Non-league

Non-League football describes football leagues played outside of the top leagues in that country. Generally it describes leagues which are not fully professional. The term is primarily used in football in England, where it describes football played at a level below that of the Premier League and the three divisions of The Football League (92 clubs). The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football League were therefore non-League clubs. The term can be confusing as the vast majority of non-league football clubs in England play in a type of league. Currently, a non-league team would be any club playing in the Conference National and below and therefore would not play in the English League Cup.

The "League" of "non-League football" refers to the Football League, rather than leagues in general – "non-League" clubs play most of their football in league competitions. There are many leagues below the level of The Football League, and some, such as the Northern League, are almost as old as The Football League itself. The most senior of these leagues are loosely organised by The Football Association, the sport's governing body in England, into a National League System (NLS). The NLS has seven levels or steps, and includes over 50 separate leagues, many with more than one division.

Prior to 1987, there was no automatic promotion and relegation between The Football League and the leagues of non-League football. The bottom clubs of The Football League were required to apply for re-election to the League at the end of the season, but this was in most cases a mere formality. The system ensured that Football League membership remained relatively static, with non-League clubs having little chance of joining.

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