National League returns – can it live up to last season’s drama?

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The National League returns – how can it live up to the drama of 2025-26? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, It is a second season in the National League for Robbie Savage (centre), but a first for both Lee Cattermole (left) and Kieron Dyer (right)ByAdam LaniganBBC Sport EnglandPublished1 hour agoIt is 104 days since the National League’s regular season concluded with one of the most dramatic finishes to an English league season.The top two, Rochdale and York City, met with the title and sole automatic promotion spot still on the line.

An afternoon oozing with tension ended with both sides exchanging goals deep, deep, deep into injury time as first Dale and then the Minstermen were left celebrating and holding the trophy.

The National League provided one of the stories for many a year, with a moment to go alongside those created by Michael Thomas and Sergio Aguero in the annals of the most dramatic climaxes to a league campaign.

Now with the 24 teams of the National League ready and raring to go on Saturday to kick off their 2026-27 campaign, how can it possibly top last season’s drama?

Charlie O'Connell (Boreham Wood, number six) is chasing after Luke Armstrong with his eyes closed as the Carlisle forward has his eyes on the ball in the left hand corner of the photo.Getty Images

Boreham Wood and Carlisle United finished fourth and third respectively in the 2025-26 season

From pretenders to contenders?

Rochdale eventually secured the second promotion spot at Wembley in the play-off final after coming from two goals down to equalise in injury time and then beat Boreham Wood on penalties in another drama-filled afternoon.

With the undoubted two best sides having departed, it will leave plenty of others fancying their chances of promotion to the EFL.

In other leagues and other seasons, a total of 95 points would have been enough for Carlisle United to claim promotion.

But against very stiff competition, they came up short in the regular season in finishing third and then in the play-offs with a disappointing home loss to Boreham Wood.

Mark Hughes could not restore them to League Two at the first attempt and so they begin an unprecedented second consecutive term at this level.

The Wales legend departed Brunton Park this summer with Rob Elliot making a journey first made famous by Roman emperor Hadrian in coming across from Gateshead. Elliot is under no illusions about what is expected from Carlisle this season – promotion, preferably of the automatic variety.

Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Elliot has been replaced on Tyneside by ex-Sunderland man Lee Cattermole, who will cut his managerial teeth with the Heed.

As Carlisle try to return to where they believe they belong, Boreham Wood are chasing new territory.

But as Luke Garrard’s side showed last term in being seconds away from League Two, they are an excellent footballing side.

Winger Abdul Abdulmalik is being coveted by clubs higher up the pyramid, while in centre-half Chris Bush and forward Matt Rush, they have two more of the stand-out players in the division.

Southend United defender Ben Goodliffe clutching the FA Trophy after defeating Wealdstone in May with his team-mates slightly blurred in the background Shutterstock

Can Southend United turn FA Trophy success into the platform for a shot at National League glory?

Ex-EFL clubs out to do better

Southend United’s past two seasons have both ended at Wembley, with play-off defeat to Oldham Athletic in 2025 and FA Trophy glory over Wealdstone almost three months ago.

They are used to drama in Essex, but club legend Kevin Maher has departed the managerial hot-seat to be replaced by ex-Newcastle and England midfielder Kieron Dyer for his first full-time manager/head coach position.

The fact that the Shrimpers dispensed with Maher only two days after that Wembley success suggests that a sixth-placed finish, albeit 27 points behind champions York, was not good enough for a club averaging a league-best attendance of 8,103, so Dyer will need to hit the ground running.

As Southend begin their sixth season at this level since EFL relegation, it is a fourth for Hartlepool United.

The previous three have been the height of mediocrity in terms of finishes (12th, 11th, ninth), but there is genuine optimism for the new season.

After a long sought-after takeover by American Landon Smith in January, Pools have appointed Lee Clark as manager and have busily brought in proven National League performers as they aim to challenge for the play-off places and higher.

Forest Green Rovers have been play-off losers for the past two seasons and Robbie Savage will again bring his colour to the touchline as he looks to build on a solid first campaign at the club, finishing seventh last season.

Scunthorpe United showed they are going in the right direction again in claiming fifth place after promotion back from National League North. Those two clubs will expect to be in the mix again come April.

