2011/12 CONSTITUTIONS guide to the National League System - also commonly known as the "Pyramid". The senior non-league divisions in England administered by the Football Association, are often known as Football's "Pyramid" - as each level (or "Step") below the Football League comprises an increasing number of divisions and clubs. Promotion at all levels within the National League System is subject to FA Ground Grading requirements as well as other rules and requirements of the various leagues. STEP ONE Blue Square Premier (Conference National) - 24 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Football League Two. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom four clubs automatically relegated to Blue Square North or South (can be either depending on geographic spread of clubs). STEP TWO (FA Ground Grading Category B is required) Blue Square North (Conference North) - 22 clubs   Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Blue Square Premier. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom three clubs automatically relegated to Step Three leagues. Blue Square South (Conference South) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Blue Square Premier. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom three clubs automatically relegated to Step Three leagues. STEP THREE (FA Ground Grading Category C is required) British Gas Business League Premier Division (Southern League Premier Division) - 22 clubs   Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Two leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom four clubs automatically relegated to Step Four leagues. Ryman Premier Division (Isthmian Premier Division) - 22 clubs   Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Two leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom four clubs automatically relegated to Step Four leagues. Unibond Premier Division (Northern Premier Division) - 22 clubs   Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Two leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom three clubs automatically relegated to Step Four leagues (will be bottom four clubs in 2008/09). STEP FOUR (FA Ground Grading Category E is required for clubs seeking promotion from Step Five. Clubs have to achieve Category D no later than 31 March in the season following promotion) British Gas Business League Division One Midlands (Southern League Division One Central) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom club automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. British Gas Business League Division One South & West (Southern League Division One South & West) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom two clubs automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Ryman Division One North (Isthmian Division One North) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom two clubs automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Ryman Division One South (Isthmian Division One South) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom two clubs automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Unibond Division One North (Northern Premier Division One North) - 21 clubs (Expanded from 20 clubs for 2008/09 season following reformation of Halifax Town as FC Halifax Town) Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom club automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Unibond Division One South (Northern Premier Division One South) - 20 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom club automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. STEP FIVE (FA Ground Grading Category F is required) Arngrove Northern League Division One (22 clubs) Aspire Midland Football Alliance (22 clubs) Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division (22 clubs) Eagle Bitter United Counties League Premier Division (21 clubs) Essex Senior League (16 clubs) Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division (22 clubs) Kent Football League Premier Division (17 clubs) Kool Sport Northern Counties East League Premier Division (20 clubs) Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier Division (22 clubs) Ridgeons (Eastern Counties) League Premier Division (22 clubs) Sussex County League Division One (20 clubs) Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division (22 clubs) Toolstation Western League Premier Division (21 clubs) Vodkat (North West Counties) League Premier Division (22 clubs) Promotion: Clubs must have applied to the Football Association for promotion to Step Four for the 2008/09 season by 31 December 2008, must then pass ground grading requirements, and must finish in the top two places in their league to be eligible for promotion. Relegation: Subject to agreements between Step Five and Step Six leagues, as approved by the FA. STEP SIX (FA Ground Grading Category G is required) Arngrove Northern League Division Two (20 clubs) Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Premier (20 clubs) Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Division One (18 clubs) Eagle Bitter United Counties League Division One (16 clubs) East Midlands Counties Football League (18 clubs) Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One East (18 clubs) Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West (18 clubs) Baris Northern Counties East League Division One (19 clubs) Midland Football Combination Premier Division (21 clubs) Molten Spartan South Midlands Division One (21 clubs) Ridgeons (Eastern Counties) League Division One (20 clubs) Sussex County League Division Two (18 clubs) Sydenhams Wessex League Division One (21 clubs) Toolstation Western League Division One (21 clubs) Vodkat (North West Counties) League Division One (18 clubs) West Midlands Regional League Premier Division (21 clubs) Promotion: Subject to agreements between Step Five and Step Six leagues and subject to ground grading. Relegation: Subject to agreements between Step Six and Step Seven leagues, as approved by the FA. The East Midlands Counties Football League is a new competition at Step Six for 2008/09, comprising clubs formerly from the Central Midlands, Leicestershire Senior and Northern Counties East Leagues. STEP SEVEN Aegon UK West Lancashire Football