The 2008–09 Football Conference season was the fifth season with the Conference consisting of three divisions, and the thirtieth season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The Conference Premier was the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, while the Conference North and Conference South existed at the sixth level. The top team and the winner of the playoff of the National 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 National 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. For sponsorship reasons, the Conference Premier was frequently referred to as the Blue Square Premier.

Conference Premier

A total of 24 teams contested the division, including 18 sides from last 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 2007–08 Conference North

Teams promoted from 2007–08 Conference South

Teams relegated from 2007–08 League Two

Eastbourne, Mansfield, Lewes and Wrexham appear in the Conference Premier for the first time, while Barrow return to the league after ten years. Kettering have three times been runners-up at this level and return to the league after an absence of five years. Altrincham remain in the Conference after a third consecutive reprieve from relegation, following Halifax Town's demotion for financial reasons.

Woking's relegation ended the tenure of the Football Conference's longest serving club, completing seventeen seasons in the top-flight.

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Burton Albion (C, P)46277128152+2988Promotion to Football League Two
2Cambridge United46241486539+2686Qualification for the Conference Premier play-offs
3Histon46231497848+3083
4Torquay United (O, P)46231497247+2583
5Stevenage Borough462312117354+1981
6Kidderminster Harriers462310136948+2179
7Oxford United462410127251+2177
8Kettering Town462113125037+1376
9Crawley Town461914137755+2270
10Wrexham461812166448+1666
11Rushden & Diamonds461615156150+1163
12Mansfield Town46199185755+262
13Eastbourne Borough46186225870−1260
14Ebbsfleet United461610205260−858
15Altrincham461511204966−1756
16Salisbury City461413195464−1055
17York City461119164751−452
18Forest Green Rovers461216187076−652
19Grays Athletic461410224464−2052
20Barrow461215195165−1451
21Woking (R)461014223760−2344Relegation to Conference South
22Northwich Victoria (R)461110255675−1943Relegation to Conference North
23Weymouth (R)461110254586−4143Relegation to Conference South
24Lewes (R)4666342889−6124

Results

Home \ AwayALTBRWBRTCAMCRAEABEBBFGRGRYHISKETKIDLEWMANNOROXFR&DSALSTBTORWEYWOKWREYOR
Altrincham3–41–31–02–22–22–02–52–00–11–12–21–01–01–01–00–40–01–20–14–01–01–11–1
Barrow2–20–00–23–33–10–33–11–11–02–41–02–02–10–03–01–10–01–31–10–10–11–10–0
Burton Albion1–12–13–12–12–03–14–24–03–11–12–25–21–01–10–13–01–22–00–11–13–22–12–1
Cambridge United0–02–12–01–12–11–00–11–02–20–22–11–02–14–11–10–04–01–10–21–04–12–01–0
Crawley Town4–04–04–02–21–01–22–22–13–31–02–05–12–15–20–10–00–30–23–14–22–21–00–1
Eastbourne Borough1–00–21–20–32–10–11–02–11–11–22–31–01–24–10–30–10–02–14–23–00–01–02–1
Ebbsfleet United1–01–02–11–14–41–10–10–10–10–01–12–12–21–01–11–02–24–00–21–02–01–00–0
Forest Green Rovers1–32–12–32–21–01–21–41–12–20–22–24–11–03–03–34–01–20–31–24–10–22–31–1
Grays Athletic2–12–10–10–11–00–13–12–11–41–13–20–02–12–12–00–03–11–21–21–11–12–11–0
Histon1–02–04–31–11–03–35–20–11–41–01–11–13–02–15–20–02–00–01–11–01–01–01–1
Kettering Town3–10–00–11–21–10–12–11–10–01–01–01–01–32–11–21–11–01–02–10–11–01–04–2
Kidderminster Harriers4–00–12–11–32–02–03–11–12–02–00–11–12–01–21–02–13–24–21–00–23–01–02–0
Lewes2–00–30–10–20–30–20–03–22–00–31–20–10–12–32–10–41–40–20–21–00–20–21–1
Mansfield Town2–02–20–21–11–03–12–03–01–01–00–04–21–03–21–30–03–02–11–12–10–11–21–0
Northwich Victoria0–12–10–10–10–11–22–00–02–01–20–01–13–02–01–24–21–10–12–32–32–01–22–2
Oxford United1–03–02–13–11–26–35–12–14–12–11–11–02–11–01–22–12–01–10–20–10–01–01–0
Rushden & Diamonds1–11–12–11–20–12–02–02–21–01–21–00–12–10–12–11–32–11–11–31–03–11–12–0
Salisbury City1–33–00–11–22–02–01–02–21–00–41–20–01–22–31–12–11–12–42–21–01–01–41–1
Stevenage Borough3–03–04–12–11–11–31–01–10–01–32–13–13–03–21–11–13–12–00–01–11–01–23–3
Torquay United3–14–12–10–00–22–00–23–31–14–12–00–14–12–02–10–21–10–13–00–22–11–11–1
Weymouth2–00–30–52–22–23–20–21–13–12–50–21–22–01–13–02–20–90–40–30–11–11–31–2
Woking1–21–00–00–10–00–41–00–13–11–00–11–51–12–24–10–21–11–00–12–21–11–10–2
Wrexham0–11–10–12–00–25–03–21–13–20–02–10–12–02–03–32–00–31–15–01–11–11–13–1
York City1–21–11–30–01–01–03–12–10–11–10–00–03–03–01–10–02–01–10–21–22–02–01–0

