2023–24 National League
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Dates | 5 August 2023 - 20 April 2024 |
Champions | Chesterfield |
Promoted |
|
Relegated | |
Matches played | 1,656 |
Goals scored | 4,663 (2.82 per match) |
Biggest home win | Chorley 8–0 Darlington (14 November 2023) |
Biggest away win | Buxton 0–6 Warrington Town (23 January 2024) Eastleigh 0–6 Gateshead (9 September 2023) |
Highest scoring |
|
← 2022–23 2024–25 → |
The 2023–24 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the ninth season under the title of the National League, the twenty-first season consisting of three divisions, and the forty-fifth season overall.
National League[edit]
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Champions | Chesterfield |
Promoted |
|
Relegated | |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,623 (2.94 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Paul McCallum (31) |
Biggest home win |
|
Biggest away win | Eastleigh 0–6 Gateshead (9 September 2023) |
Highest scoring |
|
Longest unbeaten run | Southend United (16) |
Highest attendance | Oldham Athletic 1–2 Kidderminster Harriers (24 February 2024) (11,881) |
Average attendance | 2,774 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → |
Twenty-four teams compete in the league – eighteen returning teams from the previous season, two teams relegated from League Two, two teams promoted from the National League North and two teams promoted from the National League South.
Team changes[edit]
Promoted from 2022–23 National League North Promoted from 2022–23 National League South Relegated from 2022–23 League Two
|
Promoted to 2023–24 League Two Relegated to 2023–24 National League North Relegated to 2023–24 National League South
|
Stadia and locations[edit]
Personnel and sponsoring[edit]
Managerial changes[edit]
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solihull Moors | ![]() | Mutual consent | 25 June 2023 | Pre-season | ![]() | 28 June 2023 |
Eastleigh | ![]() | Sacked | 26 August 2023 | 21st | ![]() | 26 August 2023 |
York City | ![]() | 28 August 2023 | 23rd | ![]() | 6 September 2023 | |
Oldham Athletic | ![]() | 17 September 2023 | 22nd | ![]() | 17 September 2023 | |
AFC Fylde | ![]() | 9 October 2023 | 24th | ![]() | 8 October 2023 | |
Oldham Athletic | ![]() | End of interim spell | 12 October 2023 | 12th | ![]() | 13 October 2023 |
Gateshead | ![]() | Signed by Milton Keynes Dons | 17 October 2023 | 6th | ![]() | 20 June 2024 |
Woking | ![]() | Sacked | 13 November 2023 | 14th | ![]() | 17 December 2023 |
Hartlepool United | ![]() | 30 December 2023 | 18th | ![]() | 3 January 2024 | |
Kidderminster Harriers | ![]() | 7 January 2024 | 24th | ![]() | 10 January 2024 | |
Wealdstone | ![]() | Signed by Notts County | 18 January 2024 | 13th | ![]() | 26 January 2024 |
Hartlepool United | ![]() | End of interim spell | 20 January 2024 | 13th | ![]() | 20 January 2024 |
Ebbsfleet United | ![]() | Sacked | 29 January 2024 | 21st | ![]() | 13 February 2024 |
Eastleigh | ![]() | 17 February 2024 | 15th | ![]() | 19 February 2024 | |
York City | ![]() | 26 February 2024 | 20th | ![]() | 27 February 2024 | |
Wealdstone | ![]() | 7 April 2024 | 20th | ![]() | 7 April 2024 |
National League table[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chesterfield (C, P) | 46 | 31 | 5 | 10 | 106 | 65 | +41 | 98 | Promotion to EFL League Two |
2 | Barnet | 46 | 26 | 8 | 12 | 91 | 60 | +31 | 86 | Qualification for the National League play-off semi-finals |
3 | Bromley (O, P) | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 73 | 49 | +24 | 81 | |
4 | Altrincham | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 84 | 59 | +25 | 77[a] | |
5 | Solihull Moors | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 71 | 62 | +9 | 76 | Qualification for the National League play-off quarter-finals |
6 | Gateshead | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 88 | 64 | +24 | 75 | [b] |
7 | FC Halifax Town | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 58 | 50 | +8 | 71 | Qualification for the National League play-off quarter-finals |
8 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 74 | 83 | −9 | 69 | |
9 | Southend United | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 70 | 45 | +25 | 65[c] | |
10 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 63 | 60 | +3 | 63 | |
11 | Rochdale | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 69 | 64 | +5 | 62 | |
12 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 70 | 82 | −12 | 60 | |
13 | Eastleigh | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 73 | 87 | −14 | 59 | |
14 | Maidenhead United | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 60 | 67 | −7 | 58 | |
15 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 69 | 63 | +6 | 56 | |
16 | Wealdstone | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 60 | 72 | −12 | 56 | |
17 | Woking | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 49 | 55 | −6 | 55 | |
18 | AFC Fylde | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 74 | 82 | −8 | 55 | |
19 | Ebbsfleet United | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 59 | 74 | −15 | 54 | |
20 | York City | 46 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 55 | 69 | −14 | 53 | |
21 | Boreham Wood (R) | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 59 | 73 | −14 | 52 | Relegation to National League South |
22 | Kidderminster Harriers (R) | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 40 | 59 | −19 | 46 | Relegation to National League North |
23 | Dorking Wanderers (R) | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 54 | 85 | −31 | 45 | Relegation to National League South |
24 | Oxford City (R) | 46 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 54 | 94 | −40 | 33 | Relegation to National League North |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ While Altrincham originally qualified for the play-off quarter-finals, Gateshead's exclusion meant that Altrincham were awarded a walkover win and progressed directly the semi-finals.
