The 2016–17 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the second season under the new title of National League, thirteenth season consisting of three divisions and the thirty-eighth season overall.
The National League covers the top two levels of non-League football in England. The National League is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, while the National League North and National League South exist at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the play-off of the Premier division will be promoted to League Two, while the bottom four are relegated to the North or South divisions. The champions of the North and South divisions will be promoted to the Premier division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions are relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian League or Southern League. The fixtures were announced on 6 July 2016.
National League
Promotion and relegation The following teams changed divisions after the 2015–16 season. Solihull Moors were the first team to be promoted after North Ferriby United's 2–0 loss to Stalybridge Celtic on 13 April 2016 clinched them the National League North title. This will be their first season in the National League. Sutton United were promoted on 23 April 2016 after a 2–0 win over Chelmsford City, returning to the league for the first time in sixteen years.
Dagenham & Redbridge were relegated from League Two on 16 April 2016 after their 3–2 loss to Leyton Orient returning to the fifth tier after nine years in the Football League. York City were relegated on 23 April after their 3–0 loss to Accrington Stanley, returning to the league for the first time since the 2011–12 season. North Ferriby United's 2–1 win over AFC Fylde and Maidstone United's win on penalties over Ebbsfleet United made them the National League North and National League South play-off winners respectively. It is the first time both teams have competed in the league.
The six teams replace Cheltenham Town, Grimsby Town, FC Halifax Town, Altrincham, Kidderminster Harriers and Welling United. Cheltenham Town were promoted back to League Two at their first attempt after beating FC Halifax Town 2–0 on 16 April 2016. Grimsby Town were promoted back to the Football League after beating Forest Green Rovers 3–1 in the 2015–16 National League play-off final. Kidderminster Harriers and Welling United were relegated on the same day after defeats to Barrow and Chester.
On the final day of the season, Altrincham were relegated after losing 3–0 to Braintree Town, ending their two-year stay in the league. FC Halifax Town's 1–1 draw against Macclesfield Town was not enough to save them after Guiseley's 4–3 win over Torquay United, ending their three-year stay in the league.
Team changes To National League Promoted from 2015–16 National League North Solihull Moors North Ferriby United
Promoted from 2015–16 National League South Sutton United Maidstone United
Relegated from 2015–16 League Two Dagenham & Redbridge York City
From National League Relegated to 2016–17 National League North FC Halifax Town Altrincham Kidderminster Harriers
Relegated to 2016–17 National League South Welling United
Promoted to 2016–17 League Two Cheltenham Town Grimsby Town
Stadia and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity Aldershot Town Aldershot Recreation Ground 7,100 Barrow Barrow-in-Furness Holker Street 5,045 Boreham Wood Borehamwood Meadow Park 4,502 Braintree Town Braintree Cressing Road 4,085 Bromley London (Bromley) Hayes Lane 5,300 Chester Chester Deva Stadium 6,500 Dagenham & Redbridge London (Dagenham) Victoria Road 6,078 Dover Athletic Dover Crabble Athletic Ground 5,885 Eastleigh Eastleigh Ten Acres 5,250 Forest Green Rovers Nailsworth The New Lawn 5,032 Gateshead Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 11,800 Guiseley Guiseley Nethermoor Park 3,770 Lincoln City Lincoln Sincil Bank 10,120 Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Moss Rose 6,355 Maidstone United Maidstone Gallagher Stadium 4,200 North Ferriby United North Ferriby Grange Lane 2,200 Solihull Moors Solihull Damson Park 3,050 Southport Southport Haig Avenue 7,177 Sutton United London (Sutton) Gander Green Lane 5,013 Torquay United Torquay Plainmoor 6,500 Tranmere Rovers Birkenhead Prenton Park 16,789 Woking Woking Kingfield Stadium 6,036 Wrexham Wrexham Racecourse Ground 10,771 York City York Bootham Crescent 8,256
