National League returns — can it match last season's dramatic finish?
The National League season restarts on Saturday as 24 clubs begin the 2026-27 campaign, 104 days after last season's regular season ended in a dramatic conclusion. That finale saw the top two, Rochdale and York City, meet with the title and the sole automatic promotion spot still on the line and culminated in goals exchanged deep into injury time.
Rochdale ultimately secured the second promotion place at Wembley after coming from two goals down to equalise in injury time and then beat Boreham Wood on penalties, capping a play-off final that followed the regular-season decider. The climax drew comparisons with famous league finales involving Michael Thomas and Sergio Aguero and, with the two promoted sides having departed, the division begins with a wide-open look for promotion. The league will again offer only two promotion spots and a play-off structure that involves teams placed second to seventh.
Carlisle United and Boreham Wood, who finished third and fourth respectively in the 2025-26 season, are among the clubs expected to push for a return to the Football League. Carlisle fell short in the regular season and then lost in the play-offs at home to Boreham Wood; Mark Hughes could not restore them to League Two at the first attempt and departed Brunton Park this summer. Rob Elliot has moved from Gateshead to Carlisle, and Elliot is quoted as saying he 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.
Boreham Wood showed last term they can threaten at the top end under Luke Garrard, finishing seconds away from promotion, and possess several standout players. Winger Abdul Abdulmalik is attracting interest from clubs higher up the pyramid, while centre-half Chris Bush and forward Matt Rush were among the division's leading performers last season. Those individual strengths underpinned Boreham Wood's run to the play-off places and form part of why they remain contenders.
Southend United arrive after two recent trips to Wembley: a play-off defeat to Oldham Athletic in 2025 and FA Trophy victory over Wealdstone almost three months ago. Kevin Maher left the managerial role two days after that Wembley success and has been replaced by Kieron Dyer in his first full-time manager/head coach position; Southend finished sixth last season, 27 points behind champions York, and recorded a league-average attendance of 8,103. The club have set a different course for the new campaign with Dyer installed as head coach.
Hartlepool United begin a fourth consecutive season at this level following finishes of 12th, 11th and ninth in recent campaigns; the club completed a takeover by American Landon Smith in January and appointed Lee Clark as manager while recruiting established National League performers. Forest Green Rovers, play-off losers in each of the past two seasons, will again work under Robbie Savage after he led them to a seventh-place finish in his first season. Scunthorpe United, promoted from National League North, showed progress by finishing fifth and are among teams expecting to be in contention.
Barrow and Harrogate Town have both returned to the National League after six years in League Two, with Harrogate again under Simon Weaver and Barrow appointing Adam Murray after his promotion with Kidderminster Harriers; Barrow have also changed colours to mark their 125th anniversary. Worthing and Hornchurch join the fifth tier for the first time in their histories, with Worthing led by Adam Hinshelwood, who left York after four games last season and previously guided York to second place and 96 points in April 2025 only to miss out in the play-offs. Fylde and Kidderminster return from National League North. Woking parted company with Jermain Defoe a fortnight ago, remain without a permanent manager after his four-month spell, and Defoe described the experience as "eye-opening"; the club later responded.
The debate over adding a third promotion place continues while the current structure provides one automatic spot and a play-off winner earning promotion from second to seventh via two single-leg eliminators and two single-leg semi-finals, with the final at Wembley. The average number of points to win the league (and the only automatic promotion spot) over the past five seasons has been 102.6, and in the past four seasons the highest-placed team not to go up has then won the league 12 months later. Carlisle United will have 13 away games with road trips of more than 400 miles, and the opening weekend features five clubs undertaking round trips in excess of 400 miles; Worthing make the longest journey of the season, a 744-mile round trip to Brunton Park to face Carlisle, a fixture that will open the campaign’s logistical challenges.
