National League South: Season Update and Key Developments

Introduction: The Importance of National League South

The National League South, officially known as Enterprise National League South for sponsorship reasons, is a professional Association football league in England that serves as the second division of the National Leagues and step 2 of the NLS and sixth-highest tier overall in the English football league system. The league plays a crucial role in the English football pyramid, providing a pathway for clubs to progress towards the National League and ultimately into the English Football League.

New Sponsorship Era

In June 2025, the league was renamed the Enterprise National League South after the sponsorship deal with Vanarama ended upon completion of the 2024–25 season. This change marks a significant development for the competition, which continues to attract investment and maintain its importance in English football’s lower tiers.

Current Season Structure and Competition

The National League South consists of 24 teams competing throughout the season. National League South includes teams from the South East, London, and the South West, as well as teams from Essex. The competition format offers clear pathways to promotion, with the champion of the league automatically promoted to the National League, whilst a second promotion place goes to the winner of a play-off involving the teams finishing in second to seventh place.

Recent Developments

The 2024/25 season has seen several clubs join the division. Chesham United, Hornchurch, Enfield Town and Salisbury came into the league after winning promotion from Step 3, bringing fresh competition to the division. Meanwhile, recent transfer activity has demonstrated the league’s connections with higher divisions, with Yeovil Town forward Harvey Greenslade joining National League South side Weston-Super-Mare on a one-month loan deal.

Significance for English Football

The National League South remains vital for English football’s ecosystem, providing competitive football for communities across southern England whilst offering clubs realistic ambitions of climbing the football pyramid. The league’s stability, demonstrated by its new sponsorship deal and continued 24-team format, ensures it will remain an important fixture in the non-league calendar for years to come. For players, managers, and supporters, the National League South represents both tradition and opportunity in equal measure.