2023–24 National League
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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 | Neal Ardley[2] | Mutual consent | 25 June 2023 | Pre-season | Andy Whing[3] | 28 June 2023 |
Eastleigh | Lee Bradbury[4] | Sacked | 26 August 2023 | 21st | Richard Hill[a][5] | 26 August 2023 |
York City | Michael Morton[6] | 28 August 2023 | 23rd | Neal Ardley[7] | 6 September 2023 | |
Oldham Athletic | David Unsworth[8] | 17 September 2023 | 22nd | Steve Thompson (interim)[8] | 17 September 2023 | |
AFC Fylde | Adam Murray[9] | 9 October 2023 | 24th | Chris Beech[b][10] | 8 October 2023 | |
Oldham Athletic | Steve Thompson[11] | End of interim spell | 12 October 2023 | 12th | Micky Mellon[12] | 13 October 2023 |
Gateshead | Mike Williamson[13] | Signed by Milton Keynes Dons | 17 October 2023 | 6th | Rob Elliot[14] | 20 June 2024 |
Woking | Darren Sarll[15] | Sacked | 13 November 2023 | 14th | Michael Doyle[16] | 17 December 2023 |
Hartlepool United | John Askey[17] | 30 December 2023 | 18th | Lennie Lawrence (interim) | 3 January 2024 | |
Kidderminster Harriers | Russell Penn[18] | 7 January 2024 | 24th | Phil Brown[19] | 10 January 2024 | |
Wealdstone | Stuart Maynard[20] | Signed by Notts County | 18 January 2024 | 13th | David Noble[21] | 26 January 2024 |
Hartlepool United | Lennie Lawrence | End of interim spell | 20 January 2024 | 13th | Kevin Phillips[22] | 20 January 2024 |
Ebbsfleet United | Dennis Kutrieb[23] | Sacked | 29 January 2024 | 21st | Danny Searle[24] | 13 February 2024 |
Eastleigh | Richard Hill[25] | 17 February 2024 | 15th | Kelvin Davis[26] | 19 February 2024 | |
York City | Neal Ardley[27] | 26 February 2024 | 20th | Adam Hinshelwood[28] | 27 February 2024 | |
Wealdstone | David Noble[29] | 7 April 2024 | 20th | Sam Cox (interim) | 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 | Paul McCallum | Eastleigh | 31 |
2 | Will Grigg | Chesterfield | 25 |
Nicke Kabamba | Barnet | ||
4 | Emmanuel Dieseruvwe | Hartlepool United | 23 |
5 | Chris Conn-Clarke | Altrincham | 22 |
6 | Michael Cheek | Bromley | 21 |
7 | Marcus Dinanga | Gateshead | 19 |
Lorent Tolaj | Aldershot Town | ||
9 | Harry Cardwell | Southend United | 18 |
Nick Haughton | AFC Fylde |
Hat-tricks
[edit]Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stephen Wearne | Gateshead | Ebbsfleet United | 4–1 | 19 August 2023 [34] |
Paul McCallum | Eastleigh | Ebbsfleet United | 5–2 | 3 October 2023[35] |
Daniel Kanu4 | Southend United | Solihull Moors | 5–0 | 21 October 2023 |
Billy Chadwick | Gateshead | Dorking Wanderers | 6–0 | 11 November 2023[36] |
Nicke Kabamba | Barnet | Boreham Wood | 6–0 | 23 December 2023 |
Sean Adarkwa | Wealdstone | Hartlepool United | 4–4 | |
Paul McCallum | Eastleigh | Dagenham & Redbridge | 4–4 | 1 January 2024 |
Will Grigg | Chesterfield | Gateshead | 5–0 | 10 January 2024 |
Josh Rees | Dagenham & Redbridge | Oxford City | 7–1 | 10 February 2024 |
Michael Cheek | Bromley | Chesterfield | 4–3 | 17 February 2024 |
Marcus Dinanga | Gateshead | Oxford City | 4–0 | 24 February 2024 |
Paul McCallum | 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 | Andy Whing | Solihull Moors | Emmanuel Dieseruvwe | Hartlepool United | [37] |
