Blue Square Premier

The league was formed as the 'Alliance Premier League' in 1979. It was the first attempt to create a fully national league underneath the football league, drawing its clubs from the Northern Premier League and the Southern League.

Since 2002-03, the league has been granted a second promotion place, with a play-off deciding who joins the champions in the football league. Previously, no promotion from the Conference would occur if the winners did not have adequate stadium facilities. As of the start of the 2002-03 season, if a club achieves the automatic promotion or the play-off places but does not have an adequate stadium, their place will be re-allocated to someone who does have adequate facilities.