English Football Pyramid System

The Ultimate Guide to the English Football League Pyramid System

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How the English Football League Pyramid System Works

The English Football Pyramid, also referred to as the English Football League System or EFL System, is a structured hierarchy of professional, semi-professional and amateur football leagues in England and Wales. Clubs can move up and down the pyramid through promotion and relegation, based on their performance in their respective leagues.

As shown in our Previous English Football Pyramid diagram, the English Football Pyramid is not static. It can change from season to season, depending on the number of clubs in each league and the results of promotion and relegation playoffs.  To clarify for our international visitors, not all UK football league clubs are part of the English Football Pyramid. Only English and elite Welsh clubs compete in the English Football Pyramid.

Our following diagram provides a detailed overview of the first 11 tiers of the English Football Pyramid, from the Premier League down to the 11th level of Non-League Football Divisions. After the diagram, read on  for more details about EFL Pyramid

Diagram Describing the English Football Pyramid

1st Level

Premier League New Logo

Premier League

20 clubs, 3 relegations
2nd Level

Sky Bet EFL Champions

EFL Championship

"The League"

24 clubs, 3 promotions, 3 relegations

3rd Level

Sky Bet EFL League One

EFL League One

24 clubs, 3 promotions, 4 relegations
4th Level

Sky Bet EFL League 2

EFL League Two

24 clubs, 4 promotions, 2 relegations
5th Level

 English Football League Pyramid System: The Ultimate Guide, My Football Facts

"Non-League Football"

National League

5th Level and Lower

23 clubs, 2 promotions, 3 relegations

6th Level

National League North

Vanaroma South League

6th Level

National League North

National League South

22 clubs, 2 p, 2 r

21 clubs, 2 p, 1 r

7th Level7th Level7th Level7th Level

Northern Premier League

Southern League

Southern League

Isthmian League

Premier DivisionCentral DivisionSouth DivisionPremier Division

22 clubs, 2 p, 4 r

21 clubs, 2 p, 3 r

22 clubs, 2 p, 4 r

22 clubs, 2 p, 4 r

8th Level8th Level8th Level8th Level8th Level8th Level8th Level8th Level

Northern PL

Northern PL

Northern PL

Southern League

Southern League

Isthmian League

Isthmian League

Isthmian League

Division One North EastDivision One MidlandsDivision One WestDivision One CentralDivision One South Division One South CentralDivision One NorthDivision One South East
19 Clubs20 Clubs20 Clubs20 Clubs19 Clubs19 Clubs20 Clubs20 Clubs
2 p, 1-3 r2 p, 2-4 r2 p, 2-4 r2 p, 2-4 r2 p, 1-3 r2 p, 1-3 r2 p, 2-4 r2 p, 2-4 r

9th Level
Combined Counties League Premier Division North – 18 clubs — 1–2p, 2rNorthern League Division One – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r
Combined Counties League Premier Division South – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2rSouthern Combination League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r
Eastern Counties League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2rSouthern Counties East League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r
Essex Senior League – 21 clubs — 1–2p, 2rSpartan South Midlands League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r
Hellenic League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2rUnited Counties League Premier Division North – 18 clubs — 1–2p, 2r
Midland League Premier Division – 19 clubs — 1–2p, 2rUnited Counties League Premier Division South – 21 clubs – 1-2p, 2r
North West Counties League Premier Division – 21 clubs — 1–2p, 2rWessex League Premier Division – 21 clubs – 1–2p, 2r
Northern Counties East League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2rWestern League Premier Division – 19 clubs — 1–2p, 2r
10th Level
Combined Counties League Division One – 21 clubs – 2p, 0–3rNorthern League Division Two – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r
Eastern Counties League Division One North – 16 clubs – 2p, 0–3rSouth West Peninsula League Premier Division East – 20 clubs – 1p, 0–3r
Eastern Counties League Division One South – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3rSouth West Peninsula League Premier Division West – 20 clubs – 1p, 0–3r
Hellenic League Division One – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3rSouthern Combination League Division One – 18 clubs – 2p, 0–3r
Midland League Division One – 19 clubs – 2p, 0–3rSouthern Counties East League Division One – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r
North West Counties League Division One North – 19 clubs – 2p, 0–3rSpartan South Midlands League Division One – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r
North West Counties League Division One South – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3rUnited Counties League Division One – 23 clubs – 2p, 0–3r
Northern Counties East League Division One – 21 clubs – 2p, 0–3rWessex League Division One – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r
Western League Division One – 21 clubs – 2p, 0–3r
11th Level
Anglian Combination Premier Division – 16 clubsNorth Riding League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Bedfordshire County League Premier Division – 16 clubsNorthamptonshire Combination League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division – 16 clubsNorthern Alliance Premier Division – 16 clubs
Central Midlands League Premier Division North – 14 clubsNottinghamshire Senior League Senior Division – 18 clubs
Central Midlands League Premier Division South – 14 clubsOxfordshire Senior League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Cheshire League Premier Division – 16 clubsPeterborough & District League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Devon Football League North & East Division – 16 clubsSheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division – 15 clubs
Devon Football League South & West Division – 16 clubsShropshire County Football League – 14 clubs
Dorset Premier League – 16 clubsSomerset County League Premier Division – 18 clubs
Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division – 16 clubsSouthern Combination League Division Two – 16 clubs
Essex Alliance League Senior Division – 14 clubsSpartan South Midlands League Division Two – 16 clubs
Essex Olympian League Premier Division – 16 clubsSt Piran League East Division – 16 clubs
Gloucestershire County League – 16 clubsSt Piran League West Division – 16 clubs
Hampshire Premier League Senior Division – 16 clubsStaffordshire County Senior League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division – 15 clubsSuffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division – 16 clubs
Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division – 16 clubsSurrey Elite Intermediate League – 16 clubs
Humber Premier League Premier Division – 16 clubsThames Valley Premier League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Kent County League Premier Division – 16 clubsWearside League Division One – 16 clubs
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division – 16 clubsWest Cheshire League Division One – 16 clubs
Lincolnshire League – 14 clubsWest Lancashire League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Liverpool Premier League Premier Division – 16 clubsWest Midlands (Regional) League Division One – 16 clubs
Manchester League Premier Division – 16 clubsWest Yorkshire League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Mid-Sussex League Premier Division – 14 clubsWiltshire Senior League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Middlesex County League Premier Division – 17 clubsYork League Premier Division – 16 clubs
Midland League Division Two – 16 clubsYorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division – 15 clubs

