2011–12 Football Conference
The 2011–12 Football Conference season was the eighth season in which the Football Conference consisted of three divisions and the thirty-third season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The Conference Premier is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, whilst the Conference North and Conference South exist at the sixth level. The Conference was won by Fleetwood Town who together with York City, the winner of the play-off of the Premier division, were promoted to Football League Two, while the bottom four were relegated to the North or South divisions. The champions of the North and South divisions were promoted to the Premier division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions were relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian League or Southern League.
Season | 2011-2012 |
---|---|
For sponsorship reasons, the Conference Premier is referred to as the Blue Square Bet Premier.
Conference Premier
Season | 2011–12 |
---|---|
Champions | Fleetwood Town |
Promoted | Fleetwood Town York City |
Relegated | Bath City Darlington Hayes & Yeading United Kettering Town |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,574 (2.85 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Jamie Vardy (31)[1] |
Biggest home win | Grimsby Town 7–0 Stockport County (29 November 2011) York City 7–0 Kettering Town (3 December 2011) Mansfield Town 7–0 Barrow (17 March 2012) |
Biggest away win | Southport 0–6 Fleetwood Town (1 January 2012) |
Highest scoring | Kidderminster Harriers 5–4 Braintree Town (18 October 2011) Alfreton Town 3–6 Mansfield Town (20 March 2012) |
Highest attendance | 8,415 Luton Town 1–0 Kidderminster Harriers (21 April 2012) |
Lowest attendance | 172 Hayes & Yeading United 1–1 Bath City (23 August 2011) |
← 2010–11 2012–13 → |
A total of 24 teams contested the division, including 18 sides from the previous season, two relegated from the Football League Two, two promoted from the Conference North and two promoted from the Conference South.
Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2010–11 Conference North
Teams promoted from 2010–11 Conference South
Teams relegated from 2010–11 Football League Two
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fleetwood Town (C, P) | 46 | 31 | 10 | 5 | 102 | 48 | +54 | 103 | Promotion to 2012–13 League Two |
2 | Wrexham | 46 | 30 | 8 | 8 | 85 | 33 | +52 | 98 | Qualification for Conference Premier Playoffs |
3 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 87 | 48 | +39 | 89 | |
4 | York City (P) | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 81 | 45 | +36 | 83 | |
5 | Luton Town | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 78 | 42 | +36 | 81 | |
6 | Kidderminster Harriers | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 82 | 63 | +19 | 76 | |
7 | Southport | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 72 | 69 | +3 | 76 | |
8 | Gateshead | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 69 | 62 | +7 | 74 | |
9 | Cambridge United | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 57 | 41 | +16 | 71 | |
10 | Forest Green Rovers | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 66 | 45 | +21 | 70 | |
11 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 79 | 60 | +19 | 70 | |
12 | Braintree Town | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 76 | 80 | −4 | 62 | |
13 | Barrow | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 62 | 76 | −14 | 60 | |
14 | Ebbsfleet United | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 69 | 84 | −15 | 54 | |
15 | Alfreton Town | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 62 | 86 | −24 | 54 | |
16 | Stockport County | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 58 | 74 | −16 | 51 | |
17 | Lincoln City | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 56 | 66 | −10 | 49 | |
18 | Tamworth | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 47 | 70 | −23 | 48 | |
19 | Newport County | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 53 | 65 | −12 | 47 | |
20 | A.F.C. Telford United | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 45 | 65 | −20 | 46 | |
21 | Hayes & Yeading United (R) | 46 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 58 | 90 | −32 | 41 | Relegation to 2012–13 Conference South |
22 | Darlington (R) | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 47 | 73 | −26 | 36[lower-alpha 1] | Club folded |
23 | Bath City (R) | 46 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 43 | 89 | −46 | 31 | Relegation to 2012–13 Conference South |
24 | Kettering Town (R) | 46 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 40 | 100 | −60 | 30[lower-alpha 2] | Relegation to 2012–13 Southern League Premier Division |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
- Darlington were deducted ten points for entering administration.[2] At the end of the season the club folded, and reformed as Darlington 1883 in the 2012–13 Northern League Division One.
- Kettering were deducted three points for failing to pay football creditors.[3] At the end of the season they resigned from the Football Conference, dropping down two divisions.
