The 2018–19 National League season, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, was the fourth season under English football's new title of National League, fifteenth season consisting of three divisions and the fortieth season overall.
National League
The National League consists of 24 clubs.
Promotion and relegation Despite a 2–1 defeat to Boston United on 21 April 2018, Salford City became 2017–18 National League North champions after Harrogate Town lost 3–1 to Bradford Park Avenue. Havant & Waterlooville were crowned 2017–18 National League South champions on 28 April after a 3–2 victory over Concord Rangers. On 13 May, Harrogate Town were promoted after a 3–0 win against Brackley Town in the 2017–18 National League North playoff final. All three teams played in the National League for the first time in their histories. On the same day as Harrogate's promotion, Braintree Town were also promoted after beating Hampton & Richmond 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the 2017–18 National League South playoff final, securing an instant return to the National League.
On 24 April, after 97 years as an EFL club, Chesterfield were relegated to the National League following Morecambe's 0–0 draw against Cambridge United. On 5 May 2018, despite a 3–0 victory against Chesterfield, Barnet became the second club to be relegated from League Two following Morecambe's 0–0 draw against Coventry City, ending their three-year stay in the EFL.
These teams replaced Macclesfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, Chester, Guiseley, Torquay United and Woking. Macclesfield Town were crowned 2017–18 National League champions and promoted to League Two on 21 April after a 2–0 victory over Eastleigh, ending their six-year absence from the EFL. Tranmere Rovers were promoted to League Two on 12 May after a 2–1 victory over Boreham Wood in the playoff final and returned to the EFL after a three-year absence. Boreham Wood and Sutton United were invited to compete in the 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup in a new expansion of that competition as the highest-finishing remaining teams in the division.
Chester were the first team to be relegated from National League on 8 April after a 2–0 loss to Tranmere Rovers. Despite staying up on the final day for the past two seasons, it was not to be third time lucky for Guiseley who joined them on 17 April after a 1–0 loss to relegation rivals Barrow. Torquay United became the third team to be relegated from the National league on 21 April after a 1–1 draw with Hartlepool United, confirming the club's first ever relegation to the sixth tier. The fourth and final team to suffer relegation was Woking, who were relegated on 28 April following a 2–1 defeat to Dover Athletic, ending their five-year stay in the National League.
Team changes The following clubs changed divisions after the 2017–18 season:
To National League Promoted from 2017–18 National League North Salford City Harrogate Town
Promoted from 2017–18 National League South Havant & Waterlooville Braintree Town
Relegated from 2017–18 League Two Chesterfield Barnet
From National League Promoted to 2018–19 League Two Macclesfield Town Tranmere Rovers
Relegated to 2018–19 National League North Chester Guiseley
Relegated to 2018–19 National League South Torquay United Woking