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal at Wembley Stadium
5Stevenage Borough303
2Cambridge United134
2Cambridge United0
4Torquay United2
4Torquay United202
3Histon011

Semifinals

Stevenage Borough3–1Cambridge United
Roberts 47' Morison 61', 84'Phillips 49'
Cambridge United3–0 (a.e.t.)Stevenage Borough
Willmott 55' Rendell 72', 119'

Cambridge United won 4–3 on Aggregate.

Torquay United2–0Histon
Wroe 36' Sills 74'
Histon1–0Torquay United
Andrews 16'

Torquay United won 2–1 on Aggregate.

Play-Off Final

Cambridge United0–2Torquay United
Hargreaves 35' Sills 75'

Stadia and locations

2008–09 Football Conference is located in England
Locations of the Conference Premier 2008–09 teams

Top goalscorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1Andy ManganForest Green Rovers26
2James ConstableOxford United23
3Steve MorisonStevenage Borough22
4Charlie GriffinSalisbury City21
5Matthew Barnes-HomerKidderminster Harriers20
Jack MidsonHiston
7Greg PearsonBurton Albion18
8Colin LittleAltrincham16
Justin RichardsKidderminster Harriers
10Shaun HarradBurton Albion15
Jefferson LouisWrexham
Gareth SeddonKettering Town
Richard BrodieYork City

Conference North

A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 16 sides from last season, three relegated from the Conference Premier, two promoted from the Northern Premier League and one promoted from the Southern Football League.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2007–08 Northern Premier League Premier Division

Teams promoted from 2007–08 Southern League Premier Division

Teams relegated from 2007–08 Conference Premier

Droylsden and Farsley are returned having spent just one season in the higher league. Fleetwood reached a new high eleven seasons after being re-formed following the bankruptcy of the original Fleetwood Town. Both Boston United and Nuneaton Borough were expelled from the league for financial reasons before the season, resulting in Vauxhall Motors relegation and Redditch United's transfer to the Conference South being cancelled.

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Tamworth (C, P)42241357041+2985Promotion to Conference Premier
2Gateshead (O, P)42248108148+3380Qualification for the Conference North play-offs
3Alfreton Town42201758148+3377
4AFC Telford United422210106534+3176
5Southport42211386336+2776
6Stalybridge Celtic422010127150+2170
7Droylsden421814106444+2068
8Fleetwood Town421711147066+462
9Harrogate Town421710156657+961
10Hinckley United42169175659−357
11Vauxhall Motors421411175167−1653
12Workington421312175455−151
13Gainsborough Trinity421214165763−650
14Redditch United421214164961−1250
15Blyth Spartans42147215058−849
16Solihull Moors421310194973−2449
17King's Lynn (R)421018145060−1048Demoted to the Northern Premier League Premier Division
18Stafford Rangers421212184156−1548
19Farsley Celtic42145235865−747
20Hyde United42119225780−2342
21Burscough (R)42106264380−3736Relegation to the Northern Premier League Premier Division
22Hucknall Town (R)42513243984−4528

