The 2012–13 Football Conference season was the ninth season in which the Conference consisted of three divisions and the thirty-third season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The Conference Premier is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid, whilst the Conference North and Conference South exist at the sixth level. The Conference was won by Mansfield Town who together with Newport County, the winner of the play-off 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 referred to as the Blue Square Bet 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. The League started on 10 August 2012 with previously relegated Hereford United and Macclesfield Town facing each other at Edgar Street and finished on 20 April 2013 with all matches that day kicking off simultaneously. The 2013 Conference Premier play-off final on 5 May 2013 was the first Wembley Stadium final to feature two Welsh clubs, Newport County and Wrexham.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2011–12 Conference North

Teams promoted from 2011–12 Conference South

Teams relegated from 2011–12 Football League Two

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Mansfield Town (C, P)46305119252+4095Promotion to Football League Two
2Kidderminster Harriers4628998240+4293Qualification for the Conference Premier play-offs
3Newport County (O, P)462510118560+2585
4Grimsby Town46231497038+3283
5Wrexham462214107445+2980
6Hereford United461913147363+1070
7Luton Town461813157062+867
8Dartford46199186763+466
9Braintree Town46199186372−966
10Forest Green Rovers461811176349+1465
11Macclesfield Town461712176570−563
12Woking46188207381−862
13Alfreton Town461612186974−560
14Cambridge United461514176869−159
15Nuneaton Town461415175563−857
16Lincoln City461511206673−756
17Gateshead461316175861−355
18Hyde46167236375−1255
19Tamworth461510215569−1455
20Southport461412207286−1454
21Stockport County (R)461311225776−1950Relegation to Conference North
22Barrow (R)461113224583−3846
23Ebbsfleet United (R)46815235589−3439Relegation to Conference South
24AFC Telford United (R)46617235279−2735Relegation to Conference North

Play-offs

SemifinalsFinal
2Kidderminster Harriers112
5Wrexham235
5Wrexham0
3Newport County2
3Newport County112
4Grimsby Town000

First leg

23 April 2013Wrexham2–1Kidderminster HarriersRacecourse Ground, Wrexham
19:45Artell 45+1' Ashton 84' (pen.)Gash 56' (pen.)Attendance: 6,315 Referee: Charles Breakspear
24 April 2013Grimsby Town0–1Newport CountyBlundell Park, Cleethorpes
19:45Yakubu 89'Attendance: 5,414 Referee: Graham Horwood

Second leg

28 April 2013Kidderminster Harriers1–3 (2–5 agg.)WrexhamAggborough, Kidderminster
13:30Dunkley 64'Ormerod 30' Vaughan 69' (o.g.) Ashton 85' (pen.)Attendance: 6,202 Referee: Seb Stockbridge
28 April 2013Newport County1–0 (2–0 agg.)Grimsby TownRodney Parade, Newport
16:30Jolley 31'Attendance: 6,615 Referee: Kinsley

Final

5 May 2013Wrexham0–2Newport CountyWembley Stadium, London
15:00 BST UTC+1Jolley 86' O'Connor 90+4'Attendance: 16,346 Referee: Michael Bull

Stadia and locations

2012–13 Football Conference is located in England
Locations of the Conference Premier 2012–13 teams
TeamStadiumCapacity
Stockport CountyEdgeley Park10,852
WrexhamRacecourse Ground10,500*
Luton TownKenilworth Road10,226
Lincoln CitySincil Bank10,120
GatesheadGateshead International Stadium10,000***
Mansfield TownField Mill10,000
Cambridge UnitedAbbey Stadium9,617
Grimsby TownBlundell Park9,546
Macclesfield TownMoss Rose6,355
AFC Telford UnitedNew Bucks Head6,300
Kidderminster HarriersAggborough6,238
WokingKingfield Stadium6,036
SouthportHaig Avenue6,008
Hereford UnitedEdgar Street5,075
Newport CountyRodney Parade5,511** 1
Forest Green RoversThe New Lawn5,147
Ebbsfleet UnitedStonebridge Road5,011
Nuneaton TownLiberty Way4,314
BarrowHolker Street4,256
HydeEwen Fields4,250
Braintree TownCressing Road4,145
DartfordPrinces Park4,100
TamworthThe Lamb Ground4,000
Alfreton TownNorth Street3,600

* Restricted due to stadium expansion or FA ruling. ** Capacity reduced for football matches from maximum capacity of 11,676. *** Groundshare from 15 February 2013.

