The Pyramid

For those who want to know the Football Association Pyramid is as follows:

1. Barclays Premiership

2. Npower Championship

3. Npower League One

4. Npower League Two

These four levels are the current definition of the old Football League Divisions 1,2,3 and 4.

After this there is the non-League structure which has changed over the years. I may research the history of non-League sometime or I may leave that to somebody else. The current structure is:

5. Blue Square Bet Football Conference Premier Division

Agreement has been reached that there is now automatic promotion from this league into the Football League. Historically it was up to ambitious teams to apply for a League place.

6. Blue Square Bet Football Conference North Division
6. Blue Square Bet Football Conference South Division

This is the first level where a regional split is important to keep travelling costs to a minimum.

Most people will not have looked any further but I will now list the non-League structure

Step 1 = Football Conference Premier Division (Tier 5)
Step 2 = Football Conference North/South Divisions (Tier 6)
Step 3 = Northern Premier League (Tiers 7&8)
Step 3 = Southern Football League (Tiers 7&8)
Step 3 = Isthmian League (Tiers 7&8)
Step 4 = Divisional divisions of the above 3 leagues
Step 5 = Tier 9 and is comprised of the following leagues:
Combined Counties League
Eastern Counties League
Essex Senior Football League
Hellenic League
Kent League
Midland Alliance
Northern Counties East League
Northern League
North West Counties League
Spartans South Midland League
Sussex County League
United Counties League
Wessex League
Western League

I have continued to extend the pyramid but only in my local area so for this post I stop here.

Note that at the bottom of this tree is the "Western League".