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. Promotion and relegation Team changes
To National League Promoted from 2019–20 National League North King's Lynn Town Altrincham
Promoted from 2019–20 National League South Wealdstone Weymouth
Relegated from 2019–20 League Two Macclesfield Town
From National League Promoted to 2020–21 League Two Barrow Harrogate Town
Relegated to 2020–21 National League North AFC Fylde Chorley
Relegated to 2020–21 National League South Ebbsfleet United
Stadia and locations
Team Location Stadium CapacityAldershot Town AldershotRecreation Ground 7,200AltrinchamAltrinchamMoss Lane 7,700BarnetLondon The Hive Stadium 6,418Boreham Wood BorehamwoodMeadow Park 4,502Bromley London Hayes Lane 5,300ChesterfieldChesterfieldProact Stadium 10,504Dagenham & Redbridge London Victoria Road 6,078Dover Athletic DoverCrabble Athletic Ground 5,745Eastleigh EastleighTen Acres 5,250FC Halifax TownHalifaxThe Shay 10,400Hartlepool United HartlepoolVictoria Park 7,856King's Lynn Town King's LynnThe Walks 8,200Maidenhead United MaidenheadYork Road 4,000Notts CountyNottinghamMeadow Lane 19,588Solihull Moors SolihullDamson Park 5,500Stockport County StockportEdgeley Park 10,852Sutton United London Gander Green Lane 5,013Torquay United TorquayPlainmoor 6,500Wealdstone London Grosvenor Vale 4,085Weymouth WeymouthBob Lucas Stadium 6,600Woking WokingKingfield Stadium 6,036Wrexham WrexhamRacecourse Ground 10,771Yeovil TownYeovilHuish Park 9,566
Personnel and sponsoring Team Manager1 Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorAldershot TownDanny SearleLewis KinsellaErreàBridges Estate Agents AltrinchamPhil ParkinsonJake Moult SK Kits J Davidson LtdBarnetSimon BasseyJames DunneJakoCanonBoreham WoodLuke GarrardMark RickettsPumaBarnet and Southgate CollegeBromleyAndy WoodmanJack HollandMacronSouthwark MetalsChesterfieldJames RoweJonathan SmithPumaTechnique Learning Solutions Dagenham & RedbridgeDaryl McMahonKenny ClarkNikeWest & CoeDover AthleticAndy HessenthalerSam WoodKappaGSH GroupEastleigh Ben Strevens Danny HollandsKappaUtilitaFC Halifax TownPete WildNathan ClarkeAdidasCORE Facility Services (Home) Nuie (Away)Hartlepool United Dave ChallinorRyan DonaldsonO'NeillsPrestige Group Ltd King's Lynn Town Ian Culverhouse Aaron JonesKappa Barsby ProduceMaidenhead UnitedAlan DevonshireAlan MasseyUhlsportG&L ScientificNotts County Ian Burchnall Michael Doyle Puma Sharpes of NottinghamSolihull Moors Mark YatesKyle StorerSurridgeJohn Shepherd Estate AgentsStockport County Simon RuskSam Minihan PumaPioneer GroupSutton UnitedMatt GrayCraig EastmondMacronAngel PlasticsTorquay UnitedGary JohnsonAsa HallNikeNo SponsorWealdstone Stuart MaynardJerome OkimoMacronGPF Lewis Weymouth Brian StockJosh WakefieldUmbroTerras FamilyWokingAlan DowsonJosh CaseyMacronAbstract PlansWrexhamDean KeatesShaun PearsonMacronIfor Williams TrailersYeovil Town Darren Sarll VacantMacronAdam Stansfield Foundation Yeovil Town club captain Lee Collins died on 31 March 2021 at the age of 32.
