The Conference North was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of English
non-League football. The champions are automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to seventh place (expanded from four to six teams in the 2017–18 season). The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues. Teams from this division, as well as from the National League South, enter the
FA Cup at the Second Qualifying Round. The National League North was scheduled to expand to 24 teams in 2021. Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in England, the 2020–21 National League North season was curtailed and voided after written resolutions were put to a vote. No teams were relegated. Expansion was implemented before the 2022–23 season, when the bottom club was relegated and four promoted from Step 3. ==Member clubs for 2025–26==