National League new managers/head coaches

Aldershot: Scott Davies

Barrow: Adam Murray

Carlisle: Rob Elliot

Eastleigh: Matt Gray

Gateshead: Lee Cattermole

Halifax: John McGrath

Hartlepool: Lee Clark

Kidderminster: Paul Wotton

Southend: Kieron Dyer

Woking: position vacant

Adam Hinshelwood pictured on a sunny afternoon weaing a round-neck white t-shirtShutterstock

Adam Hinshelwood left York after four games last season, and then led Worthing to the National League South title

Old and new faces thrown together

Barrow and Harrogate Town were promoted together from the National League in 2020 and, in a remarkable act of symmetry, have each returned after a six-year stay in League Two, during which time neither side ever convinced that they were there for good.

Harrogate go again under manager Simon Weaver, while it has been all change at Barrow after a truly dreadful season in which they went through five bosses and propped up the 92 Premier League and EFL clubs.

Adam Murray was recruited by Barrow after winning promotion with Kidderminster Harriers and tasked with rebuilding and restoring pride at Holker Street. The club has changed colours to mark its 125th anniversary and is keen to bring positivity back after a difficult couple of years.

National League North duo Fylde and Kidderminster are back at this level after one and two seasons away, respectively, but this is completely new territory for Worthing and Hornchurch as they prepare for their first season of fifth-tier football.

They will be new opponents for many and that unknown quantity could take them far. While in Adam Hinshelwood, Worthing have a boss who guided York to second spot and 96 points in April 2025 only to miss out in the National League play-offs.

Worthing and Hornchurch may be newcomers, but at least they have stability. That cannot be reported for regulars Woking, who parted company with Jermain Defoe a fortnight ago.

They are still without a permanent boss after a messy saga involving the former England striker, who left after four months and described the experience as “eye-opening”. The club later responded.

It may be the fifth tier and away from the spotlight but it does not mean it cannot throw up plenty of its own soap operas and melodramas.

Two, not 3UP for now

The National League’s 3UP campaign remains ongoing and the events of last season demonstrated lots of footballing merit as to why the league deserves a third promotion spot up to League Two, even if genuine questions remain about financial regulations and restrictions.

Instead it remains a hot topic of discussion with only two promotion spots on offer.

The average number of points to win the league (and the only automatic promotion spot) over the past five seasons has been 102.6, demanding high standards, while in the past four seasons, the highest-placed team not to go up has then won the league 12 months later.

The play-offs will again feature teams placed between second and seventh with two eliminators and two semi-finals (all over one leg) with the winner of the play-off final at Wembley securing the second promotion spot.

And whichever two teams will be celebrating promotion next spring, it will have been a campaign to savour following a nine-month slog.

A view from the back of a blue coach with 'CARLISLE UNITED' and the club's badge adorned on the left-hand side BBC Sport

Carlisle United will have 13 away games with road trips of more than 400 miles

Long-haul coach travel

The National League may have lost the Cornish outpost of Truro City this season and the European-esque road-trips down the A38 to the south-west tip of England, but the geographical slog remains.

With clubs as far apart as Carlisle in the far north west, Gateshead in the north east and Eastleigh and Worthing in the far south, every team will encounter plenty of Friday afternoons and the early hours of Wednesday and Thursday mornings sampling the delights of the motorway network.

Just for good measure, the season kicks off this weekend with five clubs embarking on epic round trips of over 400 miles.

Worthing are making the longest journey of the entire season, a whopping 744 miles round trip up to the edge of Scotland as they travel to Brunton Park to face Carlisle.

The opening day will therefore offer The Rebels a sample of exactly what footballing and logistical challenges are needed to succeed in the gruelling National League.

Related topics

  • Football
  • National League
  • Barrow
  • Carlisle United
  • Hartlepool United
  • Gateshead
  • AFC Fylde
  • Altrincham
  • Yeovil Town
  • Forest Green Rovers
  • Harrogate Town
  • FC Halifax Town
  • Scunthorpe United
  • Boston United
  • Tamworth
  • Kidderminster Harriers
  • Solihull Moors
  • Eastleigh
  • Worthing
  • Aldershot Town
  • Hornchurch
  • Southend United
  • Boreham Wood
  • Woking
  • Sutton United
  • Wealdstone

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