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.[1]
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.[2]
| Competition: | National League |
| Season: | 2016–17 |
| Winners: | Lincoln City |
| Promoted: | Lincoln City Forest Green Rovers |
| Relegated: | Braintree Town North Ferriby United Southport York City |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1424 |
| League Topscorer: | Ricky Miller, Dover Athletic (40 goals) |
| Biggest Home Win: | Tranmere Rovers 9–0 Solihull Moors |
| Biggest Away Win: | Sutton United 0–6 Dover Athletic |
| Highest Scoring: | Tranmere Rovers 9–0 Solihull Moors |
| Longest Wins: | Gateshead (7 matches)[3] |
| Longest Unbeaten: | Lincoln City (13 matches) |
| Longest Winless: | Guiseley (13 matches) |
| Longest Losses: | North Ferriby United (8 matches) |
| Highest Attendance: | 10,031 (Lincoln City v Macclesfield Town) |
| Highest Playoff Attendance: | 10,251 (Tranmere Rovers v Aldershot Town) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 313 (Boreham Wood v North Ferriby United) |
| Average Attendance: | 1,868 |
| Prevseason: | 2015–16 |
| Nextseason: | 2017–18 |
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.[4] 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.
Promoted from 2015–16 National League North
Promoted from 2015–16 National League South
Relegated from 2015–16 League Two
Relegated to 2016–17 National League North
Relegated to 2016–17 National League South
Promoted to 2016–17 League Two
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldershot | 7,100 | |||
| Barrow-in-Furness | 5,045 | |||
| Borehamwood | 4,502 | |||
| Braintree | 4,085 | |||
| London (Bromley) | 5,300 | |||
| Chester | 6,500 | |||
| London (Dagenham) | 6,078 | |||
| Dover | 5,885 | |||
| Eastleigh | 5,250 | |||
| Nailsworth | 5,032 | |||
| Gateshead | 11,800 | |||
| Guiseley | 3,770 | |||
| Lincoln | 10,120 | |||
| Macclesfield | 6,355 | |||
| Maidstone | 4,200 | |||
| North Ferriby | Grange Lane | 2,200 | ||
| Solihull | 3,050 | |||
| Southport | 7,177 | |||
| London (Sutton) | 5,013 | |||
| Torquay | 6,500 | |||
| Birkenhead | 16,789 | |||
| Woking | 6,036 | |||
| Wrexham | 10,771 | |||
| York | 8,256[5] |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastleigh | Chris Todd | Dismissed | 17 August 2016[6] | 24th | Ronnie Moore | 19 August 2016[7] |
| Guiseley | Mark Bower | 21 August 2016[8] | 24th | Adam Lockwood | 22 September 2016[9] | |
| Southport | Andy Bishop | 3 September 2016[10] | 23rd | Steve Burr | 8 September 2016[11] | |
| Tranmere Rovers | Gary Brabin | 18 September 2016[12] | 5th | Paul Carden (Interim) | 19 September 2016[13] | |
| Braintree Town | Jamie Day | 25 September 2016[14] | 22nd | Hakan Hayrettin | 27 September 2016[15] | |
| Tranmere Rovers | Paul Carden | End of Interim Spell | 7 October 2016 | 9th | 7 October 2016[16] | |
| Wrexham | Gary Mills | Dismissed | 13 October 2016[17] | 15th | Dean Keates | 25 October 2016[18] |
| York City | Jackie McNamara | Became Chief Executive | 16 October 2016 | 19th | Gary Mills | 16 October 2016[19] |
| Eastleigh | Ronnie Moore | Resigned | 30 November 2016 | 9th | Martin Allen | 1 December 2016[20] |
| Southport | Steve Burr | Dismissed | 30 January 2017[21] | 20th | Liam Watson (Interim) | 30 January 2017 |
| Eastleigh | Martin Allen | 22 February 2017 | 15th | Richard Hill | 22 February 2017 |
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricky Miller | Dover Athletic | 40 |
| 2 | Christian Doidge | Forest Green Rovers | 25 |
