From the beginning it was intended that there would be automatic promotion to and relegation from the APL: three teams would be relegated, to be replaced by the champions of the Northern Premier League, the Southern League Midland Division and the Southern League Southern Division. Promotion was in all cases subject to an inspection of facilities - a club which did not have the use of a sufficiently large stadium or suitable accommodation for visiting teams and officials would not be acceptable. If the champion of the appropriate league is passed over, the team coming second is eligible instead, but if their stadium also fails to meet the criteria no other teams are considered.
The reorganisation of the Southern League in 1982 meant that only the champions of the new Premier Division were promoted to the APL, but from 1984-85 the champions of the Isthmian League were also promoted.
Starting in 1986-87 the champions of the APL have been automatically
accepted into the Football League, again subject to inspection of
facilities (one part of this is the requirement that the stadium have
at least 6000 capacity with at least 1000 seats). The inspection takes place
at Christmas, long before the championship is decided, so that a club
which carries out modifications during the season and finishes as
champion will not necessarily be accepted. The Football League does
not accept the team coming second instead.
Maintained by Russell Gerrard:
r.j.gerrard@city.ac.uk
Abbreviations used in the APL pages
There is a marginally more comprehensive history in the
archive index.