Results

Home \ AwayTELALFBLYBURDROFARFLEGAIGATHARHINHUCHYDKLYREDSOLSOUSTASTLTAMVAUWRK
AFC Telford United0–02–13–02–02–00–02–11–03–14–23–12–31–11–13–01–00–11–00–05–10–0
Alfreton Town3–11–12–02–33–13–31–41–34–11–15–03–21–12–04–12–02–02–11–13–10–0
Blyth Spartans2–02–20–20–25–03–01–10–13–41–03–03–02–41–03–01–02–10–00–40–13–1
Burscough0–21–32–30–10–01–10–22–40–21–12–32–21–11–01–22–32–00–20–10–12–1
Droylsden1–02–02–03–12–01–33–20–02–13–05–12–11–02–22–10–00–11–11–11–21–1
Farsley Celtic1–03–33–05–11–14–12–10–11–02–34–02–11–11–20–15–14–02–31–30–10–5
Fleetwood Town1–01–11–03–12–12–12–20–21–01–01–31–33–03–12–11–12–21–21–22–01–0
Gainsborough Trinity1–20–20–00–41–00–03–40–03–23–12–20–12–04–11–10–10–33–30–11–11–2
Gateshead1–13–03–04–11–13–02–21–01–35–01–06–33–22–03–01–10–11–05–12–22–1
Harrogate Town2–02–23–12–01–11–05–20–31–02–22–02–14–01–14–00–33–30–12–22–00–1
Hinckley United0–21–12–10–11–01–22–10–22–02–04–00–11–04–20–01–14–00–11–32–31–0
Hucknall Town0–51–11–10–21–11–23–21–22–21–11–20–11–20–20–20–03–12–32–30–10–0
Hyde United0–41–11–00–11–33–15–30–02–52–30–02–00–11–23–11–11–10–21–23–14–4
King's Lynn1–10–42–30–02–21–41–02–22–02–31–10–04–11–13–00–02–21–01–21–11–3
Redditch United0–12–22–01–20–43–11–11–10–22–10–22–21–01–20–00–22–20–11–12–12–0
Solihull Moors1–32–22–03–22–12–12–22–32–01–11–33–12–21–12–10–20–10–21–13–22–0
Southport1–10–12–13–03–11–01–15–32–31–00–03–02–02–12–33–03–22–00–15–20–0
Stafford Rangers1–30–21–00–20–01–01–22–04–10–03–10–02–00–00–10–20–30–10–10–10–0
Stalybridge Celtic2–20–22–04–02–21–00–51–21–21–37–12–24–11–13–35–00–12–02–21–01–4
Tamworth0–11–21–16–22–02–12–10–02–13–11–01–12–02–01–11–01–11–20–32–01–0
Vauxhall Motors2–01–12–12–01–42–00–21–11–21–00–42–32–11–31–12–20–01–11–12–23–0
Workington1–00–30–14–11–10–23–25–04–20–01–31–02–21–10–12–10–12–20–21–43–1

Play-offs

SemifinalsFinal
5Southport011
2Gateshead112
2Gateshead1
4AFC Telford United0
4AFC Telford United235
3Alfreton Town044

Semifinals

Southport0–1Gateshead
Armstrong 15'
Gateshead1–1Southport
Novak 24'Booth 52'

Gateshead won 2–1 on Aggregate.

AFC Telford United2–0Alfreton Town
Nwadike 48' Carey-Bertram 78'
Alfreton Town4–3AFC Telford United
Butler 9' Brown 16' Clayton[disambiguation needed] 49' Howell 73' (pen.)Edwards 19' Carey-Bertram 42' Rodgers 52'

AFC Telford United won 5–4 on Aggregate.

Play-Off Final

Gateshead1–0AFC Telford United
Phillips 82'

Top goalscorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1Lee NovakGateshead26
2Gareth SheldonTamworth23
3Adam WarlowFleetwood Town19
Liam HearnAlfreton Town
5Chris SimmHyde United18
6Paul ClaytonAlfreton Town17
7Ciaran KilheeneySouthport16
Luke BeckettGainsborough Trinity
9Gareth ArnisonWorkington15
Andy BrownAFC Telford United

Conference South

A total of 22 teams contested the division, including 18 sides from last season, one transferred from the Conference North, two promoted from the Isthmian League and one promoted from the Southern Football League.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2007–08 Southern League Premier Division

Teams promoted from 2007–08 Isthmian League Premier Division

Teams transferred from 2007–08 Conference North

No teams were relegated to the Conference South from the Conference Premier, so Worcester City were transferred in from the Conference North. The expulsion of two teams from the Conference North for financial reasons cancelled Redditch United's transfer between the two, and allowed Dorchester Town to remain in the Conference South. All the four new teams never played in Conference South before.

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1AFC Wimbledon (C, P)42261068636+5088Promotion to Conference Premier
2Hampton & Richmond Borough42251077437+3785Qualification for the Conference South play-offs
3Eastleigh4225896949+2083
4Hayes & Yeading United (O, P)4224997443+3181
5Chelmsford City42238117252+2077
6Maidenhead United42218135746+1171
7Welling United421911126144+1768
8Bath City42208145645+1168
9Bishop's Stortford42178176060059
10Newport County421611155051−159
11Team Bath (E, R)42167196264−255Club folded
12St Albans City421412165650+654
13Bromley42159186064−454
14Braintree Town421410185754+352
15Havant & Waterlooville421115165958+148
16Worcester City421211193853−1547
17Weston-super-Mare421211194368−2547
18Basingstoke Town421016163655−1946
19Dorchester Town421012203961−2242
20Thurrock42913205460−640
21Bognor Regis Town (R)42712233368−3526Relegation to the Isthmian League Premier Division
22Fisher Athletic (E)42533422100−7818Club folded