1 Capacity was temporarily raised to 7,012 for the play-off tie against Grimsby Town

Results

Home \ AwayTELALFBRWBRACAMDAREBBFGRGATGRIHERHYDKIDLINLUTMACMANNPCNUNSOUSTPTAMWOKWRE
AFC Telford United0–01–13–01–20–22–21–20–01–20–41–30–21–10–00–22–22–40–31–32–23–31–00–2
Alfreton Town1–14–01–11–13–23–02–13–20–20–35–11–10–23–01–20–34–30–33–32–33–00–31–2
Barrow0–01–30–11–40–01–12–20–22–20–21–11–11–21–01–00–40–31–23–20–22–02–00–1
Braintree Town3–22–12–30–30–23–13–12–12–00–22–21–10–32–00–32–11–22–21–30–02–11–11–5
Cambridge United3–30–32–11–01–21–10–03–00–01–30–11–32–12–22–04–10–01–32–04–11–11–01–4
Dartford1–45–10–10–01–13–10–13–01–24–02–11–02–41–02–02–02–10–12–21–12–34–12–1
Ebbsfleet United1–30–02–40–12–42–20–23–11–11–03–21–11–11–30–43–11–11–14–10–01–12–21–1
Forest Green Rovers0–01–11–14–11–12–34–11–00–10–13–10–13–01–21–11–21–21–00–14–11–23–10–0
Gateshead1–12–00–11–20–02–02–01–11–13–23–02–01–15–12–24–10–00–22–21–10–22–10–1
Grimsby Town1–04–20–03–00–10–23–11–03–01–12–01–31–14–10–14–13–00–02–21–22–05–11–0
Hereford United1–13–32–10–04–21–04–21–21–10–21–20–13–21–02–11–22–30–02–21–25–22–10–1
Hyde2–11–10–01–22–13–01–00–11–13–25–20–41–51–21–10–10–12–20–20–12–17–02–0
Kidderminster Harriers1–03–12–02–13–25–13–20–11–10–00–13–03–00–23–02–33–21–02–24–04–12–22–0
Lincoln City3–21–20–03–00–02–11–11–21–11–43–23–21–01–22–30–12–42–11–03–32–10–21–2
Luton Town0–13–06–12–33–20–22–01–12–21–11–11–21–23–04–12–32–22–03–11–00–03–10–0
Macclesfield Town2–11–22–02–12–12–01–21–20–41–30–13–21–02–11–10–31–10–02–21–12–00–02–0
Mansfield Town1–01–28–12–03–15–04–11–04–02–01–11–00–20–02–23–13–41–01–04–12–03–11–0
Newport County2–12–00–21–06–20–01–00–53–10–02–01–31–22–15–24–12–04–02–10–02–22–31–1
Nuneaton Town3–11–01–12–42–21–04–51–10–11–00–03–10–11–00–03–31–11–20–12–02–10–00–0
Southport0–30–25–20–22–12–21–01–22–11–12–20–11–34–21–33–21–20–23–11–10–31–21–4
Stockport County2–21–03–11–31–10–13–12–11–21–22–30–21–02–00–13–41–31–03–23–40–11–22–3
Tamworth0–01–11–31–41–23–20–12–12–00–12–22–00–11–01–20–00–11–22–12–11–02–10–1
Woking5–21–23–11–42–11–01–02–02–10–11–12–12–21–13–15–41–21–36–12–31–02–32–0
Wrexham4–11–13–01–11–02–24–12–11–10–01–22–01–22–40–00–02–12–06–12–23–12–23–1

Top scorers

As of 21 April 2013

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Matt GreenMansfield Town25
2Adam CunningtonTamworth21
3Michael GashKidderminster Harriers20
4Andy BrownNuneaton Town19
Anthony MalbonKidderminster Harriers
6Matthew Barnes-HomerMacclesfield Town18
Bradley BubbWoking
Aaron O'ConnorNewport County
9Paul ClaytonAlfreton Town17
Andre GrayLuton Town

