2015–16 National League

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National League
Season2015–16

The 2015–16 National League season (known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons) was the first season under the new title of National League, the twelfth season consisting of three divisions and the thirty-seventh season overall.

The National League covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The National League is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, while the National League North and National League South exist at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the play-off of the Premier division will be promoted to League Two, while the bottom four are relegated to the North or South divisions. The champions of the North and South divisions will be promoted to the Premier division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions are relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian League or Southern League.

On 6 April 2015, it was announced that as of the 2015–16 season the League was to undergo a name change from the Football Conference to the National League. As well as the name change, the league's logo has been re-designed and the league's broadcaster

BT Sport has signed a new three-year contract. The structure of the league and the title sponsor Vanarama however remain the same.[1]

National League

National League
Season2015–16
ChampionsCheltenham Town
(2nd divisional title)
PromotedCheltenham Town
Grimsby Town
RelegatedAltrincham
FC Halifax Town
Kidderminster Harriers
Welling United
Top goalscorerPádraig Amond, Grimsby Town and Dan Holman, Cheltenham Town (30 goals)
Biggest home winGrimsby Town 7–0 FC Halifax Town
Biggest away winFC Halifax Town 1–7 Cheltenham Town
Highest scoringTorquay United 3–7 Bromley
Chester 8–2 Aldershot Town
Longest winning runForest Green Rovers and Cheltenham Town (9 matches)
Longest unbeaten runCheltenham Town (21 matches)
Longest winless runKidderminster Harriers (18 matches)
Highest attendance7,650 Grimsby Town v Lincoln City
Lowest attendance484 Braintree Town v Wrexham
Average attendance5,214 Tranmere Rovers

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Conference North

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Conference South

Teams relegated from 2014–15 League Two

Stadia and locations

Locations of the 2015–16 National League clubs (Greater London)
Team Stadium Capacity
Aldershot Town Recreation Ground 7,100
Altrincham Moss Lane 6,085
Barrow Holker Street 5,000
Boreham Wood Meadow Park 4,502
Braintree Town Cressing Road 4,145
Bromley Hayes Lane 5,000
Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road 7,066
Chester Deva Stadium 6,000
Dover Athletic Crabble Athletic Ground 6,500
Eastleigh Ten Acres 5,200
FC Halifax Town The Shay 14,061
Forest Green Rovers The New Lawn 5,147
Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 10,000
Grimsby Town Blundell Park 9,062
Guiseley Nethermoor Park 3,000
Kidderminster Harriers Aggborough Stadium 6,238
Lincoln City Sincil Bank 10,120
Macclesfield Town Moss Rose 6,355
Southport Haig Avenue 6,008
Torquay United Plainmoor 6,500
Tranmere Rovers Prenton Park 16,789
Welling United Park View Road 4,000
Woking Kingfield Stadium 6,036
Wrexham Racecourse Ground 10,771

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Cheltenham Town (C, P) 46 30 11 5 87 30 +57 101 Promotion to EFL League Two
2 Forest Green Rovers 46 26 11 9 69 42 +27 89 Qualification for the National League play-offs[a]
3 Braintree Town 46 23 12 11 56 38 +18 81
4 Grimsby Town (O, P) 46 22 14 10 82 45 +37 80
5 Dover Athletic 46 23 11 12 75 53 +22 80
6 Tranmere Rovers 46 22 12 12 61 44 +17 78
7 Eastleigh 46 21 12 13 64 53 +11 75
8 Wrexham 46 20 9 17 71 56 +15 69
9 Gateshead 46 19 10 17 59 70 −11 67
10 Macclesfield Town 46 19 9 18 60 48 +12 66
11 Barrow 46 17 14 15 64 71 −7 65
12 Woking 46 17 10 19 71 68 +3 61
13 Lincoln City 46 16 13 17 69 68 +1 61
14 Bromley 46 17 9 20 67 72 −5 60
15 Aldershot Town 46 16 8 22 54 72 −18 56
16 Southport 46 14 13 19 52 65 −13 55
17 Chester 46 14 12 20 67 71 −4 54
18 Torquay United 46 13 12 21 54 76 −22 51
19 Boreham Wood 46 12 14 20 44 49 −5 50
20 Guiseley 46 11 16 19 47 70 −23 49
21 FC Halifax Town (R) 46 12 12 22 55 82 −27 48 Relegation to the National League North
22 Altrincham (R) 46 10 14 22 48 73 −25 44
23 Kidderminster Harriers (R) 46 9 13 24 49 71 −22 40
24 Welling United (R) 46 8 11 27 35 73 −38 35 Relegation to the National League South
Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2016. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League Two.

