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National League campaigns to increase number of promotion places to the football league
National League clubs have thrown their support behind a new campaign to increase the number of promotion spots to three from the end of next season.
All 72 teams in the National League and the North and South divisions have joined together to back the 3UP campaign, which would see three teams promoted from the fifth tier at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
Since 2003, two teams have gone up to League Two each season - the champions and the play-off winners, but now the National League has called on EFL clubs to vote to increase that number at their annual general meeting in June.
"Promotions have benefitted the vast majority of our clubs during this 21-year period," National League chief executive Mark Ives said.
"But a third spot - bringing the National League into line with the rest of the game - would be completely transformative,"
"The National League currently has 15 clubs that are former EFL clubs. These 15 clubs, along with the other clubs in the league, are being disadvantaged by this unfair structure.
"They are being prevented promotion on sporting merit that they would otherwise deserve and benefit from under 3UP."
In recent times, the National League has seen success stories like Luton Town, who made it all the way to the Premier League following their promotion from the non-league level in 2014, as well as Wrexham, who have enjoyed back-to-back promotions following their National League triumph.
While teams like Bromley, Barrow, Notts County and Stockport have all shown that National League teams can comfortably compete in the Football League upon promotion.
"In terms of heritage, National League clubs are at the heart of towns and cities across the whole country. The majority of these clubs are over a century old and part of the fabric of their communities." League Chairman Jack Pearce added. GFC
"An extra promotion place for these clubs into the EFL would create an invaluable aspiration for all these clubs and supporters - plus clubs in the leagues below. We simply can't wait any longer for parity within the game.
"We have been consistently told that the EFL support our 3UP position in principle but are reluctant to progress any changes whilst they are consulting with the IFR (regulator) and Premier League regarding their own redistribution of football income.
"However, we believe the 3UP campaign goal is vital to the overall health of the game and the Government's objectives - therefore it should be as high on the agenda as any other matter this year."
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