The Football Conference
| Country |
 England (67 Clubs) |
|---|---|
| Other club(s) from |
 Wales (1 Club) |
| Founded | 1979 (National League) 2004 (North & South) |
| Divisions |
National League National League North and South |
| Number of teams | 24 National League 22 North & 22 South |
| Level on pyramid | 5–6 |
| Promotion to | Football League Two |
| Relegation to |
Northern Premier League Premier Division Isthmian League Premier Division Southern League Premier Division |
| Domestic cup(s) |
FA Cup FA Trophy Conference League Cup (defunct) |
| Current champions |
Cheltenham Town (National League) Solihull Moors (North) Sutton United (South) (2015–16) |
| TV partners |
BT Sport NLTV (since 2015) |
| Website | National League |
 2016–17 National League
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The National League is an association football league in England consisting of three divisions, the National League, National League North and National League South. Originally called the Alliance Premier League from 1979 until 1986. Between 1986 and 2015, the league was known as the Football Conference. As part of a sponsorship deal with car leasing company Vanarama, the league is known as the Vanarama National League.
Most of the National League clubs are fully professional, whilst most National League North and National League South clubs are semi-professional. The professional clubs are usually clubs which have been in the Football League in the past, as opposed to those who have always been Non-League. The National League is the lowest of the five nationwide football divisions in England, below the Premier League and the three divisions of the Football League, and is the top tier of the National League System of non-League football. The National League North and National League South form the sixth tier of English football. The National League consisted of only one division until 2004, but expanded as part of an extensive restructuring of the National League System which took effect beginning with the 2004–05 season.
The National League stands at the top of the National League System (NLS), a comprehensive structure linking together over 50 different leagues under the auspices of The Football Association (FA). The National League is at Step 1 of the NLS, and National League North and National League South make up Step 2. Above the National League are the 92 clubs which together make up the highest levels of English football, the Premier League and the Football League; below the National League are the Step 3 and lower leagues of the NLS.
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