Levels 5-6

Levels 5-6 consist of the Conference National and two regional divisions below, the Conference North and Conference South.

Relegation from Level 6 go into the Regional Premier Divisions at Level 7.

Level 5 – Conference National

• 24 teams
• 46 games (play each other once home and away)
• One automatic promotion place to Football League Two
• Second-Fifth is involved in a play-off (two-legged home and away semi final, one leg final at neutral venue)
• Four relegations to either Conference North/Conference South

Level 6 – Conference North/South

• 22 teams in each division
• 42 games (play each other once home and away)
• One automatic promotion place to Conference National in each division
• Second-Fifth is involved in a play-off in each division (two-legged home and away semi final, one leg final at neutral venue)
• Three relegations to Regional Premier Divisions in each division

Cup Competitions

FA Cup

• All teams compete (see National Cups page for structure)
• Conference North/South teams enter at the Second Qualifying Round
• Conference National teams enter at the Fourth Qualifying Round
• Final takes place at Wembley
• Match is replayed if the first tie is a draw
• If the replay is still level at 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time and if still level, a penalty shoot-out will decide the winner

FA Trophy

• All teams compete (see National Cups page for structure)
• Conference North/South teams enter at the Third Qualifying Round
• Conference National teams enter at the First Round
• Final takes place at Wembley
• Match is replayed if the first tie is a draw
• If the replay is still level at 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time and if still level, a penalty shoot-out will decide the winner

Conference League Cup

• Knock-out tournament for all teams in the Conference
• All games one leg
• If the tie is still level at 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, and if still level, a penalty shoot-out will decide the winner
• Final takes place at a neutral venue