The English football pyramid is something that’s well discussed week on week as fans across the country attend their side’s games – and yet many people know little about its true depths.
It’s the level of consequence that makes the English game quite so entertaining, with the ability to be beaten by any team in any respective division perhaps more relevant than anywhere else.
The top of the pyramid is of course the Premier League, where 20 teams fight to qualify for continental competitions including the UEFA Champions League – and of course the pinnacle of the English game: the league title.
The ‘Football League’ feeds into that, and that’s of course composed of 72 sides evenly split across the Championship, League One, and League Two, with relegation and promotion allowing matches high stakes week on week.
But how deep does it all go beyond that?
The National League is the first level of ‘non-league’ football, made up of 24 sides with the majority now professional and full-time.
Only two sides are promoted into the EFL though and has led to popular protest for more exchange between the National League and League Two, namely the ‘3UP’ campaign.
Still, the National League remains the highest point of the non-league pyramid and is the first division from those below it to encompass clubs from across the country.
That’s allowed Truro City to Carlisle to be a fixture this season, whereas any lower they would be separated by (lack of) locality.
The division below that is not just one, however, – and is where ‘steps’ come into things, meaning clubs are playing at the same level of football, but can be localised to limit travel for semi-professional teams and players.
Under the National League is the National League North and the National League South – referred to as the ‘6th level’ or ‘2nd step’ – which in turn feed into the Northern League Premier, Southern League Premier, and Isthmian League Premier at the ‘7th level’.
As you can expect from a pyramid, this theme of ever-expanding numbers of leagues at each level continues to the point of having 787 clubs at level 11 (step seven).
But does it go further? Well, the ‘Yorkshire Amateur League’ itself has eight divisions, meaning the English football pyramid goes down as far as ‘level 18’.
Cheltenham Town
There will be over 8⃣5⃣0⃣ of you with us at Rodney Parade tomorrow 👏
— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) October 17, 2025
Tickets are now off sale in advance but supporters will be able to buy tickets on the day from the away ticket booth!#ctfc♦️ pic.twitter.com/cPSscCABrK
Cheltenham are Gloucestershire’s highest ranking side in English football, currently occupying a place in League Two of the Football League.
The Robins have not had a good start to life in the fourth tier (also level four) though and have already sacked manager Michael Flynn and replaced him with the returning Steve Cotterill.
Their aim will be to push on now, but staying in the Football League is imperative.
Gloucester City
The table speaks for itself. Saturday is a BIG one! 🐯
— Gloucester City AFC (@GCAFCofficial) October 16, 2025
Be there at NMP when we take on @PooleTownFC looking to extend our unbeaten league run 👊
🎟️ https://t.co/oic68ENlgZ pic.twitter.com/b3KJMdFbQY
The Tigers are flying in the Southern League Premier South (level six) with 26 points from 11 games as they look to bounce back into the National League at the second time of asking.
Manager Dafydd Williams was appointed this May following a 4th placed finish in 2024/25.
Cheltenham Saracens & Cinderford Town
The Saracens are another non-professional club and play their first team football in the Hellenic League Division 1, at level ten of the pyramid.
They’re joined by Cinderford Town as another Gloucestershire side that aren’t full time, currently plying their trade in the Hellenic Premier Division – one level above in step five.
Up Next 🔥
— Cinderford Town AFC (@Cinderford_Town) October 12, 2025
⚽️ Clevedon Town
🏟️ North Somerset Community Ground, BS21 6TG
🏆 FA Vase
⏰ 3pm KO
🗓️ 18th October
We’ll see you there 👊#TheForesters || #CTFC 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/h6Ml64MptB