Conference North

A total of 22 teams competed in the division, including 18 sides which competed in the Conference North the previous season, two promoted from the Southern Football League and two from the Northern Premier League.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2011–12 Northern Premier League Premier Division

Teams promoted from 2011–12 Southern League Premier Division

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Chester (C, P)42345310332+71107Promotion to Conference Premier
2Guiseley4228778345+3891Qualification for the Conference North play-offs
3Brackley Town4226797644+3285
4Altrincham422481010051+4980
5FC Halifax Town (O, P)42211298638+4875
6Harrogate Town42209137250+2269
7Bradford (Park Avenue)42199147552+2366
8Gainsborough Trinity421812126845+2366
9Solihull Moors42179165753+456
10Oxford City421316136257+555
11Gloucester City42166205463−954
12Vauxhall Motors42158195864−653
13Stalybridge Celtic421313165562−752
14Workington42168186068−852
15Worcester City42148205762−550
16Boston United42147216873−549
17Bishop's Stortford421213175874−1649Transferred to Conference South
18Colwyn Bay42147215778−2149
19Histon421111204873−2544
20Corby Town (R)42128226692−2644Relegation to the Southern League Premier Division
21Droylsden (R)42573043124−8122Relegation to the Northern Premier League Premier Division
22Hinckley United (R)42343537143−1067Relegation to the Southern League Premier Division

Play-offs

SemifinalsFinal
2Guiseley101
5FC Halifax Town123
3Brackley Town0
5FC Halifax Town1
3Brackley Town134
4Altrincham202

First leg

30 April 2013Altrincham2–1Brackley TownMoss Lane, Altrincham
19:45Richman 77' Moult 90'Louis 70'Attendance: 1,618
30 April 2013FC Halifax Town1–1GuiseleyThe Shay, Halifax
20:00Gardner 17'Ellis 60'Attendance: 2,367

Second leg

4 May 2013Guiseley0–2FC Halifax TownNethermoor Park, Guiseley
15:00A. Johnson 51' Gregory 82'Attendance: 2,424
4 May 2013Brackley Town3–0AltrinchamSt James Park, Brackley
15:00Louis 4' Reid 25' Walker 53'Attendance: 1,353

Final

12 May 2013Brackley Town0–1FC Halifax TownSt James Park, Brackley
15:00Gregory 76'Attendance: 2,604

Stadia and locations

2012–13 Football Conference is located in England
Locations of the Conference North 2011–12 teams
2012–13 Football Conference is located in West Yorkshire
Locations of the Conference North 2011–12 teams
TeamStadiumCapacity
AltrinchamMoss Lane6,085
Bishop's StortfordWoodside Park4,000
Boston UnitedYork Street6,643
Brackley TownSt James Park3,500
Bradford Park AvenueHorsfall Stadium3,500
ChesterDeva Stadium6,000
Colwyn BayLlanelian Road2,500
Corby TownSteel Park3,893
DroylsdenButcher's Arms Ground3,000
FC Halifax TownThe Shay14,061
Gainsborough TrinityThe Northolme4,304
Gloucester CityWhaddon Road (Groundshare with Cheltenham Town)7,066
GuiseleyNethermoor Park3,000
Harrogate TownWetherby Road3,800
Hinckley UnitedGreene King Stadium4,329
HistonBridge Road4,300
Oxford CityCourt Place Farm2,000
Solihull MoorsDamson Park3,050
Stalybridge CelticBower Fold6,500
Vauxhall MotorsRivacre Park2,500
Worcester CitySt George's Lane4,850
WorkingtonBorough Park3,101

