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National League System Regulations – 2025/26

 

The FA have published the National League System Regulations for the 2025/26 season.

These Regulations apply to all Leagues and Divisions at Steps 1 to 6 of the System and govern the structure and operation of the non-league pyramid within English football.

The full Regulations can be found here but in this article we will draw particular attention to the promotion and relegation rules affecting the SCEFL at the end of the 2025/26 season:

Quick guide –  SCEFL Premier Division  – Step 5

  • The Champions will be promoted plus the winners of the play-off between the teams that finish in positions 2,3,4,5
  • The teams finishing in the bottom two places of the table will be relegated to Step 6.

Expected Play Off Fixture Dates

Semi-final (2v5, 3v4): Usual midweek matchday of home club w/c Monday April 27.

Final: Weekend of 2/3 May at the home ground of club placed highest in league table

 

Quick guide –  SCEFL First Division – Step 6

  • The Champions will be promoted plus the winners of the play-off between the teams that finish in positions 2,3,4,5.
  • Where a Club finishes in a Play Off Position but does not meet the Criteria for participation in the Play Offs, the Club finishing in the next eligible position shall take part in the Play Off Matches.
  • The teams finishing in the bottom 3 places are liable to relegation.

Expected Play Off Fixture Dates

Semi-final (2v5, 3v4): Usual midweek matchday of home club w/c Monday April 27.

Final: Weekend of 2/3 May at the home ground of club placed highest in league table.




DETAILED PROMOTION AND RELEGATION GUIDE

Step 4 and Step 5

The Clubs finishing in the bottom four places in each of the eight divisions at Step 4 at the end of the Regular Season will be relegated and placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 5 for the following Playing Season.

Clubs relegated for finishing in the bottom four places in each of the eight divisions at Step 4 will be replaced by the Clubs finishing in 1st position in each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5 together with a further 16 Clubs (one Club from each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5) determined by a series of Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in 1st position but does not meet the minimum criteria for promotion to the next Step, the Club finishing in 2nd position shall be promoted and the Club finishing in 3rd position (and so on) shall be the Club in the next eligible position to take part in the Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in a Play Off Position but does not meet the Criteria for participation in Play Off Matches, the Club finishing in the next eligible position shall take part in the Play Off Matches. In each division at Step 5, the Play Off Matches shall be played so that the highest placed of the eligible Clubs plays against the lowest placed of the eligible Clubs and the other two eligible Clubs play each other. The ties will be played on a single match basis with the home Club being the Club with the best points per match ratio in the Regular Season. If there are only three eligible Clubs, then the highest placed eligible Club shall receive a bye and play the winner of the other Play Off Match, and the winner of that match will be promoted. Clubs finishing below 7th position will not be eligible to take part in Play Off Matches.

Step 5 and Step 6

The Clubs in the bottom two places in each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5 at the end of the Regular Season will be relegated and placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 6 for the following Playing Season.

These Clubs will be replaced by (i) the Clubs finishing in 1st position at the end of the Regular Season in each of the two divisions operated by the South West Peninsula League; (ii) the Clubs finishing in 1st position at the end of the Regular Season in each of the remaining fifteen divisions at Step 6; and (iii) a further fifteen Clubs determined by a series of Play Off Matches within those remaining fifteen divisions (i.e. not including the two divisions operated by the South West Peninsula League). Where a Club finishes in 1st position but does not meet the criteria for promotion to the next Step, the Club finishing in 2nd position shall be promoted and the Club finishing in 3rd position (and so on) shall be the Club in the next eligible position to take part in the Play Off Matches. Where a Club finishes in a Play Off Position but does not meet the Criteria for participation in Play Off Matches, the Club finishing in the next eligible position shall take part in the Play Off Matches. In each division at Step 6, the Play Off Matches shall be played so that the highest placed of the eligible Clubs plays against the lowest placed and the other two Clubs play each other. The ties will be played on a single match basis with the home Club being the Club with the best points per game ratio in the Regular Season. If there are only three eligible Clubs then the highest placed shall receive a bye to the second match where it will play the winner of the other Play Off Match and the winner of that match will be promoted. Clubs finishing below 7th position will not be eligible to take part in Play Off Matches. The promoted Clubs will be placed in a feeder pool and placed in the most geographically appropriate division at Step 5 for the following Playing Season.

Step 6 and relegation

At the end of the Regular Season the Clubs in the bottom three positions of each of the seventeen Step 6 divisions will be liable to relegation. Where a Step 6 division is operating with fewer than 18 Clubs at the end of the Regular Season (or where the number of Clubs could fall below 18 following promotion, relegation and/or lateral movements), the Committee shall decide at its absolute discretion whether the Clubs in the bottom three, bottom two or bottom positions of that division will be liable to relegation. The final number of Clubs to be relegated will be confirmed once promotion candidates from Feeder Leagues and any vacancies are known. If reprieves are required the Clubs third from bottom in each applicable division will be ranked on a points per match basis (then goal difference, then goals scored if required) – the Club(s) with the best points per match will be reprieved. If all third from bottom Clubs are reprieved, and a further reprieve(s) is required, the same process will apply for Clubs in second from bottom in each applicable division (and so on).

Feeder Leagues

All Feeder League Clubs (Kent County League) seeking promotion to Step 6 must make an application using the prescribed form direct to The Association, copied to their existing League, by 31st December. In order to be considered for promotion, Clubs must finish in 1st position in their Feeder League. If the Club finishing in 1st position does not wish to be promoted or fails to meet the entry criteria, then the Club finishing in 2nd position will be eligible for promotion. If the Club in 2nd position does not seek promotion or fails to meet the entry criteria, then Clubs down to 5th position may be considered for promotion, provided that they meet the appropriate entry criteria. Clubs finishing below 5th position may not be considered for promotion, and only one Club may be considered for promotion from each League.

Nine Clubs have officially applied to be promoted from the Kent County League into Step 6.
Aylesford FC, Cuxton 91 FC, Falconwood FC, Hawkinge Town FC, Kent United FC, Long Lane FC, Meridian FC, Metrogas FC and Minster FC.

 

Peter Miller’s Promotion and Relegation Spreadsheets