National League Statement
The National League acknowledges York City FC’s open letter regarding the current promotion places between the league and EFL League Two.
Earlier this year, the League launched its 3UP campaign with the backing of all 72 clubs across the three National League divisions to bring this exact issue to wider attention and promote a change. York City FC have been one of the most vocal supporters throughout the season and we continue to work with them.
The 3UP campaign aims to increase the number of promotion spots from two to three, aligning the National League with the high echelons the football pyramid. Under the existing structure, only the National League champions earn automatic promotion, with the second to seventh-place teams battling it out through play off matches for the other slot.
The National League has proposed that three teams be promoted to EFL League Two, as soon as is logistically possible. It feels that this would create a more fluid football pyramid and offer greater opportunities for clubs to progress based on merit. It also provides more opportunity for relegated clubs to return to the EFL.
The EFL alone has the ability to facilitate this change, and the National League has been in regular dialogue with them this year asking them to reconsider their current position and advance the process. In the first instance, we would like to see the matter formally debated by and then voted upon by EFL clubs.
The campaign has garnered widespread support from clubs and fans alike across the English football landscape. A survey of fans by the FSA showed overwhelming support of the 3UP from fans of Premier League, EFL and National League clubs. 1,980 fans in total were surveyed and returned the following results:
• 93% agreed with 3UP in principle
• 87% of all fans agreed it should be put in place for the 25/26 season
• 86% of Premier League & EFL fans surveyed supported 3UP in principle
• 83% of EFL fans surveyed supported 3UP in principle
It’s been over 20 years since the National League gained a second promotion place back in 2003 with over 32 current EFL clubs having spent time in the National League in the past including clubs like Luton Town who were the first club to go from the National League to the Premier League.
In fact, since automatic promotion began from the National League to the EFL, none of the 57 teams promoted from the National League have ever suffered relegation the following season, a record added to by the success of both Chesterfield and Bromley this season.
National League Chair, Jack Pearce MBE said: “Of course we acknowledge York’s position this season and recent statement. We agree with the sentiment of more promotion places and continue to lobby the EFL to get a third place as soon as possible. 3UP would mean a fluid football pyramid where teams can win promotion from the bottom to the top fairly. It will give more opportunity to clubs relegated from EFL League 2 to ‘bounce back’. We have consulted with the leagues below ours in Step 3 who are also supportive of this change – as their clubs could benefit from this change in the long term. In a year where the governance of football is being debated in Parliament, we feel 3UP should feature high on everyone’s agenda, otherwise the National League’s needs are being overlooked. At the same time, we feel that this change should be made now and not be contingent on wider issues. We hope that a resolution can be found as quickly as possible and with the help of clubs and fans will continue to campaign on the matter until that happens.”