Stadiums and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity AFC Fylde Wesham Mill Farm Sports Village 6,000 Aldershot Town Aldershot Recreation Ground 7,200Barnet London The Hive Stadium 6,418 Barrow Barrow-in-Furness Holker Street 5,045 Boreham Wood Borehamwood Meadow Park 4,502 Braintree Town Braintree Cressing Road 4,085 Bromley London Hayes Lane 5,300 Chesterfield Chesterfield Proact Stadium 10,504 Dagenham & Redbridge London Victoria Road 6,078 Dover Athletic Dover Crabble Athletic Ground 5,745 Eastleigh Eastleigh Ten Acres 5,250 Ebbsfleet United Northfleet Stonebridge Road 4,500 FC Halifax Town Halifax The Shay 14,061 Gateshead Gateshead Gateshead International Stadium 11,800 Harrogate Town Harrogate Wetherby Road 3,800 Hartlepool United Hartlepool Victoria Park 7,856 Havant & Waterlooville Havant West Leigh Park 5,300 Leyton Orient London Brisbane Road 9,271 Maidenhead United Maidenhead York Road 3,377 Maidstone United Maidstone Gallagher Stadium 4,200 Salford City Salford Moor Lane 5,108 Solihull Moors Solihull Damson Park 4,313 Sutton United London Gander Green Lane 5,013 Wrexham Wrexham Racecourse Ground 10,771
Personnel and sponsoring Team Manager1 Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorAFC FyldeDave ChallinorLewis MontroseKappaVetPlusAldershot TownGary WaddockKarleigh OsborneAdidasBridges Estate AgentsBarnetDarren CurrieCallum ReynoldsJakoCanonBarrowIan EvattJosh GraniteBLKJF Hornby & Co.Boreham WoodLuke GarrardMark RickettsErreàBarnet and Southgate CollegeBraintree TownDanny SearleBen KillipHummelAndreas carter sportsBromleyNeil SmithJack HollandMacronSouthwark MetalsChesterfieldJohn SheridanJonathan SmithPumaG.F. TomlinsonDagenham & RedbridgePeter TaylorBen NunnSondicoWest & CoDover AthleticAndy HessenthalerMitch BrundleBLKGomezEastleigh Ben Strevens Danny HollandsMacronUtilitaEbbsfleet UnitedGarry HillDave WinfieldMacronMitsubishi ElectricFC Halifax TownJamie FullartonMatty BrownAdidasNorthern Powerhouse Developments (Home) Pennine Pneumatic Services Ltd (Away) Architectural Cladding Products Limited (Third)Gateshead Ben ClarkeRobbie TinklerSondicoSevconHarrogate TownSimon WeaverJosh FalkinghamKappaStrataHartlepool United Craig HignettAndrew DaviesBLKUtility Alliance LimitedHavant & WaterloovilleLee BradburyBrian StockJomaBishops PrintersLeyton Orient Justin EdinburghJobi McAnuffNikeThe Sun Dream TeamMaidenhead UnitedAlan DevonshireAlan MasseyBLKUtility Alliance LimitedMaidstone UnitedJohn StillWill de HavillandMacronBriteliteSalford CityGraham AlexanderLiam HoganUmbroSoccer Saturday Super 6Solihull MoorsTim FlowersKyle StorerSurridgeJohn Shepherd Estate AgentsSutton UnitedPaul DoswellJamie CollinsJomaAngel PlasticsWrexhamBryan HughesShaun PearsonMacronIfor Williams Trailers
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentChesterfieldJack LesterDismissed24 April 2018Pre-seasonMartin Allen15 May 2018WrexhamAndy DaviesEnd of Interim Contract2 May 2018Sam Ricketts2 May 2018Salford CityAnthony JohnsonBernard MorleyResigned8 May 2018Graham Alexander14 May 2018BarnetMartin Allen10 May 2018John Still18 May 2018Dagenham & RedbridgeJohn Still17 May 2018Peter Taylor5 June 2018BarrowAdrian PennockDismissed18 May 2018Ian Evatt15 June 2018Solihull MoorsMark YatesSigned by Macclesfield Town19 June 2018Tim Flowers20 June 2018Maidstone UnitedJay SaundersMutual consent28 August 201819th Harry Wheeler11 September 2018Dover AthleticChris KinnearDismissed5 October 201824thAndy Hessenthaler8 October 2018Braintree TownBrad Quinton Mutual agreement7 October 2018Andy Porter7 October 2018Eastleigh Andy HessenthalerSigned by Dover Athletic8 October 201810thBen Strevens 8 October 2018Braintree TownAndy Porter Resigned10 October 201824thHakan Hayrettin 10 October 2018Ebbsfleet UnitedDaryl McMahonDismissed7 November 201810thGarry Hill8 November 2018Hartlepool UnitedMatthew Bates28 November 201812thRichard Money 11 December 2018WrexhamSam RickettsSigned by Shrewsbury Town3 December 20184thGraham Barrow3 December 2018ChesterfieldMartin AllenDismissed27 December 201822ndJohn Sheridan9 January 2019BarnetJohn StillRetired29 December 201813thDarren Currie 29 December 2018GatesheadSteve WatsonAppointed as manager of York City10 January 20198thBen Clark 10 January 2019Maidstone UnitedHarry WheelerResigned13 January 201923rdJohn Still24 January 2019Hartlepool UnitedRichard Money Resigned23 January 201915thCraig Hignett23 January 2019Braintree TownHakan Hayrettin Appointed as assistant manager of Maidstone United 23 January 201924thDanny Searle 23 January 2019WrexhamGraham Barrow Resigned2 February 2019 3rdBryan Hughes6 February 2019