- ^ Gateshead were excluded from the play-offs due to not meeting the Football League's ground ownership requirements.
- ^ Southend United were deducted ten points for failing to pay debt to HMRC.[30]
Results table[edit]
Play-offs[edit]
On 21 April 2024, it was announced that Gateshead would be forced to withdraw from the play-offs after failing to meet the entry criteria for membership of the English Football League, namely failing to attain a 10-year security of tenure for the Gateshead International Stadium.[31][32]
It was initially announced that as a result of Gateshead's withdrawal, Solihull Moors would receive a bye to the semi-finals.[31] A second statement was later put out by the National League, adjusting the structure of the play-offs to be based on final league positions.[33] This revision meant that Altrincham would automatically advance to the semi-finals to face Bromley, whilst Solihull Moors would face FC Halifax Town in the quarter-finals.[33]
Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||
2 | Barnet | 0 | ||||||||||||
5 | Solihull Moors | 4 | 5 | Solihull Moors | 4 | |||||||||
7 | FC Halifax Town | 2 | 5 | Solihull Moors | 2 (3) | |||||||||
3 | Bromley | 2 (4) | ||||||||||||
3 | Bromley | 3 | ||||||||||||
4 | Altrincham | w/o | 4 | Altrincham | 1 | |||||||||
6 |
Quarter-finals[edit]
24 April 2024 | Solihull Moors | 4–2 | FC Halifax Town | Solihull |
19:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: 1,875 Referee: Alan Dale |
Semi-finals[edit]
27 April 2024 | Barnet | 0–4 | Solihull Moors | Canons Park |
17:30 BST | Report | Stadium: The Hive Stadium Attendance: 4,560 Referee: Michael Barlow |
28 April 2024 | Bromley | 3–1 | Altrincham | Bromley |
16:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo |
Final[edit]
Bromley | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Solihull Moors |
---|---|---|
Report | ||
Penalties | ||
4–3 |
Top scorers[edit]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Eastleigh | 31 |
2 | ![]() | Chesterfield | 25 |
![]() | Barnet | ||
4 | ![]() | Hartlepool United | 23 |
5 | ![]() | Altrincham | 22 |
6 | ![]() | Bromley | 21 |
7 | ![]() | Gateshead | 19 |
![]() | Aldershot Town | ||
9 | ![]() | Southend United | 18 |
![]() | AFC Fylde |
Hat-tricks[edit]
Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Gateshead | Ebbsfleet United | 4–1 | 19 August 2023 [34] |
![]() | Eastleigh | Ebbsfleet United | 5–2 | 3 October 2023[35] |
![]() | Southend United | Solihull Moors | 5–0 | 21 October 2023 |
![]() | Gateshead | Dorking Wanderers | 6–0 | 11 November 2023[36] |
![]() | Barnet | Boreham Wood | 6–0 | 23 December 2023 |
![]() | Wealdstone | Hartlepool United | 4–4 | |
![]() | Eastleigh | Dagenham & Redbridge | 4–4 | 1 January 2024 |
![]() | Chesterfield | Gateshead | 5–0 | 10 January 2024 |
![]() | Dagenham & Redbridge | Oxford City | 7–1 | 10 February 2024 |
![]() | Bromley | Chesterfield | 4–3 | 17 February 2024 |
![]() | Gateshead | Oxford City | 4–0 | 24 February 2024 |
![]() | Eastleigh | Solihull Moors | 3–3 | 2 March 2024 |
Monthly awards[edit]
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
August | ![]() | Solihull Moors | ![]() | Hartlepool United | [37] |
September | ![]() | Bromley | ![]() | Gateshead | [38] |
October | ![]() | Southend United | ![]() | Chesterfield | [39] |
November | ![]() | Aldershot Town | ![]() | Gateshead | [40] |
December | ![]() | Bromley | ![]() | Eastleigh | [41] |
January | ![]() | Chesterfield | ![]() | Aldershot Town | [42] |
February | ![]() | Ebbsfleet United | ![]() | Gateshead | [43] |
March | ![]() | Dagenham & Redbridge | ![]() | Gateshead | [44] |
April | ![]() | Barnet | ![]() | Maidenhead United | [45] |
Annual awards[edit]
Award | Winner | Club |
---|---|---|
Player of the Season | ![]() | Altrincham |
Manager of the Season | ![]() | Chesterfield |
National League Team of the Season
Pos. | Player | Club |
---|---|---|
