Football league season
The 2021–22 National League season , known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the seventh season as English football 's National League , the nineteenth season consisting of three divisions, and the forty-third season overall.
Due to the curtailment of the preceding season for North and South and lower levels of competition in the English football pyramid, promotion and relegation between levels 5 and 6, and between level 6 and lower levels were suspended.[ 1] These, combined with the folding of Macclesfield Town in 2020–21 and the knock-on effects of Bury 's collapse in 2019–20, meant that for the 2021–22 season the three divisions had the irregular complement of 23, 22 and 21 teams, respectively.
In 2019, prior to these COVID-19 related impacts, the league had intended the 2021–22 season to be the first using a new structure in which the number of teams in its North and South divisions would increase, resulting in three 24-team divisions. On 1 July 2021, the National League confirmed its intent to achieve this structure for the 2022–23 season; accordingly the following adjustments to promotion and relegation were in effect for this season:[ 2] [ 3]
As before, two teams were promoted from the National League to League Two and replaced by two teams relegated from it;
Three teams were relegated from the National League to the two level 6 divisions, and replaced by four teams (two from each of the National League North and South); and
Two teams were relegated from the two level 6 divisions (one from the National League North and another from the National League South) to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League , Southern League Central or South , or Isthmian League , and replaced by eight teams (two from each division). The Football Association already clarified these relegations by November.[ 4]
National League
Football league season
Team changes
Grimsby Town became the first former top-flight First Division club to be relegated to the National League twice, and their matches against Notts County make them the second pairing of clubs to face each other across all top five tiers of English football (after the Luton Town vs Oxford United fixture).
Stadia and locations
Locations of the 2021–22 National League clubs (Greater London shown in more detail below)
Locations of the 2021–22 National League clubs (Greater London)
Team
Location
Stadium
Capacity
Aldershot Town
Aldershot
Recreation Ground
7,200
Altrincham
Altrincham
Moss Lane
7,700
Barnet
London (Canons Park )
The Hive Stadium
6,418
Boreham Wood
Borehamwood
Meadow Park
4,502
Bromley
London (Bromley )
Hayes Lane
5,300
Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Proact Stadium
10,504
Dagenham & Redbridge
London (Dagenham )
Victoria Road
6,078
Dover Athletic
Dover
Crabble Athletic Ground
5,745
Eastleigh
Eastleigh
Ten Acres
5,250
FC Halifax Town
Halifax
The Shay
10,400
Grimsby Town
Cleethorpes
Blundell Park
9,052
King's Lynn Town
King's Lynn
The Walks
8,200
Maidenhead United
Maidenhead
York Road
4,000
Notts County
Nottingham
Meadow Lane
19,588
Solihull Moors
Solihull
Damson Park
5,500
Southend United
Southend-on-Sea
Roots Hall
12,392
Stockport County
Stockport
Edgeley Park
10,852
Torquay United
Torquay
Plainmoor
6,500
Wealdstone
London (Ruislip )
Grosvenor Vale
4,085
Weymouth
Weymouth
Bob Lucas Stadium
6,600
Woking
Woking
Kingfield Stadium
6,036
Wrexham
Wrexham
Racecourse Ground
10,771
Yeovil Town
Yeovil
Huish Park
9,566
Managerial changes
National League table
Source:
National League official site Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results
[ 33] (C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Dover Athletic were deducted twelve points for failing to complete fixtures during the 2020–21 season.[ 32]
Results table
Source:
National League Results Grid Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
As of match played 15 May 2022 [ 34]
Hat-tricks
Notes
5 Player scored 5 goals
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
National League North
Football league season
The National League North consisted of 22 teams for the final time.
Team changes
Following the COVID-19 pandemic-related cancellation of the four Step 3 leagues' 2020–21 seasons, no teams were promoted to or relegated from the National League North.[ 43]
Stadia and locations
Locations of the National League North 2021–22 teams
Team
Location
Stadium
Capacity
AFC Fylde
Wesham
Mill Farm
6,000
AFC Telford United
Telford
New Bucks Head
6,300
Alfreton Town
Alfreton
North Street
3,600
Blyth Spartans
Blyth
Croft Park
4,435
Boston United
Boston
Boston Community Stadium
5,000
Brackley Town
Brackley
St. James Park
3,500
Bradford (Park Avenue)
Bradford
Horsfall Stadium
3,500
Chester
Chester
Deva Stadium
6,500
Chorley
Chorley
Victory Park
4,100
Curzon Ashton
Ashton-under-Lyne
Tameside Stadium
4,000
Darlington
Darlington
Blackwell Meadows
3,300
Farsley Celtic
Farsley
The Citadel
3,900
Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead International Stadium
11,800
Gloucester City
Gloucester
Meadow Park
3,600
Guiseley
Guiseley
Nethermoor Park
4,200
Hereford
Hereford
Edgar Street
5,213
Kettering Town
Kettering
Latimer Park (groundshare with Burton Park Wanderers )
2,400
Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster
Aggborough
6,238
Leamington
Leamington
New Windmill Ground
2,300
Southport
Southport
Haig Avenue
6,008
Spennymoor Town
Spennymoor
The Brewery Field
4,300[ 44]
York City
York
York Community Stadium
8,500
Managerial changes
National League North table
Source:
National League official site Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results
[ 68] (C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Results table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
Hat-tricks
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
National League South
Football league season
The National League South consisted of 21 teams after the 2019–20 season and did so for the final time.