League table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Results table
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Danny RoweAFC Fylde262 Paul McCallumEastleigh 253 Macauley BonneLeyton Orient224 Adam RooneySalford City205 Scott Boden Gateshead / Chesterfield196 Jack MuldoonHarrogate Town167 Michael CheekEbbsfleet United158 Adi YussufSolihull Moors149 Adrian CliftonMaidenhead United13 JJ HooperBromley Liam NobleHartlepool United Alfie RutherfordHavant & Waterlooville13 Jermaine HyltonSolihull Moors12 Danny KedwellEbbsfleet United
Monthly awards
Each month the Vanarama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
MonthPlayer of the MonthClubManager of the MonthClubAugust 2018 Akil WrightWrexham Jamie FullartonFC Halifax TownSeptember 2018 Marvin EkpitetaLeyton Orient Graham AlexanderSalford CityOctober 2018 Mike WilliamsonGateshead Sam RickettsWrexhamNovember 2018 Elliot JusthamDag & Red Justin EdinburghLeyton OrientDecember 2018 Michael CheekEbbsfleet United Ian EvattBarrowJanuary 2019 Kevin LokkoDover Athletic Tim FlowersSolihull MoorsFebruary 2019 Paul McCallumEastleigh Alan DevonshireMaidenhead UnitedMarch 2019 Carl PiergianniSalford City Justin EdinburghLeyton OrientApril 2019 Mo SagafBraintree Town Andy HessenthalerDover Athletic
Team of the Season At the end of the season, the National League announced its official team of the season.
PositionPlayerClubGoalkeeper Dean BrillLeyton OrientDefender Josh HareEastleighDefender Carl PiergianniSalford CityDefender Shaun PearsonWrexhamDefender Dan JonesBarrowMidfielder Darren CarterSolihull MoorsMidfielder Jamey OsborneSolihull MoorsMidfielder Jobi McAnuffLeyton OrientForward Paul McCallumEastleighForward Macauley BonneLeyton OrientForward Danny RoweAFC Fylde
National League North
Team changes
To National League North Promoted from 2017–18 Northern Premier League Premier Division Altrincham Ashton United
Promoted from 2017–18 Southern League Premier Division Hereford
Relegated from 2017–18 National League Chester Guiseley
From National League North Promoted to 2018–19 National League Salford City Harrogate Town
Relegated to 2018–19 Northern Premier League Premier Division Gainsborough Trinity North Ferriby United
Relegated to 2018–19 Southern League Premier Division Central Tamworth
Stadia and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity AFC Telford United Telford New Bucks Head 6,300 Alfreton Town Alfreton North Street 3,600 Altrincham Altrincham Moss Lane 6,085 Ashton United Ashton-under-Lyne Hurst Cross 4,500 Blyth Spartans Blyth Croft Park 4,435 Boston United Boston York Street 6,643 Brackley Town Brackley St. James Park 3,500 Bradford (Park Avenue) Bradford Horsfall Stadium 3,500 Chester Chester Deva Stadium 6,500 Chorley Chorley Victory Park 4,100 Curzon Ashton Ashton-under-Lyne Tameside Stadium 4,000 Darlington Darlington Blackwell Meadows 3,300 F.C. United of Manchester Manchester Broadhurst Park 4,400 Guiseley Guiseley Nethermoor Park 4,200 Hereford Hereford Edgar Street 4,913 Kidderminster Harriers Kidderminster Aggborough Stadium 6,238 Leamington Leamington Spa New Windmill Ground 2,300 Nuneaton Borough Nuneaton Liberty Way 4,614 Southport Southport Haig Avenue 6,008 Spennymoor Town Spennymoor The Brewery Field 3,150 Stockport County Stockport Edgeley Park 10,852 York City York Bootham Crescent 8,256
Personnel and sponsoring