Play-offs

Semi-finals
Final
        
2 Forest Green Rovers 1 1 2
5 Dover Athletic 0 1 1
2 Forest Green Rovers 1
4 Grimsby Town 3
3 Braintree Town 1 0 1
4
(a.e.t.)
0 2 2

First leg

4 May 2016[2] Dover Athletic 0–1 Forest Green Rovers Crabble Athletic Ground, River
19:00 BBC Report Williams 35' Attendance: 2,071
Referee: Adrian Holmes
5 May 2016[2] Grimsby Town 0–1 Braintree Town Blundell Park, Cleethorpes
19:00 BBC Report Davis 53' (pen.) Attendance: 5,271
Referee: John Brooks

Second leg

7 May 2016[2] Forest Green Rovers 1–1
(2–1 agg.)
Dover Athletic The New Lawn, Nailsworth
19:30 Marsh-Brown 54' BBC Report Miller 49' Attendance: 2,755
Referee: Michael Salisbury
8 May 2016[2] Braintree Town 0–2 (a.e.t.)
(1–2 agg.)
Grimsby Town Cressing Road, Braintree
15:00 BBC Report Amond 75' (pen.)
Bogle 110'
Attendance: 3,102
Referee: Simon Bennett

Final

15 May 2016[2] Forest Green Rovers 1–3 Grimsby Town Wembley Stadium, London
16:00 (BST) Marsh-Brown 60' BBC Report Bogle 42', 43'
Arnold 90+4'
Attendance: 17,198
Referee: Robert Jones

Results

Home \ Away ALD ALT BRW BOR BRA BRO CHL CHR DOV EAS HAL FGR GAT GRI GUI KID LIN MAC SOU TOR TRA WEL WOK WRE
Aldershot Town 2–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–2 3–2 0–3 1–2 3–4 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–1
Altrincham 4–0 1–0 1–0 0–4 0–0 2–1 0–3 1–2 1–1 1–3 0–1 2–3 2–1 1–1 2–2 3–3 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 5–0 3–1 1–1
Barrow 1–3 3–2 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–2 3–2 2–1 1–0 4–1 2–2 0–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 4–0 3–4 1–1 2–1 2–0
Boreham Wood 0–1 0–1 0–2 1–0 2–3 0–0 0–0 3–0 1–1 3–1 0–1 2–3 1–3 1–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 0–2 0–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–1
Braintree Town 1–2 3–0 1–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–3 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–0
Bromley 1–3 1–3 5–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 3–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 2–2 3–0 1–2 2–0 3–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 0–2 0–1 2–0 2–1 3–1
Cheltenham Town 0–0 1–0 2–1 4–1 1–1 4–1 3–1 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–0 3–1 5–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 0–1 2–0 4–0 2–1
Chester 8–2 1–1 1–2 2–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–3 0–2 0–0 4–1 0–1 4–0 1–2 3–2
Dover Athletic 5–2 2–1 3–1 2–1 0–0 2–3 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 4–0 1–1 0–0 3–2 4–1 2–1 1–2 5–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 2–1
Eastleigh 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–0 0–2 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–5 2–1 3–2 1–2 0–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 3–2 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–1
FC Halifax Town 0–2 1–0 3–1 3–2 3–6 2–2 1–7 0–1 4–2 0–0 0–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–3 2–0
Forest Green Rovers 0–0 2–0 4–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 3–1 2–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 3–0 3–0 3–1 2–1 2–1 3–1 0–2 1–0 1–2 0–0
Gateshead 3–2 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–3 3–1 1–1 1–0 2–3 2–1 1–4 0–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 2–0 0–3 0–1 1–2 1–4 1–2 1–5 2–1
Grimsby Town 4–1 5–0 4–1 0–0 0–1 4–1 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 7–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–2 1–0 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–0
Guiseley 0–4 1–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 0–1 1–4 2–1 0–1 0–2 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–3 1–1 4–3 2–2 2–0 4–4 3–1
Kidderminster Harriers 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 2–2 1–1 3–2 1–0 0–2 0–1 2–2 0–1 0–2 3–1 0–1 2–2 0–2 0–1 1–0 1–3
Lincoln City 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 2–3 3–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 5–3 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–3 1–1
Macclesfield Town 0–2 3–0 1–2 0–0 3–1 2–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 1–2 0–1 4–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–0
Southport 1–1 3–0 2–1 0–3 1–1 5–3 0–4 1–2 0–0 0–4 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–4 2–0 3–4 2–2 3–1 0–1 2–2 3–3 2–2 3–2
Torquay United 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–2 0–0 3–7 0–3 2–0 2–3 0–1 0–0 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–3 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–1
Tranmere Rovers 3–1 1–0 0–1 0–2 1–2 4–0 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 3–2 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–2
Welling United 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 1–2 1–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–4 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–2
Woking 2–1 2–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 2–0 0–1 5–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–3 0–1 1–1 3–1 2–5 1–2 2–2 4–1 2–0 0–1
Wrexham 3–0 3–1 4–1 1–0 2–3 2–0 2–1 3–0 0–1 2–3 3–1 2–2 4–0 0–0 3–3 2–0 3–1 2–3 0–1 3–1 2–2 1–0 1–3
Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2016. Source: Football Conference
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers

As of matches played 30 April 2016[3]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Pádraig Amond Grimsby Town 30
Dan Holman Cheltenham Town
3 Andy Cook Barrow 24
4 Ross Hannah Chester 23
5 Kristian Dennis Macclesfield Town 22
Daniel Wright
Cheltenham Town
7 Moses Emmanuel Bromley 20
Matt Rhead Lincoln City
Ricky Miller Dover Athletic
10 James Norwood Tranmere Rovers 19

National League North

National League North
Season2015–16
ChampionsSolihull Moors
PromotedSolihull Moors
North Ferriby United
RelegatedCorby Town
Hednesford Town
Lowestoft Town

Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated from 2014–15 Conference Premier

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Northern Premier League Premier Division

Teams promoted from 2014–15 Southern League Premier Division

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Solihull Moors (C, P) 42 25 10 7 84 48 +36 85 Promotion to the National League
2 North Ferriby United (O, P) 42 22 10 10 82 49 +33 76 Qualification for the National League North play-offs[a]
3 AFC Fylde 42 22 9 11 76 53 +23 75
4 Harrogate Town 42 21 9 12 73 46 +27 72
5 Boston United 42 22 5 15 73 60 +13 71
6
Nuneaton Town[b]
42 20 13 9 71 46 +25 70
7 Tamworth 42 16 15 11 55 45 +10 63
8 Chorley 42 18 9 15 64 55 +9 63
9 Stockport County 42 15 14 13 50 49 +1 59
10 Alfreton Town 42 15 13 14 58 54 +4 58
11 Curzon Ashton 42 14 15 13 55 52 +3 57
12 Stalybridge Celtic 42 14 11 17 62 75 −13 53
13 F.C. United of Manchester 42 15 8 19 60 75 −15 53
14 Bradford Park Avenue 42 13 11 18 51 59 −8 50
15 Gloucester City 42 12 14 16 39 49 −10 50
16 Gainsborough Trinity 42 14 8 20 46 62 −16 50
17 Worcester City 42 12 12 18 55 61 −6 48
18 AFC Telford United 42 13 8 21 47 60 −13 47
19 Brackley Town 42 11 13 18 45 54 −9 46
20 Lowestoft Town (R) 42 12 10 20 48 69 −21 46 Relegation to the Isthmian League Premier Division
21 Hednesford Town (R) 42 8 14 20 50 77 −27 38 Relegation to the Northern Premier League Premier Division
22 Corby Town (R) 42 7 11 24 47 93 −46 32
Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2016. Source: Football Conference
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the National League.
  2. ^ Nuneaton were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in their win over Corby Town on 27 February 2016.[4]

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
        
2 North Ferriby United 0 3 3
5 Boston United 2 0 2
2
(a.e.t.)
2
3 AFC Fylde 1
3 AFC Fylde 1 1 2
4 Harrogate Town 0 1 1

First leg

4 May 2016[2] Boston United 2–0 North Ferriby United York Street, Boston
19:45 Roberts 23'
Mills 90+5'
Report Attendance: 2,592
4 May 2016[2] Harrogate Town 0–1 AFC Fylde Wetherby Road, Harrogate
19:45 Report Rowe 53' Attendance: 1,694