September | Andy Woodman | Bromley | Marcus Dinanga | Gateshead | [38] |
October | Kevin Maher | Southend United | Ollie Banks | Chesterfield | [39] |
November | Tommy Widdrington | Aldershot Town | Stephen Wearne | Gateshead | [40] |
December | Andy Woodman | Bromley | Paul McCallum | Eastleigh | [41] |
January | Paul Cook | Chesterfield | Lorent Tolaj | Aldershot Town | [42] |
February | Danny Searle | Ebbsfleet United | Callum Whelan | Gateshead | [43] |
March | Ben Strevens | Dagenham & Redbridge | Dajaune Brown | Gateshead | [44] |
April | Dean Brennan | Barnet | Sam Beckwith | Maidenhead United | [45] |
Annual awards
[edit]Award | Winner | Club |
---|---|---|
Player of the Season | Chris Conn-Clarke[46] | Altrincham |
Manager of the Season | Paul Cook[47] | Chesterfield |
National League Team of the Season
Pos. | Player | Club |
---|---|---|
GK | Grant Smith | Bromley |
RB | Gus Scott-Morriss | Southend United |
CB | Danny Collinge | Barnet |
CB | Jamie Grimes | Chesterfield |
LB | Ollie Harfield | Aldershot Town |
CM | Tom Naylor | Chesterfield |
CM | Anthony Hartigan | Barnet |
CM | Liam Mandeville | Chesterfield |
AM | Chris Conn-Clarke | Altrincham |
CF | Paul McCallum | Eastleigh |
CF | Will Grigg | 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 | Kevin Phillips[50] | Mutual consent | 22 April 2023 | Pre-season | Julio Arca[51] | 27 April 2023 |
Hereford | Yan Klukowski | End of interim spell | 29 April 2023 | Paul Caddis[52] | 1 May 2023 | |
Spennymoor Town | Jason Ainsley | Jamie Chandler[53] | 18 May 2023 | |||
Gloucester City | Steve King[54] | Resigned | 9 May 2023 | Tim Flowers[55] | 19 May 2023 | |
Brackley Town | Gareth Dean[56] | End of interim spell | 14 May 2023 | Gavin Cowan[56] | 16 May 2023 | |
Farsley Celtic | Russ Wilcox[57] | Mutual consent | 17 May 2023 | Clayton Donaldson[58] | 7 June 2023 | |
Banbury United | Andy Whing[59] | Resigned | 22 May 2023 | Mark Jones[60] | 5 June 2023 | |
Southport | Liam Watson[61] | Promoted to Director of Football | 17 August 2023 | 24th | Jim Bentley[62] | 29 August 2023 |
Darlington | Alun Armstrong[63] | Sacked | 6 September 2023 | 24th | Josh Gowling[64] | 20 September 2023 |
Gloucester City | Tim Flowers[65] | 17 September 2023 | 23rd | Mike Cook[66] | 19 September 2023 | |
Spennymoor Town | Jamie Chandler[67] | Resigned | 22 September 2023 | 4th | Graeme Lee[68] | 2 January 2024 |
King's Lynn Town | Mark Hughes[69] | Sacked | 25 September 2023 | 22nd | Adam Lakeland[70] | 28 September 2023 |
Curzon Ashton | Adam Lakeland[71] | Signed by King's Lynn Town | 28 September 2023 | 7th | Craig Mahon[71] | 28 September 2023 |
Darlington | Josh Gowling[72] | Sacked | 26 December 2023 | 23rd | Steve Watson[73] | 31 December 2023 |
South Shields | Julio Arca[74] | 27 December 2023 | 8th | Elliott Dickman | 27 December 2023 | |
Blyth Spartans | Graham Fenton[75] | 28 December 2023 | 14th | Jon Shaw[76] | 29 December 2023 | |
Banbury United | Mark Jones[77] | 25 January 2024 | 20th | Kevin Wilson | 30 January 2024 | |
Blyth Spartans | Jon Shaw[78] | 29 April 2024 | 21st | Nolberto Solano[79] | 3 May 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 |