1985-86 saw a change in format of the National League. Divisions Three and Four were amalgamated into a new Division Three, which was split by region.
Divisions • Division One: 8 teams • Division Two: 8 teams • Division Three: 16 teams. Split into two regional groups of 8 (North and South)
Round-robin format Each team played every other team in its division (or group where the division is split) once, either home or away.
Points awarded 2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.
Titles Teams in all three divisions competed for the
National Football League title.
Knockout stage qualifiers • Division One: top 4 teams • Division Two: top 2 teams • Division Three (North): group winners • Division Three (South): group winners
Knockout phase structure In the quarter-finals, the match-ups were as follows: •
Quarter-final 1: First-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Three (South) •
Quarter-final 2: Second-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Three (North) •
Quarter-final 3: Third-placed team in Division One v Second-placed team in Division Two •
Quarter-final 4: Fourth-placed team in Division One v First-placed team in Division Two The semi-final match-ups are: •
Semi-final 1: Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 4 •
Semi-final 2: Winner Quarter-final 2 v Winner Quarter-final 3 The final match-up is: Winner Semi-final 1 v Winner Semi-final 2.
Promotion and relegation • Division One: bottom 2 teams demoted to Division Two • Division Two: top 2 teams promoted to Division One. Bottom 2 teams demoted to Division Three. • Division Three (North): group winners promoted to Division Two. • Division Three (South): group winners promoted to Division Two.
Separation of teams on equal points In the event that teams finish on equal points, then a play-off will be used to determine group placings if necessary, i.e. where to decide relegation places or quarter-finalists. ==League Tables==