Team changes
Following the COVID-19 pandemic-related cancellation of the four Step 3 leagues' 2020–21 seasons, no teams were promoted to or relegated from the National League South.[ 43]
Stadia and locations
Locations of the National League South 2021–22 teams (Greater London shown in more detail below)
Locations of the National League South 2021–22 teams (Greater London clubs)
Team
Location
Stadium
Capacity
Bath City
Bath (Twerton )
Twerton Park
8,840
Billericay Town
Billericay
New Lodge
3,500
Braintree Town
Braintree
Cressing Road
4,085
Chelmsford City
Chelmsford
Melbourne Stadium
3,019
Chippenham Town
Chippenham
Hardenhuish Park
3,000
Concord Rangers
Canvey Island
Thames Road
3,300
Dartford
Dartford
Princes Park
4,100
Dorking Wanderers
Dorking
Meadowbank Stadium
3,000
Dulwich Hamlet
London (East Dulwich )
Champion Hill
3,000
Eastbourne Borough
Eastbourne
Priory Lane
4,151
Ebbsfleet United
Northfleet
Stonebridge Road
4,800
Hampton & Richmond
London (Hampton )
Beveree Stadium
3,500
Havant & Waterlooville
Havant
West Leigh Park
5,300
Hemel Hempstead Town
Hemel Hempstead
Vauxhall Road
3,152
Hungerford Town
Hungerford
Bulpit Lane
2,500
Maidstone United
Maidstone
Gallagher Stadium
4,200
Oxford City
Oxford (Marston )
Court Place Farm
2,000
Slough Town
Slough
Arbour Park
2,000
St Albans City
St Albans
Clarence Park
4,500
Tonbridge Angels
Tonbridge
Longmead Stadium
3,000
Welling United
London (Welling )
Park View Road
4,000
Managerial changes
National League South table
Source:
National League official site Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results
[ 33] (C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Results table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers
Hat-tricks
Notes
4 Player scored 4 goals
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
References
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^ a b "Vanarama National League's April Monthly Award Winners Announced!" . Vanarama National League . 9 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022 .
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^ Field of Dreams: Capacity passes 4000 mark , Spennymoor Town FC, 17 August 2020, retrieved 2023-05-23
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^ "CLUB STATEMENT – FIRST TEAM MANAGER" . 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28.
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^ "Club Statement: Steve Watson" . York City . 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021 .
^ "Club Statement | Michael Nelson" . Blyth Spartans AFC . 17 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021 .
^ "Mitchell Checks In As Blyth Spartans Get Their Man" . Vanarama National League . 29 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021 .
^ "Club Statement" . AFC Telford United . 21 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021 .
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^ "CLUB STATEMENT: Anthony Johnson & Bernard Morley" . Chester Football Club. 24 November 2021.
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^ "A New dawn: Johnson and Morley take charge" . Spennymoor Town FC . 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021 .
^ "Club Statement – Craig Elliott" . Boston United . 4 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022 .
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^ "Paul Cox resigns" . Kettering Town FC . 21 January 2022.
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^ "The FA Handbook 2020/2021 Part 29 Standardised Rules Section 12.2" . The FA. Retrieved 25 May 2021 .
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^ a b "Trio Celebrate October National League North Accolades" . Vanarama National League . 8 November 2021.
^ a b "Trio Celebrate November National League North Accolades" . Vanarama National League . 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021 .
^ a b "Trio Celebrate December National League North Accolades" . Vanarama National League . 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022 .
^ a b "Trio Celebrate January National League North Accolades" . Vanarama National League . 7 February 2022.
^ a b "Trio Celebrate February National League North Accolades" . Vanarama National League . 7 March 2022.
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^ "Club statement – New 1st Team Manager" . Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club . 20 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021 .
^ "Billericay Town searching for a new manager as Kevin Watson departs" . Romford Recorder. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021 .
^ "Club Statement – Managerial Update" . Billericay Town F.C . 8 October 2021.
^ "Club Statement: David Oldfield" . Oxford City FC . 18 January 2022.
^ "Oxford City Football Club Unveil Ross Jenkins As New Head Coach" . Oxford City Football Club . 9 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022 .
^ "CLUB STATEMENT | PETER TAYLOR" . Welling United Football Club . 13 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022 .
^ "CLUB STATEMENT | WARREN FEENEY APPOINTED AS MANAGER" . Welling United Football Club . 14 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022 .
^ "CLUB STATEMENT – Manager, Mike Cook" . chippenhamtown.com . 9 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022 .
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^ a b "Meet Your November National League South Award Winners!" . Vanarama National League . 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021 .
^ a b "Meet Your December National League South Award Winners!" . Vanarama National League . 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022 .
^ a b "Here's Your January National League South Award Winners!" . Vanarama National League . 7 February 2022.
^ a b "Here's Your February National League South Award Winners!" . Vanarama National League . 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022 .
^ a b "Meet Your March Vanarama National League South Award Winners!" . Vanarama National League . 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022 .
^ a b "Here's Your April Vanarama National League South Award Winners!" . Vanarama National League . 9 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022 .
National teams
League competitions
Level 1 Levels 2–4 Levels 5–6 Levels 7–8 Levels 9–10
Combined Counties League (Premier North , Premier South , One )
Eastern Counties League (Premier , One North , One South )
Essex Senior League (level 9 only)
Hellenic League (Premier , One )
Midland League (Premier , One )
Northern Counties East League (Premier , One )
Northern League (One , Two )
North West Counties League (Premier , One North , One South )
Southern Combination League (Premier , One )
Southern Counties East League (Premier , One )
South West Peninsula League (Premier East , Premier West - level 10 only )
Spartan South Midlands League (Premier , One )
United Counties League (Premier North , Premier South , One )
Wessex League (Premier , One )
Western League (Premier , One )
Cup competitions
Youth competitions
Information related to 2021–22 National League