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 eighteenth 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[1] and the play-offs only completed by 2 August 2020.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] However, owing to the cessation and voidance of the 2020–21 seasons for the North and South divisions, promotion and relegation was suspended.[5] For that reason, the expansion plans were deferred to 2022–23,[6] when they would be implemented before that season.
On 16 September 2020, Macclesfield Town folded as a result of debts, and were expelled from the National League on 29 September.[7] As the club folded before the season started, no records were expunged.[8]
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.[5]
Source: National League official site Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[11] (C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted Notes:
^Due to the cancellation of both the National North and South seasons, there was no relegation from the National League in the 2020-21 season.
^Dover Athletic refused to play matches due to a lack of promised funding starting with their fixture on 30 January 2021. On 26 March 2021, it was announced the club would play no part in the rest of the season and all results would be expunged.
^Macclesfield were deducted 17 points for entering into an insolvency event the previous season, before being expelled from the league on 29 September 2020. At the time of their expulsion before the 2020–21 National League Season, they had played no matches.
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: National League Results Grid Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.
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.[5]
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.[21]
Source: National League official site Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[23]
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.[5]
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 South.[21]
Source: National League official site Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results[30]