Second leg

8 May 2016[2] North Ferriby United 3–0
(3–2 agg.)
Boston United Grange Lane, North Ferriby
15:00 King 11' (pen.)
Denton 16'
Clarke 54'
Report Attendance: 2,027
8 May 2016[2] AFC Fylde 1–1
(2–1 agg.)
Harrogate Town Kellamergh Park, Fylde
15:00 Finley 11' Report Knowles 15' Attendance: 1,384

Final

14 May 2016[2] North Ferriby United 2–1 (a.e.t.) AFC Fylde Grange Lane, North Ferriby
15:00 Brooksby 45+3'
Hone 95'
Report Finley 24' Attendance: 1,829

Results

Home \ Away FYL TEL ALF BOS BRK
BPA
CHO COR CZA FCU GAI GLO HAR HED LOW NFU
NUN
SOL STL STP TAM WRC
AFC Fylde 1–0 0–1 5–2 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–2 4–0 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–3 2–2 1–2 5–0 2–3 2–2 2–3
AFC Telford United 1–2 1–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–0 3–0 0–0 5–1 0–2 0–1 0–4 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–5 0–3 2–0 0–1 1–0 2–0
Alfreton Town 1–2 2–3 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–1 3–2 4–0 0–1 0–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–3 1–0 2–1
Boston United 0–3 1–0 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–2 2–0 2–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 3–3 3–1 4–1 1–2 2–1 1–4 0–3 4–0 1–1 1–1
Brackley Town 0–0 0–0 1–4 1–3 0–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 4–0 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–4 2–3 0–1 2–3 0–1 1–0 2–0
Bradford Park Avenue
1–2 1–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 4–2 3–1 1–4 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–0 4–4 2–3 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–2 3–1
Chorley 3–2 2–1 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 0–1 0–1 2–2 2–0 2–3 2–3 2–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0
Corby Town 1–2 3–2 2–3 2–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 2–3 1–2 3–1 0–3 0–0 3–5 1–4 1–3 1–3 0–3 0–4 2–0 0–3
Curzon Ashton 0–2 1–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–1 4–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–1 1–2 3–2 4–1 0–3 1–0 1–3 0–0 0–0 2–0 3–1
F.C. United of Manchester 1–2 1–3 1–3 1–2 3–2 2–1 2–0 1–0 3–3 1–2 1–2 4–3 1–1 6–1 3–2 3–2 2–2 0–1 1–2 1–1 0–2
Gainsborough Trinity 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–2 0–1 3–3 2–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–6 3–1 0–1 0–2 1–1
Gloucester City 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–3 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–0 0–2 0–1 2–2 0–1 3–2 0–1 0–2 3–0 0–0 1–2 0–1
Harrogate Town 2–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–4 5–0 1–1 5–0 3–1 0–0 2–1 4–0 3–3 0–3 6–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–0
Hednesford Town 0–1 2–0 3–3 3–2 0–2 0–0 1–3 3–3 0–3 0–3 0–2 2–2 2–3 2–1 1–1 2–4 0–0 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–1
Lowestoft Town 3–1 3–0 1–0 3–0 1–2 3–0 2–0 2–2 0–0 1–4 1–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 0–3 0–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 0–4 2–1
North Ferriby United 3–0 2–0 0–1 4–3 2–1 1–0 4–0 5–0 0–0 1–0 4–0 3–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–1 3–3
Nuneaton Town
1–1 0–0 2–0 1–3 1–0 1–0 2–2 0–0 0–1 2–2 2–0 0–1 0–0 3–0 1–0 3–1 0–1 3–3 1–1 3–0 1–1
Solihull Moors 3–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 3–0 2–1 0–2 4–1 2–0 1–2 3–2 0–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–3 3–1 4–1 1–0 1–2 3–0
Stalybridge Celtic 1–1 5–5 1–1 0–5 3–1 1–1 0–1 2–3 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 4–2 3–1 2–0 2–5 1–3 1–1 3–5 3–1
Stockport County 0–4 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–0 1–2 2–0 3–0 1–2 3–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 0–3 1–1 0–0
Tamworth 3–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–0
Worcester City 2–2 3–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 3–1 2–3 1–2 2–2 0–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 1–4 2–1 2–0 0–1 2–2 5–0 2–3 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2016. Source: Football Conference
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Stadia and locations

Nuneaton Town
Locations of the 2015–16 National League North clubs