The 2004–05 season was the 26th season of the Football Conference, and the 1st season following its expansion from one division to three divisions.
Overview This season saw the Conference expanded to three divisions with the addition of the Conference North and Conference South added to the existing (and renamed) Conference National. The North and South Divisions were filled by teams finishing 1st–13th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and 2nd–13th in the Isthmian League Premier Division and Southern League Premier Division the previous season (the champions were all promoted to the Conference National), together with winners of play-offs between the 14–18th placed clubs in the Southern League Premier, 14th–20th in the Isthmian and Northern Premier League Premier, as well as the top clubs from the divisions immediately below.
The Conference National was joined by Carlisle United and York City, who had been relegated from the Football League. Carlisle became the first club to compete in all top five tiers of English football, having reached the old First Division in 1974–75.
In addition to the winners and the teams that qualified for the play-offs, Exeter City fought gallantly in the FA Cup against Manchester United, holding them to a goalless draw in the third round on Old Trafford and finally going down 0–2 on home turf.
Conference National
A total of 22 teams contest the division, including 18 sides from last season, two relegated from the Football League Two, one promoted from the Southern Football League and one promoted from the Isthmian League. Winners and runners-up of Northern Premier League were unable to qualify in Conference National.
Promotion and relegation Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League Crawley Town
Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League Canvey Island
Teams relegated from 2003–04 Football League Third Division Carlisle United York City
League table
Locations
Results
Play-offs
Semifinals
Stevenage Borough won 2–1 on Aggregate.
Carlisle United won 5–4 on penalties after tying 2–2 on Aggregate.
Play-Off Final
Topscorers Pos Player Club League Play-offs FA Cup LDV FA Trophy Total1 Giuliano Grazioli Barnet 29 0 0 0 0 292 Michael Twiss Morecambe 22 0 3 0 0 253 Paul Mullin Accrington Stanley 20 0 0 0 0 204 Anthony Elding Stevenage Borough 19 0 1 1 0 21= Chris Moore Dagenham & Redbridge 19 0 1 1 0 21= Adam Stansfield Hereford United 19 0 1 0 1 21= Bob Taylor Tamworth 19 0 0 0 0 199 Charlie Griffin Forest Green Rovers 17 0 1 0 0 1810 Lee McEvilly Accrington Stanley 15 0 0 2 0 17= Jonny Allan Northwich Victoria 15 0 0 0 1 1612 Lee Boylan Canvey Island 14 0 0 0 3 17= Tim Sills Aldershot Town 14 0 2 0 0 16= Justin Richards Woking 14 0 1 0 1 16= Neil Redfearn Scarborough 14 0 0 0 0 1416 Karl Hawley Carlisle United 13 0 1 0 1 15= Paul Brayson Northwich Victoria 13 0 0 0 0 13 Source:
Conference North
The first Conference North/South season saw a competition of 44 teams based on the results of the previous season of the Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and Isthmian League, with the exceptions of Crawley Town and Canvey Island who had been promoted directly to the Conference National. The teams were divided by geographical criteria.
Promotion Teams promoted from 2003–04 Northern Premier League Hucknall Town Droylsden Barrow Alfreton Town Harrogate Town Southport Worksop Town Lancaster City Vauxhall Motors Gainsborough Trinity Stalybridge Celtic Altrincham Runcorn F.C. Halton Bradford Park Avenue (Northern Premier League Premier Division playoff winners) Ashton United
Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League Stafford Rangers Nuneaton Borough Worcester City Hinckley United Moor Green Redditch United
Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League Kettering Town
League table
Locations
Results
Top scorers Pos Player Club Goals1 Terry Fearns Southport 282 Colin Little Altrincham 243 Norman Sylla Redditch United 22= Adam Webster Worcester City 225 Peter Duffield Alfreton Town 20 Source:
Conference South
First Conference North/South season saw competition of best 44 teams by the results of previous season from Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and Isthmian League, except Crawley Town and Canvey Island, promoted directly to Conference National. Teams were divided by geographical criteria.
Promotion Teams promoted from 2003–04 Southern Football League Weymouth Newport County Cambridge City Welling United Weston-super-Mare Eastbourne Borough Havant & Waterlooville Dorchester Town(Southern Football League Premier Division playoff winners)
Teams promoted from 2003–04 Isthmian League Sutton United Thurrock Hornchurch Grays Athletic Carshalton Athletic Hayes Bognor Regis Town Bishop's Stortford Maidenhead United Ford United St Albans City (Isthmian League Premier Division playoff winners) Lewes (Isthmian League Division One South winners, promoted through playoffs) Basingstoke Town (promoted after higher finished Hendon decided not to take part in Conference South)
Teams relegated from 2003–04 Football Conference Margate
At the start of the season Ford United was given new name Redbridge F.C.
League table
Locations
Results
Topscorers Pos Player Club Goals1 Luke Nightingale Bognor Regis 322 Lee Clarke St Albans City 253 Matt Groves Dorchester 244 Dean Holdsworth Havant & Waterlooville 235 Paul Booth Welling United 20 Source:
North/South play-offs
References