2020–21 National League
The 2020–21 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the sixth season under English football's new title of the National League, the seventeenth season consisting of three divisions, and the forty-second season overall.
The season followed the curtailed 2019–20 season, in which the league phase was uncompleted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the play-offs only completed by 2 August 2020. Reflecting the late end to the previous season and aiming at maximising the likelihood of fans being present in stadiums when the season starts, the 2020–21 National League began on 3 October 2020. The planned increase of the North and South divisions to 24 teams was scheduled to take place for 2021–22, meaning only two from the North and one from the South were to be relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Southern League Central or South, or Isthmian League. However, owing to the cessation and voidance of the 2020–21 seasons for the North and South divisions, promotion and relegation was suspended. For that reason, the expansion plans were deferred to 2022–23, when they would be implemented before that season.
National League
On 16 September 2020, Macclesfield Town folded as a result of debts, and were expelled from the National League on 29 September. As the club folded before the season started, no records were expunged.Due to Macclesfield's closure, only 23 clubs took part in the 2020–21 season and a maximum of three clubs were to be relegated instead of the usual four. However, on 26 March 2021, having not fulfilled a fixture since 30 January, Dover Athletic's results were expunged and the club deducted 12 points for the 2021–22 season. Therefore the season is set to complete with 22 clubs playing fixtures.
Additionally, following the National League North and South divisions being declared null and void on 18 February, no teams were relegated this season.
Team changes
To National League
Promoted from 2019–20 National League NorthPromoted from 2019–20 National League South
Relegated from 2019–20 League Two
From National League
Promoted to 2020–21 League TwoRelegated to 2020–21 National League North
Relegated to 2020–21 National League South
Stadia and locations
Personnel and sponsoring
- Yeovil Town club captain Lee Collins died on 31 March 2021 at the age of 32.
Monthly awards
Each month the Motorama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.| Month | Player of the Month | Club | Manager of the Month | Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 2020 |  National League NorthThe National League North in 2020-21 consisted of 22 teams. Due to the initially anticipated expansion to 24 teams for 2021–22, only two teams instead of the usual four were expected to be relegated. However, the knock-on effect of Macclesfield Town's closure might have caused the number of relegated teams to be reduced even further.The league was declared null and void on 18 February 2021. As a result, all records were expunged and no teams were promoted or relegated. Team changesFollowing the COVID-19 pandemic-related cancellation of the four step 3 leagues' 2019–20 seasons, no teams were promoted to or relegated from the National League North.To National League NorthRelegated from [|2019–20 National League]From National League NorthPromoted to 2020–21 National LeagueStadia and locations
National League North tableTop scorers
Monthly awardsEach month the Motorama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
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