GK | ![]() | Bromley |
RB | ![]() | Southend United |
CB | ![]() | Barnet |
CB | ![]() | Chesterfield |
LB | ![]() | Aldershot Town |
CM | ![]() | Chesterfield |
CM | ![]() | Barnet |
CM | ![]() | Chesterfield |
AM | ![]() | Altrincham |
CF | ![]() | Eastleigh |
CF | ![]() | Chesterfield |
National League North[edit]
Season | 2023–24 |
---|---|
Champions | Tamworth |
Promoted |
|
Relegated | |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,474 (2.67 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Paul Blackett (29) |
Biggest home win | Chorley 8–0 Darlington (14 November 2023) |
Biggest away win | Buxton 0–6 Warrington Town (23 January 2024) |
Highest scoring | Gloucester City 3–7 Boston United (9 March 2024) |
Highest attendance | Scunthorpe United 0–0 (4-5) Boston United (27 April 2024) (8,036) |
Average attendance | 1,234 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 → |
The National League North consists of 24 teams.
Team changes[edit]
Relegated from 2022–23 National League Promoted from 2022–23 Isthmian League Promoted from 2022–23 Northern Premier League Promoted from 2022–23 Southern League |
Promoted to 2023–24 National League Relegated to the 2023–24 Southern League Relegated to the 2023–24 Northern Premier League
|
Stadia and locations[edit]
Managerial changes[edit]
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South Shields | ![]() | Mutual consent | 22 April 2023 | Pre-season | ![]() | 27 April 2023 |
Hereford | ![]() | End of interim spell | 29 April 2023 | ![]() | 1 May 2023 | |
Spennymoor Town | ![]() | ![]() | 18 May 2023 | |||
Gloucester City | ![]() | Resigned | 9 May 2023 | ![]() | 19 May 2023 | |
Brackley Town | ![]() | End of interim spell | 14 May 2023 | ![]() | 16 May 2023 | |
Farsley Celtic | ![]() | Mutual consent | 17 May 2023 | ![]() | 7 June 2023 | |
Banbury United | ![]() | Resigned | 22 May 2023 | ![]() | 5 June 2023 | |
Southport | ![]() | Promoted to Director of Football | 17 August 2023 | 24th | ![]() | 29 August 2023 |
Darlington | ![]() | Sacked | 6 September 2023 | 24th | ![]() | 20 September 2023 |
Gloucester City | ![]() | 17 September 2023 | 23rd | ![]() | 19 September 2023 | |
Spennymoor Town | ![]() | Resigned | 22 September 2023 | 4th | ![]() | 2 January 2024 |
King's Lynn Town | ![]() | Sacked | 25 September 2023 | 22nd | ![]() | 28 September 2023 |
Curzon Ashton | ![]() | Signed by King's Lynn Town | 28 September 2023 | 7th | ![]() | 28 September 2023 |
Darlington | ![]() | Sacked | 26 December 2023 | 23rd | ![]() | 31 December 2023 |
South Shields | ![]() | 27 December 2023 | 8th | ![]() | 27 December 2023 | |
Blyth Spartans | ![]() | 28 December 2023 | 14th | ![]() | 29 December 2023 | |
Banbury United | ![]() | 25 January 2024 | 20th | ![]() | 30 January 2024 |
National League North table[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tamworth (C, P) | 46 | 29 | 9 | 8 | 74 | 29 | +45 | 96 | Promotion to National League |
2 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 84 | 38 | +46 | 88 | Qualification for the National League North play-off semi-finals |
3 | Brackley Town | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 65 | 37 | +28 | 85 | |
4 | Chorley | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 81 | 50 | +31 | 83 | Qualification for the National League North play-off quarter-finals |
5 | Alfreton Town | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 76 | 50 | +26 | 80 | |
6 | Boston United (O, P) | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 68 | 46 | +22 | 75 | |
7 | Curzon Ashton | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 62 | 49 | +13 | 75 | |
8 | South Shields | 46 | 22 | 8 | 16 | 79 | 53 | +26 | 74 | |
9 | Spennymoor Town | 46 | 22 | 8 | 16 | 74 | 62 | +12 | 74 | |
10 | Chester | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 58 | 37 | +21 | 69 | |
11 | Hereford | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 62 | 66 | −4 | 69 | |