| 3 | Andy Cook | Tranmere Rovers | 23 |
| 4 | Michael Cheek | Braintree Town | 19 |
| Byron Harrison | Barrow | ||
| 5 | Oliver Hawkins | Dagenham & Redbridge | 18 |
| Danny Johnson | Gateshead | ||
| 8 | James Alabi | Chester | 17 |
| Gozie Ugwu | Woking | ||
| 9 | Richie Bennett | Barrow | 15 |
| Matt Rhead | Lincoln City | ||
| Corey Whitely | Dagenham & Redbridge | ||
| Competition: | National League North |
| Season: | 2016–17 |
| Winners: | AFC Fylde |
| Promoted: | AFC Fylde FC Halifax Town |
| Relegated: | Altrincham Stalybridge Celtic Worcester City |
| Prevseason: | 2015–16 |
| Nextseason: | 2017–18 |
Promoted from 2015–16 Northern Premier League Premier Division
Relegated from 2015–16 National League
Relegated to 2016–17 Northern Premier League Premier Division
Relegated to 2016–17 Isthmian League Premier Division
Promoted to 2016–17 National League
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 6,000 | ||
| 6,300 | ||
| 3,600 | ||
| 6,085 | ||
| 6,643 | ||
| St. James Park | 3,500 | |
| 3,500 | ||
| 4,100 | ||
| Tameside Stadium | 4,000 | |
| Blackwell Meadows | 3,000 | |
| 14,061 | ||
| 4,400 | ||
| 4,304 | ||
| Whaddon Road (groundshare with Cheltenham Town) | 7,066 | |
| 3,800 | ||
| 6,238 | ||
| 4,314 | ||
| 5,106 | ||
| 6,500 | ||
| 10,852 | ||
| 4,000 | ||
| Victoria Ground (groundshare with Bromsgrove Sporting) | 4,895 | |
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danny Rowe | AFC Fylde | 47 | |
| 2 | Danny Newton | Tamworth | 28 | |
| 3 | Simon Ainge | Harrogate Town | 22 | |
| 4 | Danny Lloyd | Stockport County | 21 | |
| 5 | Joe Ironside | Nuneaton Town | 20 | |
| 6 | Luke Hopper | Gloucester City | 19 | |
| 7 | Dan Bradley | AFC Fylde | 18 | |
| Mark Beck | Darlington 1883 | |||
| 9 | Tom Denton | FC Halifax Town | 17 |
| Competition: | National League South |
| Season: | 2016–17 |
| Winners: | Maidenhead United |
| Promoted: | Maidenhead United Ebbsfleet United |
| Relegated: | Bishop's Stortford Gosport Borough Margate |
| Prevseason: | 2015–16 |
| Nextseason: | 2017–18 |
Promoted from 2015–16 Isthmian League Premier Division
Promoted from 2015–16 Southern League Premier Division
Relegated from 2015–16 National League
Relegated to 2016–17 Isthmian League Premier Division
Relegated to 2016–17 Southern League Premier Division
Promoted to 2016–17 National League
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,840 | |||
| Woodside Park | 4,525 | ||
| Melbourne Stadium | 3,019 | ||
| Thames Road | 3,300 | ||
| 4,100 | |||
| 4,151 | |||
| Rookery Hill | 4,000 | ||
| 5,011 | |||
| Privett Park | 4,500 | ||
| Beveree Stadium | 3,500 | ||
| Vauxhall Road | 3,152 | ||
| Bulpit Lane | 2,500 | ||
| 3,000 | |||
| 3,000 | |||
| Court Place Farm | 2,000 | ||
| Tatnam Ground | 2,500 | ||
| 4,500 | |||
| 3,857 | |||
| Grosvenor Vale | 3,607 | ||
| 4,000 | |||
| Woodspring Stadium | 3,500 | ||
| The Enclosed Ground | 2,175 |
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dave Tarpey | Maidenhead United | 44 |
| 2 | Jake Robinson | Hemel Hempstead Town | 25 |
| 3 | Shaun Jeffers | Chelmsford City | 21 |
| 4 | Adam Coombes | Welling United | 20 |
| Elliott Romain | Eastbourne Borough | ||
| 5 | Dayle Grubb | Weston-super-Mare | 19 |
| Tom Wraight | East Thurrock United | ||
| 8 | Steve Cawley | Concord Rangers | 18 |
| 9 | Bradley Ash | Weston-super-Mare | 16 |
| Elliot Benyon | Wealdstone | ||
| Nicke Kabamba | Hampton & Richmond Borough | ||
| Sean Marks | Maidenhead United | ||
| Danny Mills | Whitehawk |