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Everything You Need to Know About the English Football Pyramid System

The English Football League System is also known as the English Football Pyramid is a hierarchical system of professional and semi-professional football leagues in England bound together by a system of promotion, delegation and two national football competitions.  The English Football League system is designed to allow clubs to progress up the pyramid as they become more successful and increase their fan base, revenue and infrastructure. Conversely, clubs can also be relegated down the pyramid if they perform poorly, leading to a constant turnover of teams and a competitive system that is unique to English football.

William McGregor: The Visionary Who Created the English Football League

William McGregor is widely regarded as the originator of contemporary football and the initiator of the English Football League. He is credited with establishing the first football league competition, where teams competed in both home and away fixtures arranged season by season. McGregor’s efforts led to the formation of a league comprising 12 of the most notable clubs in the country in 1888, which can be found on this page: Football League Club’s Divisional Records from 1888-89 to today.

The English Football League Pyramid: From the Premier League to Grassroots

Premier League: At the top of the English football league pyramid is the Premier League, a 20-club league widely regarded as one of the best in the world. It is also the most-watched sports league in the world and attracts some of the best players from around the globe.

English Football League (EFL): Beneath the Premier League is the English Football League, which is divided into three divisions: the Championship, League One, and League Two. The Championship is the second-highest division in the pyramid and is known for its intense promotion and relegation battles. League One and League Two are the third and fourth tiers of the pyramid, respectively, and often provide a stepping stone for players and managers looking to progress to higher levels.

National League System: Beneath the EFL is the National League System, a nationwide feeder system to the EFL with 57 leagues featuring 84 divisions. Similar to the levels above, the top tier leagues—the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, and National League—are all full-time professional leagues with one division each. Note that the number of clubs in a league can vary from year to year due to a variety of factors.

Grassroots Leagues: At the bottom of the pyramid are the grassroots leagues, which consist of local leagues and clubs that are often run by volunteers. These leagues provide an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to play football and enjoy the sport at a community level.

English Football League Competitions

The Football League Cup and FA cup are contested by 92 clubs from the top four tiers of English football

1. Premier League

2. Championship

3. League One

4. League Two

Thirty-two surviving teams out of 640 teams from the National League System that started the competition in the qualifying round also compete the FA Cup.

The Football Association Community Shield (formerly the Charity Shield) is English football‘s annual match contested at Wembley Stadium between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup.

Summary

The English football league pyramid is a unique and exciting system that has produced some of the world’s best players and most competitive leagues. It allows clubs to progress and compete at higher levels as they grow, while also providing opportunities for grassroots football to flourish. Whether you are a fan of the Premier League or a local amateur team, there is something for everyone in the English football league pyramid.

References

Wikipedia

TheFA

English Football League

Archives