League Premier Division (16 clubs) Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester Football League Premier Division (18 clubs) Buckingham Insurance Central Midlands League Supreme Division (18 clubs) Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Division One East (18 clubs) Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Division One West (18 clubs) Carlsberg West Cheshire Amateur Football League Division One (17 clubs) Cherry Red Books Middlesex County Football League Premier Division (13 clubs) Sydenhams Cheshire Assn League Division One (16 clubs) Crawley & District Premier Division (8 clubs) Dolphin Autos Anglian Combination Premier (16 clubs) Dorset Premier FOOTBALL LEAGUE - 18 clubs East Berkshire Football League Premier Division (11 clubs) Everards Brewery Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division (14 clubs) Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid-Sussex Football League Premier Division (13 clubs) Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division (16 clubs) Ian Hart Funeral Service Worthing & District Football League Premier Division (8 clubs) Juice Radio 107.2 Brighton, Hove & District Football League Premier Division (11 clubs) K&P Motoring World East Sussex Football League Premier Division (10 clubs) Kent Blaxill Essex & Suffolk Border Football League Premier Division (16 clubs) Kershaw Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division (16 teams) LFC Insurance Group Essex Olympian Football League (15 clubs) Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division (16 clubs) Marshall Peterborough & District Football League Premier Division (16 clubs) MDH Teamwear Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division (14 clubs) Metalec Suffolk & Ipswich Football League Senior Division (16 clubs) Midland Football Combination Division One (17 clubs) Molten Spartan South Midlands Division Two (18 clubs) North Berkshire Football League Division One (12 clubs) Oxfordshire Senior Football League Premier Division (12 clubs) Peter Smith Recruitment Northampton Town Football League Premier Division (12 clubs) Plaister Auto Services Wiltshire Football League Premier Division (17 clubs) Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier League Re/Max Northern Football Alliance Premier Division (17 clubs) Reading Football League Senior Division (11 clubs) Somerset County League Premier Division (18 clubs) Sportsform Bedfordshire Football League Premier Division (15 clubs) Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division (18 clubs) Surridge Gloucestershire County Football League (17 clubs) Sussex County League Division Three (14 clubs) Vandanel Kent County Football League Premier Division (15 clubs) Wearside Football League (20 clubs) West Midlands Regional League Division One (17 clubs) West Sussex Football League Premier Division (10 clubs) Promotion: Subject to agreements between Step Six and Step Seven leagues, and subject to ground grading. Relegation: Subject to agreements between Step Seven leagues and feeder leagues within county associations.

2011/12 LEAGUE WEBSITES guide to the National League System - also commonly known as the "Pyramid". The senior non-league divisions in England administered by the Football Association, are often known as Football's "Pyramid" - as each level (or "Step") below the Football League comprises an increasing number of divisions and clubs. Promotion at all levels within the National League System is subject to FA Ground Grading requirements as well as other rules and requirements of the various leagues. STEP ONE Blue Square Premier (Conference National) - 24 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Football League Two. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom four clubs automatically relegated to Blue Square North or South (can be either depending on geographic spread of clubs). STEP TWO (FA Ground Grading Category B is required) Blue Square North (Conference North) - 22 clubs   Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Blue Square Premier. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom three clubs automatically relegated to Step Three leagues. Blue Square South (Conference South) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Blue Square Premier. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom three clubs automatically relegated to Step Three leagues. STEP THREE (FA Ground Grading Category C is required) Evostik League Southern Premier Division (Southern League Premier Division) - 22 clubs   Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Two leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom four clubs automatically relegated to Step Four leagues. Ryman Premier Division (Isthmian Premier Division) - 22 clubs   Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Two leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom four clubs automatically relegated to Step Four leagues. Unibond Premier Division (Northern Premier Division) - 22 clubs   Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Two leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom three clubs automatically relegated to Step Four leagues (will be bottom four clubs in 2008/09). STEP FOUR (FA Ground Grading Category E is required for clubs seeking promotion from Step Five. Clubs have to achieve Category D no later than 31 March in the season following promotion) Evostik League League Division One Midlands (Southern League Division One Central) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom club automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Evostik League Division One South & West (Southern League Division One South & West) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom two clubs automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Ryman Division One North (Isthmian Division One North) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom two clubs automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Ryman Division One South (Isthmian Division One South) - 22 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom two clubs automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Unibond Division One North (Northern Premier Division One North) - 21 clubs (Expanded from 20 clubs for 2008/09 season following reformation of Halifax Town as FC Halifax Town) Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom club automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. Unibond Division One South (Northern Premier Division One South) - 20 clubs Promotion: Champions automatically promoted to Step Three leagues. Next four teams play off for the second promotion place. Relegation: Bottom club automatically relegated to Step Five leagues. STEP FIVE (FA Ground Grading Category F is required) Arngrove Northern League Division One (22 clubs) Aspire Midland Football Alliance (22 clubs) Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division (22 clubs) Eagle Bitter United Counties League Premier Division (21 clubs) Essex Senior League (16 clubs) Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division (22 clubs) Kent Football League Premier Division (17 clubs) Baris Northern Counties East League Premier Division (20 clubs) Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier Division (22 clubs) Ridgeons (Eastern Counties) League Premier Division (22 clubs) Sussex County League Division One (20 clubs) Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division (22 clubs) Toolstation Western League Premier Division (21 clubs) Vodkat (North West Counties) League Premier Division (22 clubs) Promotion: Clubs must have applied to the Football Association for promotion to Step Four for the 2008/09 season by 31 December 2008, must then pass ground grading requirements, and must finish in the top two places in their league to be eligible for promotion. Relegation: Subject to agreements between Step Five and Step Six leagues, as approved by the FA. STEP SIX (FA Ground Grading Category G is required) Arngrove Northern League Division Two (20 clubs) Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Premier (20 clubs) Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Division One (18 clubs) Eagle Bitter United Counties League Division One (16 clubs) East Midlands Counties Football League (18 clubs) Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One East (18 clubs) Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West (18 clubs) Kent Invicta Football League (15 clubs) Baris Northern Counties East League Division One (19 clubs) Midland Football Combination Premier Division (21 clubs) Molten Spartan South Midlands Division One (21 clubs) Ridgeons (Eastern Counties) League Division One (20 clubs) Sussex County League Division Two (18 clubs) Sydenhams Wessex League Division One (21 clubs) Toolstation Western League Division One (21 clubs) Vodkat (North West Counties) League Division One (18 clubs) West Midlands Regional League Premier Division (21 clubs) Promotion: Subject to agreements between Step Five and Step Six leagues and subject to ground grading. Relegation: Subject to agreements between Step Six and Step Seven leagues, as approved by the FA. The East Midlands Counties Football League is a new competition at Step Six for 2011/12, comprising clubs formerly from the Central Midlands, Leicestershire Senior and Northern Counties East Leagues. STEP SEVEN Aegon UK West Lancashire Football League Premier Division (16 clubs) Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester Football League Premier Division (18 clubs) Buckingham Insurance Central Midlands League Supreme Division (18 clubs) Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Division One East (18 clubs) Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Division One West (18 clubs) Carlsberg West Cheshire Amateur Football League Division One (17 clubs) Cherry Red Books Middlesex County Football League Premier Division (13 clubs) Sydenhams Cheshire Assn League Division One (16 clubs) Crawley & District Premier Division (8 clubs) Dolphin Autos Anglian Combination Premier (16 clubs) Dorset Premier FOOTBALL LEAGUE - 18 clubs East Berkshire Football League Premier Division (11 clubs) Everards Brewery Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division (14 clubs) Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid-Sussex Football League Premier Division (13 clubs) Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division (16 clubs) Ian Hart Funeral Service Worthing & District Football League Premier Division (8 clubs) Juice Radio 107.2 Brighton, Hove & District Football League Premier Division (11 clubs) K&P Motoring World East Sussex Football League Premier Division (10 clubs) Kent Blaxill Essex & Suffolk Border Football League Premier Division (16 clubs) Kershaw Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division (16 teams) LFC Insurance Group Essex Olympian Football League (15 clubs) Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division (16 clubs) Marshall Peterborough & District Football League Premier Division (16 clubs) MDH Teamwear Northamptonshire Combination Premier Division (14 clubs) Metalec Suffolk & Ipswich Football League Senior Division (16 clubs) Midland Football Combination Division One (17 clubs) Molten Spartan South Midlands Division One (18 clubs) North Berkshire Football League Division One (12 clubs) Oxfordshire Senior Football League Premier Division (12 clubs) Peter Smith Recruitment Northampton Town Football League Premier Division (12 clubs) Plaister Auto Services Wiltshire Football League Premier Division (17 clubs) Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier League Re/Max Northern Football Alliance Premier Division (17 clubs) Reading Football League Senior Division (11 clubs) Somerset County League Premier Division (18 clubs) Sportsform Bedfordshire Football League Premier Division (15 clubs) Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division (18 clubs) Surridge Gloucestershire County Football League (17 clubs) Sussex County League Division Three (14 clubs) Vandanel Kent County Football League Premier Division (15 clubs) Wearside Football League (20 clubs) West Midlands Regional League Division One (17 clubs) West Sussex Football League Premier Division (10 clubs) Promotion: Subject to agreements between Step Six and Step Seven leagues, and subject to ground grading. Relegation: Subject to agreements between Step Seven leagues and feeder leagues within county associations.