The National League is packed full of teams desperate for a return to the Football League. It is the fifth tier of the English football pyramid and has grown in professionalism in recent years. While the Premier League grabs all the attention and the Championship, League One and League Two are watched by millions of people across the season, the National League also has massive appeal with amazing drama and unpredictable results making for compelling viewing.
The 2024/25 campaign will see a number of clubs that have played at a higher level competing for promotion. This article will profile the National League sides to have played many years in the Football League but currently find themselves attempting to climb back up the ladder.
Rochdale
Rochdale spent more than a century in the Football League but that run came to an end in 2023 when the Manchester club finished bottom of the League Two table. The Dale were the longest-serving side in the fourth tier before promotion to League One under Keith Hill in 2004. Though the club has never played higher than the third division, Rochdale did reach the League Cup final in 1962 though they were defeated over two legs by Norwich City.
Playing at Spotland Stadium, the team has enjoyed a strong start this season after a disappointing 11th-placed finish last time out during a maiden year at this level. Some football fans place bets on the outcome of games to add an extra layer of excitement to matches and many observers will be keeping a close eye on Rochdale’s fortunes. If you are considering making a wager on Dale’s season, it’s important to check out different betting offers across a range of platforms in order to see how you can enhance your gaming experience. By comparing and assessing various sites, it’s possible to find free bets while tracking expert opinion can offer insight into how to best use such offers.
While some teams have been backed for promotion more than Rochdale, the team will be determined to push for the play-off places and bid to return to the Football League that they called home for more than 100 years.
Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic became the first former Premier League team to drop into non-league when they were relegated from League Two in 2022. The club has spent 115 years in the Football League but went down after a home defeat by Salford City in a match also disrupted by fan protests.
The Latics featured in the first two seasons of the Premier League from its formation in 1992 until 1994 when the club dropped to the second tier. In 1997, Oldham suffered another relegation and then spent the next 21 years in what became known as League One. The club then spent four years in League Two before falling out of the Football League completely.
A popular and well-supported team, the Latics are not the favourites for promotion following 12th and 10th-placed finishes but like Rochdale, will be confident of pushing for a play-off place this time around.
Southend United
A number of clubs with storied spells in the top four tiers have been relegated to the National League this decade. Southend United dropped to the fifth tier in 2021 for the first time in 101 years. The Shrimpers have endured financial troubles in recent years and were deducted ten points in the 2023/24 campaign. However, it is hoped brighter days are on the horizon.
Spending nearly 70 years between tiers three and four, Southend were promoted to the Second tier in 1991. However, after six campaigns, the club endured a double relegation. They weren’t away for long though and enjoyed a double promotion, returning to the Championship in 2006. Though it’s less than two decades ago, for Southend’s loyal and passionate supporters, it may feel like a lifetime. That won’t stop them dreaming though of getting out of the National League and climbing the pyramid again.
Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United had been members of the Football League for 96 years when they suffered relegation from League Two in 2017. The Victoria Park club spent four seasons in the National League before earning promotion back in 2021. However, the return was short-lived, lasting only two years and they dropped down again in 2023.
Pools have played over 4,000 matches in the Football League though the club has lost 400 more games than they have won and currently possess a goal difference of -1119. Despite the struggles, fans will be hoping Hartlepool return to where they feel they belong sooner rather than later.
Notable Clubs
York City, Aldershot and Barnet are also competing in the National League for the 2024/25 season having played a combined 6,500 fixtures. The Minstermen were narrowly avoided dropping to the sixth tier, the Shots just missed out on the play-offs and the Bees finished second but failed on clinching promotion showing just how difficult life can be for Football League clubs dropping down into the National League.
Wrapping Up
In recent seasons, several teams that have spent the vast majority of their history in the Football League have dropped into the National League which has made the division tougher and more intriguing than ever before. Whether you are viewing the league as a spectator or placing wagers to enhance the thrill of the action, be sure to track the fixtures and stories to stay updated throughout the campaign.
