2018–19 National League

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This article is about the season of the football league in England. For the Swiss Ice Hockey league's season, see 2018–19 National League (ice hockey) season.
National League
Season2018–19

The 2018–19 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the fourth season under

English football's new title of National League, fifteenth season consisting of three divisions and the fortieth season overall.[1]

National League

National League
Season2018–19
ChampionsLeyton Orient
PromotedLeyton Orient
Salford City
RelegatedBraintree Town
Maidstone United
Gateshead
Havant & Waterlooville

The National League consists of 24 clubs.

Promotion and relegation

The following clubs changed divisions after the 2017–18 season:

Despite a 2–1 defeat to Boston United on 21 April 2018, Salford City became 2017–18 National League North champions after Harrogate Town lost 3–1 to Bradford Park Avenue. Havant & Waterlooville were crowned 2017–18 National League South champions on 28 April after a 3–2 victory over Concord Rangers. On 13 May, Harrogate Town were promoted after a 3–0 win against Brackley Town in the 2017–18 National League North playoff final. All three teams played in the National League for the first time in their histories. On the same day as Harrogate's promotion, Braintree Town were also promoted after beating Hampton & Richmond 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the 2017–18 National League South playoff final, securing an instant return to the National League.

On 24 April, after 97 years as an EFL club, Chesterfield were relegated to the National League following Morecambe's 0–0 draw against Cambridge United. On 5 May 2018, despite a 3–0 victory against Chesterfield, Barnet became the second club to be relegated from League Two following Morecambe's 0–0 draw against Coventry City, ending their three-year stay in the EFL.

These teams replaced Macclesfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, Chester, Guiseley, Torquay United and Woking. Macclesfield Town were crowned 2017–18 National League champions and promoted to League Two on 21 April after a 2–0 victory over Eastleigh, ending their six-year absence from the EFL. Tranmere Rovers were promoted to League Two on 12 May after a 2–1 victory over Boreham Wood in the playoff final and returned to the EFL after a three-year absence. Boreham Wood and Sutton United were invited to compete in the 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup in a new expansion of that competition as the highest-finishing remaining teams in the division.[2]

Chester were the first team to be relegated from National League on 8 April after a 2–0 loss to Tranmere Rovers. Despite staying up on the final day for the past two seasons, it was not to be third time lucky for Guiseley who joined them on 17 April after a 1–0 loss to relegation rivals Barrow. Torquay United became the third team to be relegated from the National league on 21 April after a 1–1 draw with Hartlepool United, confirming the club's first ever relegation to the sixth tier. The fourth and final team to suffer relegation was Woking, who were relegated on 28 April following a 2–1 defeat to Dover Athletic, ending their five-year stay in the National League.

Team changes

Stadiums and locations

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Locations of the 2018–19 National League clubs (Greater London shown in more detail below)