English Football Pyramid System

English Football League Pyramid System

The English football pyramid is the hierarchical system of leagues that links every level of the game in England, from the global spectacle of the Premier League down to local amateur divisions. Bound together by promotion and relegation, it allows any club, in theory, to climb from the grassroots all the way to the top flight.

The system spans at least 11 levels: Tier 1 is the Premier League, Tier 2 the EFL Championship, Tier 3 League One and Tier 4 League Two, with the National League at Tier 5 marking the top of non-league football. Below that, Tiers 6 to 11 fan out into an increasingly regional network of divisions. In total the structure covers 19 leagues from Tier 1 to Tier 8 and around 83 leagues across Tiers 9 to 11.

Current English Football Pyramid System of England’s Football Leagues

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						1st Level
						Premier League
						20 clubs, 3 relegations
						2nd Level
						EFL Championship
	"The League"					24 clubs, 3 promotions, 3 relegations
						3rd Level
						EFL League One
						24 clubs, 3 promotions, 4 relegations
						4th Level
						EFL League Two
						24 clubs, 4 promotions, 2 relegations
						5th Level
	"Non-League Football"					National League
	5th Level and Lower					23 clubs, 2 promotions, 3 relegations
		6th Level									6th Level
		National League North									National League South
		22 clubs, 2 p, 2 r									21 clubs, 2 p, 1 r
7th Level				7th Level					7th Level				7th Level
Northern Premier League				Southern League					Southern League				Isthmian League
Premier Division				Central Division					South Division				Premier 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 Level		8th Level		8th Level		8th Level		8th Level		8th Level		8th Level		8th Level
Northern PL		Northern PL		Northern PL		Southern League		Southern League		Isthmian League		Isthmian League		Isthmian League
Division One North East		Division One Midlands		Division One West		Division One Central		Division One South		Division One South Central		Division One North		Division One South East
19 Clubs		20 Clubs		20 Clubs		20 Clubs		19 Clubs		19 Clubs		20 Clubs		20 Clubs
2 p, 1-3 r		2 p, 2-4 r		2 p, 2-4 r		2 p, 2-4 r		2 p, 1-3 r		2 p, 1-3 r		2 p, 2-4 r		2 p, 2-4 r

English Football Pyramid Explained

The English football league system, also known as the English football pyramid, is a hierarchical structure of professional and semi-professional leagues in England, bound together by promotion, relegation and two national cup competitions.

The 92 League Clubs

The 92 clubs in the top four tiers, the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two, all compete in the Football League Cup and the FA Cup.

The top five tiers (the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and the National League, the top division of non-league football) each contain a single division and are nationwide in scope.

The National League System

Below the EFL, the National League System, run by The FA, stretches from the 5th to the 11th level. In 2022-23 it featured 640 teams across 57 leagues and 84 divisions, all eligible for the FA Cup and acting as a feeder system through to the EFL.

The number of clubs in each league can change from season to season as clubs are promoted, relegated, merge or fold, so it is worth checking the current line-ups before following fixtures or looking at live betting on English soccer.

How Promotion and Relegation Work

The pyramid is designed to let clubs climb as they become more successful and grow their fan base, revenue and infrastructure. Clubs that perform poorly are relegated, creating a constant turnover of teams and a competitive system that is unique to English football.

The Premier League

At the top of the pyramid is the Premier League, which consists of 20 clubs and is widely regarded as one of the best football leagues in the world. It is one of the most-watched sports leagues on the planet and attracts many of the world’s best players.

The English Football League (EFL)

Beneath the Premier League is the English Football League (EFL), made up of three divisions: the Championship, League One and League Two.

The Championship is the second tier and is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most competitive leagues in the world. It has 24 teams and is known for its intense promotion and relegation battles.

League One and League Two are the third and fourth tiers, with 24 teams each. They are mainly made up of smaller clubs and often act as a stepping stone for players and managers looking to progress to higher levels.

Non-League Football

Beneath the EFL sit the semi-professional leagues, including the National League, National League North and National League South. These leagues feature a mix of semi-professional and amateur clubs and give young players and clubs a platform to develop and gain valuable experience.

Grassroots Football

At the base of the pyramid are the grassroots leagues, made up of local clubs that are often run by volunteers. They give people of all ages and abilities the chance to play football and enjoy the sport at a community level.

The English football pyramid has produced some of the world’s best players and most competitive leagues. It allows clubs to progress as they grow while giving grassroots football room to flourish, so whether you follow a Premier League giant or a local amateur side, there is something for everyone.

Women’s Football Pyramid in England

England’s women’s football pyramid mirrors the structure of the men’s game, connecting professional and amateur leagues through promotion and relegation. Since the formation of the Women’s Super League in 2011 and its move to a fully professional model in 2018, the women’s pyramid has grown significantly. With the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 win sparking a surge in attendances and participation, it continues to expand rapidly.

Level 1: Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL)

The Women’s Super League is the top tier of women’s football in England. It consists of 12 clubs competing in a fully professional league. The WSL champion qualifies for the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The bottom club is relegated to the Women’s Championship, subject to meeting the FA’s licensing criteria. Current WSL clubs include Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa, among others.

Level 2: Women’s Championship

The Women’s Championship is the second tier, currently featuring 12 clubs. The league winner earns promotion to the WSL, provided they satisfy the FA’s licensing requirements covering stadium capacity, facilities and financial sustainability. The bottom club is relegated to the Women’s National League (Level 3). The Championship is the primary pathway for ambitious clubs looking to reach the professional game.

Level 3: Women’s National League Premier Divisions (North and South)

At Level 3, the pyramid splits into two regional divisions: the Women’s National League Premier Division North and the Women’s National League Premier Division South. Each division winner enters a playoff against the other to determine which club earns promotion to the Women’s Championship. The bottom teams in each division are relegated to the Division One leagues at Level 4.

Level 4: Women’s National League Division One

Level 4 splits further into four regional divisions: Division One North, Division One Midlands, Division One South East and Division One South West. Winners of each division are promoted to Level 3, while bottom clubs drop into Level 5 regional leagues.

Levels 5 and Below: Regional Leagues

Below Level 4, the women’s pyramid continues through a network of regional leagues that vary by county and area. These lower tiers are predominantly semi-professional and amateur, providing the grassroots pathway through which players and clubs can progress towards the professional game. The FA has continued to restructure these tiers to create clearer promotion pathways throughout the system.

Key Differences Between the Men’s and Women’s Pyramids

While the structures are similar in principle, there are important practical differences. In the women’s game, promotion is not automatic: clubs must meet FA licensing criteria covering facilities, finances and safeguarding to move up, so a club can finish first but still miss out if it fails the licence assessment.

The women’s pyramid is also smaller at the top, with 12 clubs in the WSL compared with 20 in the Premier League, and the regional split happens earlier, at Level 3 rather than Level 6.

English Football Pyramid FAQs

Here’s a handy list of FAQs to help you navigate the English football pyramid system, covering the most common questions about how the English league structure works.

References

Wikipedia The FA