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentEastleighChris ToddDismissed17 August 201624thRonnie Moore19 August 2016GuiseleyMark Bower21 August 201624thAdam Lockwood22 September 2016SouthportAndy Bishop3 September 201623rdSteve Burr8 September 2016Tranmere RoversGary Brabin18 September 20165thPaul Carden (Interim)19 September 2016Braintree TownJamie Day25 September 201622ndHakan Hayrettin27 September 2016Tranmere RoversPaul CardenEnd of Interim Spell7 October 20169thMicky Mellon 7 October 2016WrexhamGary MillsDismissed13 October 201615thDean Keates25 October 2016York CityJackie McNamaraBecame Chief Executive16 October 201619thGary Mills16 October 2016EastleighRonnie MooreResigned30 November 20169thMartin Allen1 December 2016SouthportSteve BurrDismissed30 January 201720thLiam Watson (Interim)30 January 2017EastleighMartin Allen22 February 201715thRichard Hill22 February 2017
League table
Results
Play-offs
First leg
Second leg
Final
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Ricky MillerDover Athletic402 Christian DoidgeForest Green Rovers253 Andy CookTranmere Rovers234 Michael CheekBraintree Town19 Byron HarrisonBarrow5 Oliver HawkinsDagenham & Redbridge18 Danny JohnsonGateshead8 James AlabiChester17 Gozie UgwuWoking9 Richie BennettBarrow15 Matt RheadLincoln City Corey WhitelyDagenham & Redbridge
National League North
Team changes To National League North Promoted from 2015–16 Northern Premier League Premier Division Darlington 1883 Salford City
Relegated from 2015–16 National League FC Halifax Town Altrincham Kidderminster Harriers
From National League North Relegated to 2016–17 Northern Premier League Premier Division Corby Town Hednesford Town
Relegated to 2016–17 Isthmian League Premier Division Lowestoft Town
Promoted to 2016–17 National League Solihull Moors North Ferriby United
Stadia and locations
Team Stadium Capacity AFC Fylde Mill Farm Sports Village 6,000 AFC Telford United New Bucks Head 6,300 Alfreton Town North Street 3,600 Altrincham Moss Lane 6,085 Boston United York Street 6,643 Brackley Town St. James Park 3,500 Bradford Park Avenue Horsfall Stadium 3,500 Chorley Victory Park 4,100 Curzon Ashton Tameside Stadium 4,000 Darlington 1883 Blackwell Meadows 3,000 FC Halifax Town The Shay 14,061 F.C. United of Manchester Broadhurst Park 4,400 Gainsborough Trinity The Northolme 4,304 Gloucester City Whaddon Road (groundshare with Cheltenham Town) 7,066 Harrogate Town Wetherby Road 3,800 Kidderminster Harriers Aggborough Stadium 6,238 Nuneaton Town Liberty Way 4,314 Salford City Moor Lane 5,106 Stalybridge Celtic Bower Fold 6,500 Stockport County Edgeley Park 10,852 Tamworth The Lamb Ground 4,000 Worcester City Victoria Ground (groundshare with Bromsgrove Sporting) 4,895
League table
Results
Play-offs
First leg
Second leg
Final
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Danny RoweAFC Fylde472 Danny NewtonTamworth283 Simon AingeHarrogate Town224 Danny LloydStockport County215 Joe IronsideNuneaton Town206 Luke HopperGloucester City197 Dan BradleyAFC Fylde18 Mark BeckDarlington 18839 Tom DentonFC Halifax Town17
National League South
Team changes To National League South Promoted from 2015–16 Isthmian League Premier Division Hampton & Richmond Borough East Thurrock United
Promoted from 2015–16 Southern League Premier Division Poole Town Hungerford Town
Relegated from 2015–16 National League Welling United
From National League South Relegated to 2016–17 Isthmian League Premier Division Havant & Waterlooville
Relegated to 2016–17 Southern League Premier Division Hayes & Yeading United Basingstoke Town
Promoted to 2016–17 National League Sutton United Maidstone United
Stadia and locations
Team Stadium Capacity Bath City Twerton Park 8,840 Bishop's Stortford Woodside Park 4,525 Chelmsford City Melbourne Stadium 3,019 Concord Rangers Thames Road 3,300 Dartford Princes Park 4,100 Eastbourne Borough Priory Lane 4,151 East Thurrock United Rookery Hill 4,000 Ebbsfleet United Stonebridge Road 5,011 Gosport Borough Privett Park 4,500 Hampton & Richmond Beveree Stadium 3,500 Hemel Hempstead Town Vauxhall Road 3,152 Hungerford Town Bulpit Lane 2,500 Maidenhead United York Road 3,000 Margate Hartsdown Park 3,000 Oxford City Court Place Farm 2,000 Poole Town Tatnam Ground 2,500 St Albans City Clarence Park 4,500 Truro City Treyew Road 3,857 Wealdstone Grosvenor Vale 3,607 Welling United Park View Road 4,000 Weston-super-Mare Woodspring Stadium 3,500 Whitehawk The Enclosed Ground 2,175
League table
Results
Play-offs
First leg
Second leg
Final
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Dave TarpeyMaidenhead United442 Jake RobinsonHemel Hempstead Town253 Shaun JeffersChelmsford City214 Adam CoombesWelling United20 Elliott RomainEastbourne Borough5 Dayle GrubbWeston-super-Mare19 Tom WraightEast Thurrock United8 Steve CawleyConcord Rangers189 Bradley AshWeston-super-Mare16 Elliot BenyonWealdstone Nicke KabambaHampton & Richmond Borough Sean MarksMaidenhead United Danny MillsWhitehawk
References