12 | Warrington Town | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 64 | 60 | +4 | 64 | |
13 | Scarborough Athletic | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 53 | 55 | −2 | 64 | |
14 | Buxton | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 70 | 63 | +7 | 62 | |
15 | Peterborough Sports | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 55 | 65 | −10 | 58 | |
16 | Darlington | 46 | 16 | 8 | 22 | 52 | 72 | −20 | 56 | |
17 | Southport | 46 | 16 | 8 | 22 | 54 | 75 | −21 | 56 | |
18 | King's Lynn Town | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 54 | 66 | −12 | 55 | |
19 | Rushall Olympic | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 61 | 73 | −12 | 54 | |
20 | Farsley Celtic | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 40 | 59 | −19 | 53 | |
21 | Blyth Spartans (R) | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 66 | 82 | −16 | 50 | Relegation to the Northern Premier League |
22 | Banbury United (R) | 46 | 10 | 8 | 28 | 38 | 86 | −48 | 38 | Relegation to the Southern Football League |
23 | Gloucester City (R) | 46 | 9 | 9 | 28 | 49 | 89 | −40 | 36 | |
24 | Bishop's Stortford (R) | 46 | 6 | 3 | 37 | 35 | 112 | −77 | 21 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Results table[edit]
Play-offs[edit]
Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||
2 | Scunthorpe United | 0 (4) | ||||||||||||
5 | Alfreton Town | 0 (4) | 6 | Boston United | 0 (5) | |||||||||
6 | Boston United | 0 (5) | 6 | Boston United | 2 | |||||||||
3 | Brackley Town | 1 | ||||||||||||
3 | Brackley Town | 1 | ||||||||||||
4 | Chorley | 0 (4) | 4 | Chorley | 0 | |||||||||
7 | Curzon Ashton | 0 (2) |
Quarter-finals[edit]
23 April 2024 | Alfreton Town | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Boston United | Alfreton |
19:45 BST |
| Report | Stadium: North Street Attendance: 2,093 Referee: Darius Bradley | |
Penalties | ||||
24 April 2024 | Chorley | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Curzon Ashton | Chorley |
19:45 BST | Report | Stadium: Victory Park Attendance: 2,128 Referee: Matthew McQuillan | ||
Penalties | ||||
Semi-finals[edit]
27 April 2024 | Scunthorpe United | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Boston United | Scunthorpe |
15:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Glanford Park Attendance: 8,036 Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle | ||
Penalties | ||||
28 April 2024 | Brackley Town | 1–0 | Chorley | Brackley |
15:00 BST |
| Report |
| Stadium: St. James Park Attendance: 1,889 |
Final[edit]
4 May 2024 | Brackley Town | 1–2 | Boston United | Brackley |
15:30 BST |
| Stadium: St. James Park Attendance: 3,074 |
Top scorers[edit]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Paul Blackett | South Shields | 30 |
2 | Danny Whitehall | Scunthorpe United | 21 |
3 | Danny Newton | Brackley Town | 19 |
4 | Jimmy Knowles | Boston United | 18 |
5 | Diego De Girolamo | Buxton | 16 |
Will Harris | Spennymoor Town | ||
Kelsey Mooney | Boston United | ||
Jordan Thewlis | Alfreton Town | ||
Danny Waldron | Rushall Olympic |
Hat-tricks[edit]
Monthly awards[edit]
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
August | ![]() | Scunthorpe United | ![]() | Curzon Ashton | [78] |
September | ![]() | Tamworth | ![]() | Southport | [79] |
October | ![]() | Chester | ![]() | Scunthorpe United | [80] |
November | ![]() | Southport | ![]() | Curzon Ashton | [81] |
December | ![]() | Chorley | ![]() | Tamworth | [82] |
January | ![]() | Tamworth | ![]() | Alfreton Town | [83] |
February | ![]() | Spennymoor Town | ![]() | Peterborough Sports | [84] |
March | ![]() | Chorley | [85] | ||
April | ![]() | Darlington | ![]() | Brackley Town | [86] |
Annual awards[edit]
Award | Winner | Club |
---|---|---|
Player of the Season | ![]() | South Shields |
Manager of the Season | ![]() | Tamworth |
National League North Team of the Season