2009–10 Football Conference


The 2009–10 Football Conference season was the sixth season with the Football Conference consisting of three divisions, and the thirty-first season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The Conference Premier was the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, while the Conference North and Conference South existed at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the play-off of the National division were promoted to Football League Two. The bottom four were scheduled to be relegated to the North or South divisions, but in the event two teams were expelled and only the bottom two clubs were relegated with them. The champions of the North and South divisions were promoted to the National division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions were relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian League or Southern League. For sponsorship reasons, the Conference Premier was frequently referred to as the Blue Square Premier.

Conference Premier

A total of 24 teams contested the division, including 18 sides from last season, two relegated from the Football League Two, two promoted from the Conference North and two promoted from the Conference South.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2008–09 Conference North
Teams promoted from 2008–09 Conference South
Teams relegated from 2008–09 League Two
Luton Town became the first team to drop from the Football League Championship to the Conference in successive seasons and in the process ended an 89-year stay in the Football League. Their matches against eventual playoff winners Oxford United made them the first clubs to face each other in all the top five tiers of English football.
On 26 February 2010, Chester City were expelled from the Conference for numerous rule breaches. Since no appeal was forthcoming, their results were expunged on 8 March 2010.

League table



Play-offs

Semifinals

York City won 2–0 on Aggregate.
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''Oxford United won 3–1 on Aggregate.''

Stadia and locations

TeamStadiumCapacity
WrexhamRacecourse Ground15,550
Oxford UnitedKassam Stadium12,500
GatesheadGateshead International Stadium11,800
Luton TownKenilworth Road10,226
Mansfield TownField Mill10,000
Cambridge UnitedAbbey Stadium9,617
York CityBootham Crescent9,196
Stevenage BoroughThe Lamex Stadium7,100
Hayes & Yeading UnitedChurch Road6,500
Rushden & DiamondsNene Park6,441
Kidderminster HarriersAggborough6,238
Kettering TownRockingham Road6,170
AltrinchamMoss Lane6,085
ChesterDeva Stadium5,328
Forest Green RoversThe New Lawn5,147
Ebbsfleet UnitedStonebridge Road5,011
Crawley TownBroadfield Stadium4,996
AFC WimbledonKingsmeadow4,720
BarrowHolker Street4,256
Eastbourne BoroughPriory Lane4,134
Grays AthleticNew Recreation Ground4,100
TamworthThe Lamb Ground4,000
HistonBridge Road3,800
Salisbury CityRaymond McEnhill Stadium3,500

Season statistics

Top scorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1Richard BrodieYork City26
1Matt TubbsSalisbury City26
3Tom CraddockLuton Town23
4James ConstableOxford United22
5Danny KedwellAFC Wimbledon21
6Danny CrowCambridge United19
7Jake SpeightMansfield Town17
8Moses Ashikodi*Ebbsfleet United16
8Kevin GallenLuton Town16
8Magno VieiraEbbsfleet United16
11Daryl Clare**Gateshead15
11Chris SeniorAltrincham15
13Rob DuffyMansfield Town14
13Yemi OdubadeStevenage Borough14
13Lee TomlinRushden & Diamonds14

Scoring

Discipline

Sequences

Clean sheets

Conference North

A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 17 sides from last season, one relegated from the Conference Premier and four promoted from the lower leagues.
In April 2009, the Conference decided to demote King's Lynn at the end of the 2008–09 season, because their ground did not meet Conference standards. Farsley Celtic resigned from the league on 8 March 2010 and their playing record was expunged on 12 March. Both Harrogate Town and Vauxhall Motors were reprieved from relegation following Farsley Celtic's withdrawal from the league, Chester's expulsion from the Conference Premier and Northwich Victoria's demotion to the Northern Premier League under financial rules.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2008–09 Northern Premier League Premier Division
Teams promoted from 2008–09 Southern League Premier Division
Teams relegated from 2008–09 Conference Premier

League table



Play-offs

Semifinals

Fleetwood Town won 4–3 on penalties after tying 3–3 on Aggregate.
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''Alfreton Town won 4–1 on Aggregate.''

Stadia and locations

TeamStadiumCapacity
Stalybridge CelticBower Fold6,500
AFC Telford UnitedNew Bucks Head6,300
SouthportHaig Avenue6,008
Redditch UnitedThe Valley5,000
Gloucester CityThe Corinium Stadium4,500
Northwich VictoriaVictoria Stadium4,500
Blyth SpartansCroft Park4,450
Hinckley UnitedDe Montfort Park4,329
Gainsborough TrinityThe Northolme4,304
Stafford RangersMarston Road4,150
Hyde UnitedEwen Fields4,100
Farsley CelticThrostle Nest3,900
Fleetwood TownHighbury Stadium3,663
Alfreton TownNorth Street3,600
Ilkeston TownNew Manor Ground3,500
Harrogate TownWetherby Road3,300
WorkingtonBorough Park3,101
Solihull MoorsDamson Park3,050
Corby TownRockingham Triangle3,000
DroylsdenButcher's Arms Ground3,000
Eastwood TownCoronation Park2,500
Vauxhall MotorsRivacre Park2,500

Conference South

A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 17 sides from last season, three relegated from the Conference Premier and two promoted from the Isthmian League.
Team Bath announced that they were to leave the Football Conference from the end of the 2008–09 season. The club decided to fold, after being informed they could not be promoted to the professional leagues, which also led to them no longer being able to play FA Cup games. Thus Thurrock were reprieved from relegation.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2008–09 Isthmian League Premier Division
Teams relegated from 2008–09 Conference Premier

League table



Play-offs

Semifinals

Woking won 2–1 on Aggregate.
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''Bath City won 3–0 on Aggregate.''

Stadia and locations

TeamStadiumCapacity
Bath CityTwerton Park8,800
Dover AthleticCrabble Stadium6,500
WeymouthThe Wessex Stadium6,500
WokingKingfield Stadium6,036
Basingstoke TownThe Camrose6,000
Havant & WaterloovilleWest Leigh Park5,250
Dorchester TownAvenue Stadium5,009
BromleyHayes Lane5,000
Worcester CitySt George's Lane4,749
Newport CountyNewport Stadium4,700
St Albans CityClarence Park4,500
Welling UnitedPark View Road4,500
Braintree TownCressing Road4,145
Bishop's StortfordWoodside Park4,000
ThurrockShip Lane3,500
Weston-super-MareWoodspring Stadium3,500
Chelmsford CityMelbourne Stadium3,000
EastleighSilverlake Stadium3,000
Hampton & RichmondBeveree Stadium3,000
LewesThe Dripping Pan3,000
Maidenhead UnitedYork Road3,000
Staines TownWheatsheaf Park3,000