National League games to start 3 minutes late
The National League has announced that all its fixtures scheduled for November 15 will start three minutes late, at 3:03 p.m., as part of an ongoing campaign to secure a third promotion place from the fifth tier to League Two. The symbolic delay aims to draw attention to the push for structural change in the English football pyramid, which currently permits only two teams to be promoted annually from the National League to the EFL’s League Two.
The campaign, known as “3UP,” has the unanimous backing of the 72 clubs in the National League and its regional divisions, National League North and South. This coordinated action includes all 12 National League matches and the 48 clubs playing FA Trophy fixtures on the same day. National League chair Jack Pearce highlighted the determination of these clubs, many of which have storied histories spanning over a century, to attain parity with the professional teams higher up in the English football system. Pearce emphasized that while numerous EFL clubs have privately expressed support, formal discussions with the league’s governing body have yet to materialize.
Support from fans has been significant, with a Football Supporters’ Association poll earlier this year revealing that 93 percent of fans across all divisions favor granting an additional promotion slot to the National League, and 83 percent of EFL club supporters share this view. Since 2003, the promotion structure has allowed only the National League champion and play-off winner to ascend to League Two, with two clubs relegated from League Two each season. The proposed change would establish a “three-up, three-down” system to enhance competitiveness and fluidity between the tiers.
Despite the National League’s persistent efforts, the English Football League (EFL) has so far resisted the introduction of a third promotion spot. The EFL has stated that such a change must be part of a broader suite of reforms encompassing all levels of English football. Implementing this measure requires the approval of a majority of the 72 EFL clubs as well as a majority among Championship clubs due to the statutory changes involved.
The National League’s campaign continues to gain momentum as clubs anticipate the government’s appointment of an Independent Football Regulator later this year, which is expected to emphasize financial sustainability, competitive balance, and the preservation of football heritage. A third promotion place is viewed by National League officials as vital to supporting clubs with deep community roots, offering aspirational goals for players and supporters alike, and enhancing the integrity of the football pyramid.
Should the campaign succeed, it represents a significant strategic shift that would better align the National League with the rest of the professional system and foster renewed ambition among lower-league clubs preparing to step up into the Football League. For players and managers, this development would mean increased opportunities for progression and a more vibrant competitive environment in English football’s fifth tier.