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Beyond the Premier League: Just how deep does the English football pyramid go and how does it work?

Everything you need to know about the English football pyramid

The Premier League. The FA Cup. Wembley Stadium. These are the iconic images that often spring to mind when we think of English football.

But beneath the glittering surface of the professional game lies a vast and intricate structure, a footballing ecosystem known as the pyramid. A system of promotion and relegation that is the envy of the world. The allure of the pyramid is simple: the dream that any club, no matter how small or remote, can theoretically rise through the ranks to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Conversely, the fear of plummeting down the leagues serves as a constant motivator for those higher up the chain.

But how many rungs are there on this ladder? How deep does the English football pyramid actually go? The answer, it turns out, is far more complex – and fascinating – than many realise.

  • The familiar heights and murky depths

    At its apex, the pyramid is easily understood. The Premier League reigns supreme, followed by the three divisions of the English Football League (EFL): the Championship, League One, and League Two. These four divisions house the 92 professional clubs that dominate the headlines and command the largest fan bases.

    Beyond this, the landscape shifts. We move into Non-League football, or the National League system. Step One of the pyramid is the National League, a division that has recently gained even greater prominence thanks to the success of clubs like Wrexham, whose Hollywood-backed rise has captivated audiences worldwide. Promotion from the National League to League Two is a dream for many clubs at this level.

    Step Two splits into two regional divisions: the National League North and the National League South. These leagues represent the point where geography starts to play a crucial role, with teams divided based on their location. Clubs like Gloucester City, long-term residents of the National League North, battle it out at grounds like Meadow Park, while teams in the South aspire to replicate the attendances seen at games like Torquay United vs. Hungerford Town, a National League South record.

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  • A tangled web of regional leagues

    Below Step Two, the pyramid becomes a complex network of regional leagues, each with its own unique character and history. At Step Three, four divisions – the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the Southern League Premier Division Central, the Southern League Premier Division South, and the Isthmian League Premier Division – feed into the National League North and South. With 88 teams battling it out, the competition is fierce.

    The system continues at Steps Four and Five, with an increasing number of divisions designed to accommodate the sheer volume of clubs. Here's where things get interesting, and navigation of the pyramid relies on Geography.

    Consider a team in the Midland League Premier Division (Step Five, or the ninth tier overall). Winning promotion doesn't guarantee a straightforward path upwards. Depending on their location, they might be promoted to either the Northern Premier League Division One West or the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. Relegation can be equally unpredictable, with teams potentially dropping into one of five different divisions, depending on their location and the overall balance of teams within the system. Currently, 319 teams are competing at Step Five.

    Step Six features 17 divisions and 339 clubs, with regionalisation becoming even more pronounced. The Hellenic League Division One, for example, feeds into the Hellenic League Premier Division, which in turn is part of the Southern League system. The underlying principle remains the same: mobility, the chance to climb (or fall) through the ranks.

  • The bottom of the barrel...almost

    Technically, Step Seven (or Level 11) is considered the "base" of the recognised pyramid. This is home to a staggering 787 clubs, all vying for promotion to the divisions above. This is grassroots football at its purest, where passion and community spirit often outweigh financial resources.

    Teams like Route One Rovers from Bradford, who won the Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division, exemplify the ambition and dedication found at this level. Their promotion to the North West Counties League Division North is just the first step on a potentially long and arduous journey.

    However, even Level 11 isn't truly the bottom.

  • The uncharted territories

    While Level 11 marks the official end of the recognised pyramid, the transcript's description of the Yorkshire Amateur League reveals that the pyramid continues downwards, into a sort of unofficial footballing underworld. The Yorkshire Amateur League itself extends to eight further divisions, taking us all the way down to Level 18 of the English football system.

    These lower divisions often consist of reserve teams, preventing them from competing directly with their parent clubs. But for standalone sides like West End Park, playing on King George V Playing Fields, the dream of climbing through the divisions, even if it seems distant, remains a powerful motivator.

  • From non-league to national heroes: The pyramid in action

    The beauty of the pyramid lies in its capacity to facilitate remarkable stories of ascent. Luton Town's recent promotion to the Premier League is a testament to this. They became the first team in the Premier League era to climb from the National League to the top flight.

    However, several clubs have travelled the full distance of the football league pyramid. Fulham in the late 1990s, Manchester City, Brighton, Swansea, Wigan, and Bradford City have all achieved this feat.

    AFC Wimbledon provide another compelling example. Formed in 2002 in response to the original Wimbledon's controversial relocation, they started in the Combined Counties League Premier Division. Six promotions in 14 years saw them reach the Football League, mirroring the original Wimbledon's rise from Level 7 to the top of English football between 1964 and 1986.

    Hashtag United, a club with a strong social media presence, are also making waves, having secured three promotions from the Eastern Counties League Division One South to the Isthmian League Premier Division.

  • The flipside: Falling from grace

    Of course, the pyramid also works in reverse. Oldham Athletic, a Premier League founder member, experienced a dramatic fall from grace, becoming the first former Premier League team to be relegated from the Football League in 2022. Their current status in the National League serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the precarious nature of even established clubs.

  • A system unlike any other

    The English football pyramid is a unique and complex system. It's a system where hope and ambition thrive. Where small clubs can dream of reaching the Premier League, and where established teams can be humbled by the threat of relegation. It's a system that fosters passion, community spirit, and a deep connection between clubs and their supporters. So, the next time you're watching a Premier League game, remember the vast and intricate network that lies beneath, a pyramid stretching all the way down to Level 18, where the dreams of countless players and fans are kept alive.