Fixtures: The National League North, formally referred to as the Vanarama National League North for sponsorship reasons, is the 6th tier of English football and serves as the second one department of the National League system. Comprising 24 clubs predominantly from Northern England, the English Midlands, and East Anglia, this league gives a aggressive platform for clubs desiring to ascend the football pyramid.
Overview of the National League North
Established in 2004 because of the Conference North, the league has passed through numerous call modifications because of sponsorship agreements, together with Nationwide North, Blue Square North, and Skrill North.
Since the 2015–sixteen season, it’s been referred to as the National League North. The league operates on a promoting and relegation system: the pinnacle team on the quit of the season is robotically promoted to the National League, whilst the teams completing 2nd to 7th input a playoff to compete for the second one promoting spot.
Conversely, the lowest 3 teams are relegated to the Northern Premier League Premier Division or the Southern Football League Premier Division Central, relying on their geographical location.
Current Season (2024–25) Fixtures
As of January 23, 2025, the National League North season is in complete swing. Below is an outline of the imminent fixtures:
January 2025 Fixtures
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Alfreton Town vs. Needham Market
Brackley Town vs. Spennymoor Town
Darlington vs. Curzon Ashton
Farsley Celtic vs. Warrington Town
Marine vs. Buxton
Oxford City vs. Kidderminster Harriers
Peterborough Sports vs. King’s Lynn Town
Radcliffe vs. Hereford
Rushall Olympic vs. Leamington
Scarborough Athletic vs. Chester
Scunthorpe United vs. South Shields
Southport vs. Chorley
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Alfreton Town vs. Leamington
Brackley Town vs. Kidderminster Harriers
Darlington vs. Buxton
Farsley Celtic vs. Marine
Oxford City vs. Curzon Ashton
Peterborough Sports vs. Hereford
Radcliffe vs. Chester
Rushall Olympic vs. King’s Lynn Town
Scarborough Athletic vs. Chorley
Scunthorpe United vs. Needham Market
Southport vs. Spennymoor Town
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Buxton vs. Southport
Curzon Ashton vs. Rushall Olympic
Farsley Celtic vs. Alfreton Town
Hereford vs. Brackley Town
King’s Lynn Town vs. Radcliffe
Leamington vs. Marine
Needham Market vs. Warrington Town
Peterborough Sports vs. Chester
South Shields vs. Scarborough Athletic
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Alfreton Town vs. Southport
Chorley vs. Buxton
Oxford City vs. Marine
Peterborough Sports vs. Farsley Celtic
Scarborough Athletic vs. Radcliffe
South Shields vs. Hereford
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Brackley Town vs. Peterborough Sports
Curzon Ashton vs. King’s Lynn Town
Darlington vs. Marine
Farsley Celtic vs. Needham Market
Hereford vs. Spennymoor Town
Kidderminster Harriers vs. Chorley
Oxford City vs. Leamington
Radcliffe vs. Southport
Rushall Olympic vs. Buxton
Scarborough Athletic vs. Alfreton Town
South Shields vs. Chester
Warrington Town vs. Scunthorpe United
League Standings and Key Teams
As of January 23, 2025, the league standings are as follows:
Scunthorpe United
AFC Fylde
South Shields
Chorley
Alfreton Town
Darlington
Kidderminster Harriers
Brackley Town
Farsley Celtic
Oxford City
Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United presently leads the league, showcasing a sturdy overall performance in the course of the season. Their steady match has placed them as favorites for promotion to the National League.
AFC Fylde
AFC Fylde has been an impressive contender, preserving a near pure match of the pinnacle spot. Their attacking prowess and stable protection cause them to be a team to look at in the imminent fixtures.
South Shields
South Shields has tested terrific consistency, securing an area in the higher echelons of the league. Their current performances indicate they may be well-placed for a playoff spot.
Promotion and Relegation
The pinnacle team at the end of the season is robotically promoted to the National League. The teams completing 2nd to 7th input a playoff to compete for the second one promoting spot. The backside 3 teams are relegated to the Northern Premier League Premier Division or the Southern Football League Premier Division Central, relying on their geographical location.
This relegation warfare intensifies as teams close to the decrease quit of the desk combat to keep away from losing down a tier. With the growing competitiveness of the league, each match consists of substantial weight in figuring out which teams will revel in the pleasure of promotion and with the intention to face the frustration of relegation.
Playoffs: The Road to Promotion
The playoffs in the National League North are an interesting element of the competition. After the league champion is crowned, the teams competing from 2nd to 7th input a knockout-fashion playoff collection to decide the second one team to be promoted to the National League. The playoff layout usually involves:
Second vs. Seventh: The 2nd-positioned team hosts the 7th-positioned team.
Third vs. Sixth: The third-positioned team hosts the 6th-positioned team.
Fourth vs. Fifth: The fourth-positioned team hosts the fifth-positioned team.
Key Fixtures to Watch in 2025
As the season progresses, sure fixtures are certain to seize the creativeness of lovers and analysts alike. Here are a number of the most predicted matches for the the rest of the 2024–25 National League North season:
Scunthorpe United vs. South Shields (February 8, 2025): This conflict among the pinnacle teams should have a chief effect at the name race. Both teams were in an awesome match and could be trying to stabilise a critical 3 factors in the warfare for computerized promotion.
AFC Fylde vs. Kidderminster Harriers (February 15, 2025): A conflict among promoting hopefuls, AFC Fylde and Kidderminster Harriers, this fixture guarantees to be an interesting encounter. Both teams have proven glimpses of brilliance, and a win right here should solidify their pinnacle positions.
Alfreton Town vs. Brackley Town (February 22, 2025): A sport that would have a chief say in the playoff picture. Both Alfreton Town and Brackley Town were competing for a playoff spot, and with the margin for blunders turning into smaller, this match was crucial.
Chorley vs. Darlington (March 1, 2025): A conventional come across among teams with a wealthy record in the league. Chorley will appear to keep their sturdy run of matches, whilst Darlington could be keen to show they are able to project for the playoff places.
Final Thoughts
The National League North is a surprisingly aggressive department wherein each match is crucial. The league gives clubs a danger to upward push via the football pyramid, and the depth of the season, coupled with the drama of advertising and relegation battles, maintains fanatics on the brink in their seats. As the 2024–25 season continues to unfold, fanatics can look ahead to interesting fixtures, memorable moments, and a fierce warfare for advertising.
FAQs
When does the National League North season give up?
The National League North season commonly runs from August to May. The genuine give up date varies every year primarily based totally on scheduling adjustments, however it commonly concludes in overdue April or early May.
Can a team from National League North win the FA Cup or FA Trophy?
Yes, clubs in National League North can compete in the FA Cup and FA Trophy. Many clubs in the department have made interesting runs in those prestigious competitions, with a few even accomplishing the later rounds and drawing interest from large clubs.
Who are the favorites for advertising in the 2024–25 season?
As of January 2025, the favorites for advertising are Scunthorpe United, AFC Fylde, and South Shields. These teams have carried out constantly nicely all through the season and are anticipated to warfare for the pinnacle spots, with Scunthorpe United presently main the price for computerized advertising.
To read more, click here