Play-offs
Semifinals | Final | |||||||||
2 | Wrexham | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
5 | Luton Town | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||
5 | Luton Town | 1 | ||||||||
4 | York City | 2 | ||||||||
3 | Mansfield Town | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
4 | York City (a.e.t.) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Semi-finals – 1st leg
2 May 2012 | York City | 1–1 | Mansfield Town | Bootham Crescent, York |
19:30 | Geohaghon |
Report | Dyer Green |
Attendance: 6,057 Referee: Richard Clark |
3 May 2012 | Luton Town | 2–0 | Wrexham | Kenilworth Road, Luton |
19:30 | Gray Fleetwood |
Report | Attendance: 9,012 Referee: Darren Bond |
Semi-finals – 2nd leg
7 May 2012 | Mansfield Town | 0 – 1 (a.e.t.) | York City | Field Mill, Mansfield |
14:00 | Sutton |
Report | Blair |
Attendance: 7,295 Referee: Andy Davies |
7 May 2012 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Luton Town | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham |
16:30 | Cieslewicz Morrell |
Report | Pilkington |
Attendance: 9,087 Referee: Steve Bratt |
Final
20 May 2012 | Luton Town | 1–2 | York City | Wembley Stadium, London |
15:00 | Gray |
Chambers Blair |
Attendance: 39,265 Referee: Jeremy Simpson |
Stadia and locations
Team | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Stockport County | Edgeley Park | 10,852 |
Wrexham | Racecourse Ground | 10,500* |
Luton Town | Kenilworth Road | 10,226 |
Lincoln City | Sincil Bank | 10,120 |
Darlington | The Darlington Arena | 10,000* |
Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | 10,000* |
Mansfield Town | Field Mill | 10,000 |
Cambridge United | Abbey Stadium | 9,617 |
Grimsby Town | Blundell Park | 9,546 |
Bath City | Twerton Park | 8,800 |
York City | Bootham Crescent | 7,872 |
Kettering Town | Nene Park | 6,441 |
A.F.C. Telford United | New Bucks Head | 6,300 |
Kidderminster Harriers | Aggborough | 6,238 |
Hayes & Yeading United | Kingfield Stadium (Woking ground share) | 6,036 |
Southport | Haig Avenue | 6,008 |
Fleetwood Town | Highbury Stadium | 5,500 |
Forest Green Rovers | The New Lawn | 5,147 |
Newport County | Newport Stadium | 5,058 |
Ebbsfleet United | Stonebridge Road | 5,011 |
Barrow | Holker Street | 4,256 |
Braintree Town | Cressing Road | 4,145 |
Tamworth | The Lamb Ground | 4,000 |
Alfreton Town | North Street | 3,600 |
* Restricted due to stadium expansion or FA ruling.
Results
Conference North
Season | 2011–12 |
---|---|
Champions | Hyde |
Promoted | Hyde Nuneaton Town Blyth Spartans Eastwood Town |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,482 (3.21 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Damian Reeves (44)[4] |
Biggest home win | Corby Town 6–1 Bishop's Stortford (17 August 2011) Guiseley 5–0 Blyth Spartans (23 August 2011) Bishop's Stortford 5–0 Hinckley United (29 August 2011) Corby Town 5–0 Eastwood Town (29 August 2011) Altrincham 6–1 Boston United (8 October 2011) F.C. Halifax Town 6–1 Hinckley United (17 December 2011) Bishop's Stortford 5–0 Droylsden (3 March 2012) Hyde 5–0 Bishop's Stortford (31 March 2012) |
Biggest away win | Colwyn Bay 1–6 Altrincham (20 September 2011) Eastwood Town 1–6 Gainsborough Trinity (25 October 2011) Eastwood Town 0–5 Nuneaton Town (3 December 2011) Colwyn Bay 1–6 Nuneaton Town (18 February 2012) Colwyn Bay 0–5 Hinckley United (17 March 2012) Eastwood Town 1–6 Hinckley United (21 April 2012) |
Highest scoring | Hinckley United 5–5 Stalybridge Celtic (21 January 2012) Histon 5–5 Droylsden (17 April 2012) |
Highest attendance | 1,868 Hyde 1–1 Stalybridge Celtic (26 December 2011) |
Lowest attendance | 141 Colwyn Bay 4–1 Bishop's Stortford (6 March 2012) |
← 2010–11 2012–13 → |
A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 17 sides who competed in the 2010–11 season, one transferred from the Conference South, two relegated from the Conference Premier and two promoted from the Northern Premier League.
Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2010–11 Northern Premier League Premier Division
- F.C. Halifax Town
- Colwyn Bay
Teams relegated from 2010–11 Conference Premier
Teams transferred from 2010–11 Conference South
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hyde (C, P) | 42 | 27 | 9 | 6 | 90 | 36 | +54 | 90 | Promotion to 2012–13 Conference Premier |
2 | Guiseley | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 87 | 50 | +37 | 85 | Qualification for Conference North Playoffs |
3 | F.C. Halifax Town | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 80 | 59 | +21 | 74 | |
4 | Gainsborough Trinity | 42 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 74 | 61 | +13 | 74 | |
5 | Nuneaton Town (P) | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 74 | 41 | +33 | 72[lower-alpha 1] | |
6 | Stalybridge Celtic | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 83 | 64 | +19 | 71 | |
7 | Worcester City | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 63 | 58 | +5 | 65 | |
8 | Altrincham | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 90 | 71 | +19 | 61 | |
9 | Droylsden | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 83 | 86 | −3 | 59 | |
10 | Bishop's Stortford | 42 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 70 | 75 | −5 | 58 | |
11 | Boston United | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 60 | 67 | −7 | 54 | |
12 | Colwyn Bay | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 55 | 70 | −15 | 53 | |
13 | Workington | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 56 | 61 | −5 | 52 | |
14 | Gloucester City | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 53 | 60 | −7 | 52 | |
15 | Harrogate Town | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 59 | 69 | −10 | 52 | |
16 | Histon | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 67 | 72 | −5 | 51 | |
17 | Corby Town | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 65 | 71 | −6 | 50 | |
18 | Vauxhall Motors | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 63 | 78 | −15 | 50 | |
19 | Solihull Moors | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 44 | 54 | −10 | 49 | |
20 | Hinckley United | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 75 | 90 | −15 | 48 | |
21 | Blyth Spartans (R) | 42 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 50 | 80 | −30 | 34 | Relegation to 2012–13 Northern Premier League |
22 | Eastwood Town (R) | 42 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 37 | 105 | −68 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
- Nuneaton Town deducted 6 points for fielding an ineligible player.[5]
Play-offs
Semifinals | Final | |||||||||
2 | Guiseley | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
5 | Nuneaton Town (a.e.t.) | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
4 | Gainsborough Trinity | 0 | ||||||||
5 | Nuneaton Town | 1 | ||||||||
3 | FC Halifax Town | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||
4 | Gainsborough Trinity | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Semi-finals – 1st leg
2 May 2012 | Gainsborough Trinity | 2–2 | FC Halifax Town | The Northolme, Gainsborough |
19:45 | Connor |
Report | Gregory |
Attendance: 2,380 |
2 May 2012 | Nuneaton Town | 1–1 | Guiseley | Liberty Way, Nuneaton |
19:45 | Glover |
Report | Wilson |
Semi-finals – 2nd leg
6 May 2012 | FC Halifax Town | 0–1 | Gainsborough Trinity | The Shay, Halifax |
15:00 | Clarke |
Final
13 May 2012 | Gainsborough Trinity | 0–1 | Nuneaton Town | The Northolme, Gainsborough |
15:00 |
Stadia and locations
Team | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|
F.C. Halifax Town | The Shay | 10,061 |
Gloucester City | Whaddon Road (Groundshare with Cheltenham Town) | 7,066 |
Boston United | York Street | 6,643 |
Stalybridge Celtic | Bower Fold | 6,500 |
Altrincham | Moss Lane | 6,085 |
Eastwood Town | Coronation Park | 5,000 |
Worcester City | St George's Lane | 4,749 |
Blyth Spartans | Croft Park | 4,450 |
Nuneaton Town | Liberty Way | 4,350 |
Hinckley United | De Montfort Park | 4,329 |
Gainsborough Trinity | The Northolme | 4,304 |
Hyde | Ewen Fields | 4,250 |
Bishop's Stortford | Woodside Park | 4,000 |
Corby Town | Steel Park | 3,893 |
Histon | Bridge Road | 3,800 |
Harrogate Town | Wetherby Road | 3,300 |
Workington | Borough Park | 3,101 |
Solihull Moors | Damson Park | 3,050 |
Droylsden | Butcher's Arms Ground | 3,000 |
Guiseley | Nethermoor Park | 3,000 |
Colwyn Bay | Llanelian Road | 2,500 |
Vauxhall Motors | Rivacre Park | 2,500 |
Results
Conference South
Season | 2011–12 |
---|---|
Champions | Woking |
Promoted | Woking Dartford |
Relegated | Hampton & Richmond Borough Thurrock |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,361 (2.95 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Francis Collin (28)[6] |
Biggest home win | Truro City 8–2 Farnborough (25 October 2011) Dartford 6–0 Thurrock (28 January 2012) |
Biggest away win | Sutton United 0–5 Woking (13 August 2011) |
Highest scoring | Truro City 8–2 Farnborough (25 October 2011) |
Highest attendance | 4,048 Woking 3–3 Truro City (21 April 2012) |
Lowest attendance | 156 Thurrock 0–3 Weston-super-Mare (20 August 2011) Thurrock 1–1 Maidenhead United (18 February 2012) |
← 2010–11 2012–13 → |
A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 17 previously competing sides, one relegated from the Conference Premier and four promoted from the lower leagues.
Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 2010–11 Isthmian League Premier Division
Teams promoted from 2010–11 Southern League Premier Division
Teams relegated from 2010–11 Conference Premier
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Woking (C, P) | 42 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 92 | 41 | +51 | 97 | Promotion to 2012–13 Conference Premier |
2 | Dartford (P) | 42 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 89 | 40 | +49 | 88 | Qualification for Conference South Playoffs |
3 | Welling United | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 79 | 47 | +32 | 81 | |
4 | Sutton United | 42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 68 | 53 | +15 | 74 | |
5 | Basingstoke Town | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 65 | 50 | +15 | 71 | |
6 | Chelmsford City | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 67 | 44 | +23 | 67 | |
7 | Dover Athletic | 42 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 62 | 49 | +13 | 66 | |
8 | Boreham Wood | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 66 | 58 | +8 | 61 | |
9 | Tonbridge Angels | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 70 | 67 | +3 | 57 | |
10 | Salisbury City | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 55 | 54 | +1 | 57 | |
11 | Dorchester Town | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 58 | 65 | −7 | 56 | |
12 | Eastleigh | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 57 | 63 | −6 | 54 | |
13 | Weston-super-Mare | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 58 | 71 | −13 | 51 | |
14 | Truro City | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 65 | 80 | −15 | 48 | |
15 | Staines Town | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 53 | 63 | −10 | 46 | |
16 | Farnborough | 42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 52 | 79 | −27 | 46[lower-alpha 1] | |
17 | Bromley | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 52 | 66 | −14 | 45 | |
18 | Eastbourne Borough | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 54 | 69 | −15 | 45 | |
19 | Havant & Waterlooville | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 64 | 75 | −11 | 44 | |
20 | Maidenhead United | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 49 | 74 | −25 | 43 | |
21 | Hampton & Richmond (R) | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 53 | 69 | −16 | 42 | Relegation to 2012–13 Isthmian League |
22 | Thurrock (R) | 42 | 5 | 11 | 26 | 33 | 84 | −51 | 26 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
- Farnborough deducted 5 points for breach of league financial rules.[7]
Play-offs
Semifinals | Final | |||||||||
2 | Dartford | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
5 | Basingstoke Town | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
2 | Dartford | 1 | ||||||||
3 | Welling United | 0 | ||||||||
3 | Welling United | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||
4 | Sutton United | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Semi-finals – 1st leg
2 May 2012 | Basingstoke Town | 0–1 | Dartford | The Camrose, Basingstoke |
19:45 | Report | Noble |
Attendance: 1,691 |
2 May 2012 | Sutton United | 1–2 | Welling United | Gander Green Lane, Sutton |
19:45 | Holloway |
Report | Clarke Healy |
Attendance: 1,455 |
Semi-finals – 2nd leg
6 May 2012 | Dartford | 2–1 | Basingstoke Town | Princes Park, Dartford |
15:00 | Bradbrook Wilkinson |
Report | McAuley |
Attendance: 2,210 |
6 May 2012 | Welling United | 0–0 | Sutton United | Park View Road, Welling |
15:00 | Report | Attendance: 1,408 |
Final
13 May 2012 | Dartford | 1–0 | Welling United | Princes Park, Dartford |
15:00 | Noble |
Attendance: 4,088 |
Stadia and locations
Team | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Sutton United | Gander Green Lane | 7,032 |
Dover Athletic | Crabble Stadium | 6,500 |
Woking | Kingfield Stadium | 6,036 |
Basingstoke Town | The Camrose | 6,000 |
Havant & Waterlooville | West Leigh Park | 5,250 |
Dorchester Town | Avenue Stadium | 5,009 |
Bromley | Hayes Lane | 5,000 |
Boreham Wood | Meadow Park | 4,502 |
Welling United | Park View Road | 4,500 |
Eastbourne Borough | Priory Lane | 4,134 |
Dartford | Princes Park | 4,100 |
Farnborough | Cherrywood Road | 4,000 |
Salisbury City | Raymond McEnhill Stadium | 3,500 |
Thurrock | Ship Lane | 3,500 |
Truro City | Treyew Road | 3,500 |
Weston-super-Mare | Woodspring Stadium | 3,500 |
Chelmsford City | Melbourne Stadium | 3,000 |
Eastleigh | Silverlake Stadium | 3,000 |
Hampton & Richmond | Beveree Stadium | 3,000 |
Maidenhead United | York Road | 3,000 |
Staines Town | Wheatsheaf Park | 3,000 |
Tonbridge Angels | Longmead Stadium | 3,000 |
Results
References
- "League Top Scorers". bluesqfootball.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- "Conference Statement on Darlington". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
- "Kettering Deducted Three Points". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- "League Top Scorers". bluesqnorth.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- "Nuneaton Town deducted six points for fielding unregistered player". Coventry Telegraph. 30 March 2012.
- "League Top Scorers". bluesqsouth.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- "Conference statement on Farnborough". bluesqsouth.com. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2012.