Results

Home \ AwayWIMBASBATBSTBOGBRABROCHEDOREASFISH&RH&WH&YMDHNPCSACTBATHUWELWSMWRC
AFC Wimbledon1–03–24–13–15–13–13–12–00–23–01–13–02–03–13–03–02–02–10–11–12–0
Basingstoke Town0–11–01–10–02–22–01–20–01–02–21–12–21–10–10–01–21–31–00–00–10–0
Bath City2–21–02–30–13–21–32–12–01–11–00–12–10–11–02–11–01–12–20–43–01–0
Bishop's Stortford0–13–20–22–00–31–12–10–23–40–11–31–00–02–01–11–14–32–10–12–13–0
Bognor Regis Town1–52–30–20–20–21–12–10–01–02–10–11–51–12–40–10–53–01–10–01–11–2
Braintree Town0–10–10–42–01–12–01–20–11–12–01–21–00–10–23–21–04–11–21–11–11–1
Bromley2–20–21–11–01–01–42–21–05–13–00–22–21–01–22–12–34–03–31–33–00–2
Chelmsford City3–22–22–33–32–01–10–12–13–03–03–21–22–12–10–01–11–13–22–04–12–0
Dorchester Town1–10–00–20–21–02–22–10–10–43–00–11–01–20–30–11–12–24–31–11–23–1
Eastleigh2–11–02–01–12–12–11–02–10–13–02–12–03–30–03–23–01–31–14–21–01–0
Fisher Athletic0–31–01–00–30–10–20–20–14–01–20–21–10–50–11–30–40–60–30–50–20–1
Hampton & Richmond Borough1–10–03–12–10–02–11–14–12–02–13–02–12–31–00–10–03–03–12–04–11–2
Havant & Waterlooville0–05–10–03–02–21–10–11–11–22–23–01–42–23–31–12–02–12–21–02–30–2
Hayes & Yeading United2–15–02–21–03–10–12–10–12–10–13–40–02–12–02–02–11–12–12–13–03–1
Maidenhead United0–41–20–03–22–02–14–00–22–11–41–00–31–02–00–11–00–21–12–00–05–0
Newport County1–43–00–40–12–12–13–03–14–40–14–01–00–21–50–10–14–21–10–01–01–0
St Albans City0–03–02–12–01–00–34–51–22–05–04–12–21–11–11–21–10–00–22–33–00–2
Team Bath1–21–20–12–21–00–30–32–04–11–34–10–21–04–10–22–02–04–10–11–20–2
Thurrock0–16–02–01–31–11–01–10–11–00–12–13–32–30–11–20–00–01–21–20–12–0
Welling United2–21–12–11–34–11–03–11–30–03–23–04–02–10–21–10–20–11–10–02–01–3
Weston-super-Mare1–10–30–12–11–23–12–11–42–21–13–10–30–11–22–21–11–10–12–10–31–1
Worcester City3–20–00–11–31–12–21–00–10–00–11–11–22–20–31–10–02–00–22–00–11–2

Play-offs

SemifinalsFinal
5Chelmsford City101
2Hampton & Richmond Borough303
2Hampton & Richmond Borough2
4Hayes & Yeading United3
4Hayes & Yeading United246
3Eastleigh404

Semifinals

Chelmsford City1–3Hampton & Richmond Borough
Rainford 59'Yaku 44', 50' Hodges 83'
Hampton & Richmond Borough0–0Chelmsford City

Hampton & Richmond Borough won 3–1 on Aggregate.

Hayes & Yeading United2–4Eastleigh
Hendry 73' (pen.) Ruby 89'Taggart 5' Williams 26' Riviere 45' Mulley 50' (o.g.)
Eastleigh0–4 (a.e.t.)Hayes & Yeading United
Perkins 45' Hendry 81' (pen.) Fitzgerald 94', 97'

Hayes & Yeading United won 6–4 on Aggregate.

Play-Off Final

Hampton & Richmond Borough2–3Hayes & Yeading United
McAuley 49' Hodges 69'Fitzgerald 8' Gregory 71', 73'

Top goalscorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1Jon MainAFC Wimbledon33
2Josh ScottHayes & Yeading United22
3Warren McBeanBromley21
4Richard PacquetteMaidenhead United20
5Charlie SheringhamWelling United19
6Paul HakimSt Albans City18
7Craig ReidNewport County15
Dave RainfordChelmsford City
Lawrence YakuHampton & Richmond Borough
10Marco AdaggioWorcester City14
Danny HocktonBraintree Town