English non-league football sits immediately beneath the English Football League (EFL) and is organised into a network of divisions known as the Non-League Pyramid. Every level is connected by promotion and relegation — in theory, a club from the very bottom can climb all the way to the Football League given the right results, resources and ground infrastructure.
Non League HQ covers Steps 1 to 7 in full, with results, tables, fixtures and ELO ratings for every club from the 2021/22 season onwards.
The pyramid — 2025/26
Northern Counties East, Northern, North West Counties, Eastern Counties, United Counties (N/S), Combined Counties (N/S), Hellenic, South Midlands, Essex Senior, Southern Counties East, Wessex, Western, Southern Combination, Midland
Midland, Eastern Counties (N/S), Wessex, North West Counties (N/S), Northern, Northern Counties East, South West Peninsula (E/W), Southern Combination, Southern Counties East, United Counties, Combined Counties, South Midlands, Western, Hellenic
How the pyramid works
Each step represents a tier of competition. Clubs finishing at the top of their division earn promotion to the step above; those at the bottom are relegated. The system is designed so that — in theory — any club, however small, can climb through the entire pyramid to the Football League given sustained success and the right ground and financial infrastructure.
Step 1 National League
The highest tier of non-league football, sitting directly below League Two of the EFL. The champion earns automatic promotion; clubs finishing 2nd to 7th contest a play-off for a second promotion place. The bottom 4 clubs are relegated to Step 2 each season.
Step 2 National League North & South
Two parallel national divisions split by geography — broadly, the South Midlands line divides them. The champion of each earns automatic promotion to the National League, with play-offs for 2nd to 7th providing a second route up and the bottom 4 from each division are relegated.
Step 3 Premier divisions
Four leagues operate at this level: the Northern Premier League Premier Division, Southern League Premier Central, Southern League Premier South, and Isthmian League Premier Division. These represent the first rung of truly Regional Divisions with the Champions promoted and from 2026/27, 2nd to 7th are involved in play-offs for a 2nd promotion place and the bottom 4 of each division are relegated.
Step 4 Division Ones
Eight divisions act as feeders into the Step 3 leagues, split geographically across the Northern Premier (three divisions), Southern (two divisions) and Isthmian (three divisions) systems. This is one of the most competitive levels outside professional football, with large-town clubs frequently vying for the title and a promotion place with, from 2026/27, 2nd to 7th chasing a 2nd promotion place via play-offs. The bottom 4 from each division are relegated.
Steps 5–6 Regional feeder leagues
Below Step 4 the pyramid fans out into 33 Regional leagues. Step 5 Champions and winners of the 2nd to 5th play-offs are promoted with the bottom 2 of each division relegated. Step 6 are mainly the 2nd level of the Regional Step 5 leagues apart from the South West Peninsula with it”s East and West counting as 1/2 divisions and promoting 1 team each with no play-offs, otherwise the Champions promoted along with the winner of the 2nd to 5th play-offs. The bottom 3 from each division may be liable for relegation depending on league numbers and applicants from Step 7. This Step is where semi-professional and amateur football blur into one another.
Step 7 County & local regional leagues
Step 7 comprises 49 county and local regional leagues. This is the entry point into the pyramid for most clubs and the level at which the vast majority of English football clubs — semi-amateur and grassroots — compete week to week.
FA Cup, TA Trophy & FA Vase
The FA Trophy is open to clubs at Steps 1–4. Clubs from Steps 1 enter at the 3rd Round Proper; Step 2 clubs enter at 2nd Round Proper, those from Steps 3 join at the 3rd Qualifying Stage with Step 4 clubs entering at thr Preliminary/1st Qualifying Round. The FA Vase caters for clubs from Steps 5 & 6, with various Round exemptions dbased on previous season performance. Both the Trophy and Vase have their Finals at Wembley on Non League Finals Day.
The FA Cup is open to clubs from Step 5 and above. The lowest ranked entrants enter at the Extra Preliminary Round with Step 3 entering at the 1st Qualifying Round, Step 2 at the 2nd Qualifying Round and Step 1 at the 4th Qualifying Round — meaning a path, however unlikely, exists from regional-level football all the way to the final of the biggest cup competition in world football.
Explore the data
Non League HQ carries comprehensive statistics for Steps 1–7 going back to the 2021/22 season — results, league tables, fixtures, form guides and ELO ratings for every club. Use the navigation above to explore by step or by nation, or search for your club directly.