunthorpe are in the National League North, the sixth tier of England football, while Oldham have faded into mid table mediocrity in the fifth tier.