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentBarnetDarren CurrieResigned12 August 2020Pre-seasonPeter Beadle22 August 2020Weymouth Mark MolesleySigned by Southend United13 August 2020Brian Stock4 September 2020ChesterfieldJohn PembertonSacked18 November 202021stJames Rowe26 November 2020BarnetPeter Beadle13 December 202020thTim Flowers14 December 2020Stockport CountyJim Gannon21 January 20214thSimon Rusk27 January 2021WealdstoneDean BrennanResigned2 February 202118thStuart Maynard11 March 2021Solihull MoorsJames ShanSacked10 March 202117thMark Yates11 March 2021BarnetTim Flowers22ndSimon Bassey7 April 2021Notts CountyNeal Ardley24 March 20216thIan Burchnall25 March 2021BromleyNeil Smith25 March 20217thAndy Woodman29 March 2021
National League table
Results table
Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Michael CheekBromley212 Danilo Orsi-DadomoMaidenhead United193 Kabongo TshimangaBoreham Wood184 Alex ReidStockport County165 Sam BarrattMaidenhead United15 Paul McCallumDagenham & Redbridge Kyle WoottonNotts County8 Rhys OatesHartlepool United14 Isaac OlaofeSutton United John RooneyStockport County
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date John Rooney Stockport County Wealdstone 5–2 13 October 2020 Danny Parish Wealdstone King's Lynn Town 3–2 27 October 2020 Sam Barratt Maidenhead United Solihull Moors 3–1 31 October 2020 Danny Wright Torquay United Hartlepool United 5–0 31 October 2020 Isaac Olaofe Sutton United King's Lynn Town 5–1 14 November 2020 Akwasi Asante Chesterfield Barnet 6–0 12 December 2020 Rhys Murphy Yeovil Town Weymouth 3–1 23 February 2021 Josh Rees Aldershot Town Maidenhead United 4–2 23 February 2021 Jimmy Knowles Notts County Woking 4–2 5 April 2021 Jordan Davies Wrexham FC Halifax Town 4–0 13 April 2021 Richie Bennett Hartlepool United Wealdstone 7–2 17 April 2021 Danilo Orsi-Dadomo Maidenhead United Wealdstone 6–0 20 April 2021 Justin Donawa Solihull Moors Yeovil Town 5–1 24 April 2021 Joe Quigley Yeovil Town Solihull Moors 3–0 27 April 2021 Kabongo Tshimanga Boreham Wood King's Lynn Town 5–1 3 May 2021 Sam Barratt Maidenhead United Hartlepool United 4–2 8 May 2021 Jim O'Brien Notts County Maidenhead United 4–0 11 May 2021
Monthly awards
Each month the Motorama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
MonthPlayer of the MonthClubManager of the MonthClubOctober 2020 Ben House Eastleigh Gary Johnson Torquay UnitedNovember 2020 Luke YoungWrexham Dean KeatesWrexhamDecember 2020 Luke SummerfieldFC Halifax Town Luke GarrardBoreham WoodJanuary 2021 Albi SkendiYeovil Town Neal ArdleyNotts CountyFebruary 2021 Craig EastmondSutton United Matt GraySutton UnitedMarch 2021 Ángelo BalantaDagenham & Redbridge James RoweChesterfieldApril 2021 Gavan HolohanHartlepool United Gary JohnsonTorquay UnitedMay 2021 Rúben Rodrigues Notts County Andy WoodmanBromley
National League North
The 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 changes Following 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 North Relegated from 2019–20 National League AFC Fylde Chorley
From National League North Promoted to 2020–21 National League King's Lynn Town Altrincham
Stadia and locations
Team Location Stadium CapacityAFC FyldeWeshamMill Farm Sports Village 6,000AFC Telford UnitedWellingtonNew Bucks Head 6,300Alfreton TownAlfretonNorth Street 3,600Blyth SpartansBlythCroft Park 4,435Boston UnitedBoston Jakemans Community Stadium 5,061Brackley Town Brackley St. James Park 3,500Bradford (Park Avenue) BradfordHorsfall Stadium 3,500Chester ChesterDeva Stadium 6,500Chorley ChorleyVictory Park 4,100Curzon Ashton Ashton-under-Lyne Tameside Stadium 4,000DarlingtonDarlington Blackwell Meadows 3,300Farsley CelticFarsleyThe Citadel3,900Gateshead GatesheadGateshead International Stadium 11,800Gloucester City Gloucester Meadow Park 3,600Guiseley GuiseleyNethermoor Park 4,200Hereford HerefordEdgar Street 5,213Kettering TownBurton Latimer Latimer Park (groundshare with Burton Park Wanderers) 2,400Kidderminster Harriers KidderminsterAggborough Stadium 6,238Leamington Leamington New Windmill Ground 2,300Southport SouthportHaig Avenue 6,008Spennymoor TownSpennymoor The Brewery Field 4,300York City YorkBootham Crescent 8,256
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentGloucester CityJames RoweSigned by Chesterfield24 November 20201stPaul Groves8 December 2020Spennymoor TownJason AinsleyMutual consent10 December 20209thTommy Miller10 December 2020
National League North table
Results
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Matt McClureGloucester City122 Lenell John-LewisHereford9 Lewis KnightBradford (Park Avenue) Sam OsborneLeamington / AFC Fylde5 Akwasi AsanteGloucester City8 Glen TaylorSpennymoor Town7 Danny ElliottChester7 Dominic KnowlesCurzon Ashton Sean NewtonYork City10 Shane ByrneBrackley Town6 Nick HaughtonAFC Fylde Ashley HemmingsKidderminster Harriers Connor KennedyKettering Town Callum PowellKettering Town Jimmy SpencerFarsley Celtic Ben TollittAFC Fylde
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Matt McClure Gloucester City Blyth Spartans 6–1 17 October 2020 Gerard Garner Gateshead Southport 4–1 21 November 2020 Ben Tollitt AFC Fylde Chorley 4–0 2 January 2021
Monthly awards
Each month the Motorama National League announces their official Player of the Month and Manager of the Month.
MonthPlayer of the MonthClubManager of the MonthClubOctober 2020 Matt McClure Gloucester City Jim BentleyAFC FyldeNovember 2020 Sam Osborne Leamington Jamie VermiglioChorleyDecember 2020 Ross FitzsimonsBoston United Kevin WilkinBrackley TownJanuary 2021 George GlendonChester Paul HolleranLeamington
National League South
The National League South consisted of 21 teams. Following Bury's expulsion from the English Football League in 2019, and the completion of the 2019–20 National League with two northern and one southern teams in the relegation zone, the division was left one team short. With the initially anticipated expansion to 24 teams for 2021–22, only one team was expected to be relegated.
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 changes