Results

Home \ AwayALTBSTBOSBRKBPACHRCOLCORDROHALGAIGLOGUIHARHINHISOXCSOLSTLVAUWRCWRK
Altrincham2–17–11–43–12–41–12–16–02–00–12–01–33–08–05–03–12–12–11–02–01–2
Bishop's Stortford1–11–01–32–11–22–22–12–11–21–51–22–50–21–13–10–04–10–02–20–10–3
Boston United2–31–13–40–43–21–01–15–11–22–14–01–31–21–26–03–12–22–20–11–21–3
Brackley Town0–11–00–23–12–31–32–43–20–02–20–11–02–15–02–10–02–14–11–02–03–1
Bradford Park Avenue2–22–12–10–10–01–22–05–01–10–22–11–31–04–00–01–21–01–32–02–21–0
Chester2–04–11–00–01–12–12–15–02–13–12–04–02–03–02–12–00–14–12–04–21–0
Colwyn Bay1–31–20–21–11–21–51–01–30–31–01–00–21–23–23–13–13–12–32–40–31–4
Corby Town2–52–22–10–44–51–23–15–01–50–03–22–30–25–30–01–12–31–00–11–01–3
Droylsden0–51–20–10–30–73–42–02–20–61–31–00–31–33–22–21–32–41–15–20–20–1
FC Halifax Town3–41–11–20–00–11–10–12–04–13–15–01–11–27–03–33–10–00–04–05–05–1
Gainsborough Trinity2–42–22–20–11–10–23–12–23–03–00–11–21–15–01–01–21–11–22–11–01–1
Gloucester City0–05–11–01–41–00–12–20–14–01–21–22–20–24–11–10–11–14–31–14–20–1
Guiseley1–11–22–10–21–02–12–22–17–11–12–03–12–02–42–11–01–01–02–13–32–0
Harrogate Town1–22–24–26–11–11–31–26–11–11–10–01–01–25–02–01–32–40–03–13–13–1
Hinckley United0–61–52–41–31–40–61–36–32–20–20–20–30–30–20–10–21–10–30–60–51–1
Histon2–02–01–13–01–41–42–13–43–10–10–32–11–41–32–11–10–00–22–00–03–0
Oxford City2–21–14–22–11–10–11–22–02–22–21–11–20–30–06–20–01–20–01–12–25–0
Solihull Moors2–10–11–00–13–10–32–03–02–10–30–22–32–02–01–01–11–21–02–30–12–2
Stalybridge Celtic2–23–10–10–32–02–63–31–20–01–01–14–01–11–04–02–12–20–30–10–21–4
Vauxhall Motors2–12–24–00–21–30–31–11–14–01–31–21–22–00–12–12–02–12–10–01–01–3
Worcester City0–02–00–31–22–00–12–05–12–10–10–30–10–12–23–12–33–21–31–22–21–1
Workington2–12–31–10–01–61–11–22–32–10–10–30–10–21–22–13–11–21–14–13–11–0

Top scorers

As of 29 April 2013

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Damian ReevesAltrincham36
2Marc NewshamBoston United21
3Lee GregoryFC Halifax Town20
Josh WilsonGuiseley
5Gareth ArnisonWorkington19
6Richard MarshallBradford Park Avenue16
7Omar BogleSolihull Moors15
8Nathan JarmanChester FC14
James WalshawGuiseley
Duncan WatmoreAltrincham
Spencer Weir-DaleyBoston United

Conference South

A total of 22 teams competed in the division, including 18 sides which competed in the Conference South the previous season, two relegated from the Conference Premier and two promoted from the Isthmian Premier League.

Promotion and relegation

Teams promoted from 2011–12 Isthmian League Premier Division

Teams relegated from 2011–12 Conference Premier

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Welling United (C, P)4226889044+4686Promotion to Conference Premier
2Salisbury City (O, P)4225898047+3382Qualification for the Conference South play-offs
3Dover Athletic422210106944+2576
4Eastleigh42226147961+1872
5Chelmsford City42226147056+1472
6Sutton United422010126649+1770
7Weston-super-Mare421910136155+667
8Dorchester Town42198155962−365
9Boreham Wood421517105946+1362
10Havant & Waterlooville421416126860+858
11Bath City421510176058+255
12Eastbourne Borough42149194252−1051
13Farnborough42197167675+150
14Basingstoke Town421212186373−1048
15Bromley42146225469−1548
16Tonbridge Angels421212185677−2148
17Hayes & Yeading United42139206489−2548
18Staines Town42138216178−1747
19Maidenhead United42136236468−445
20AFC Hornchurch (R)421111204764−1744Relegation to the Isthmian League Premier Division
21Billericay Town (R)42117246290−2840
22Truro City (R)4298255790−3325Relegation to the Southern League Premier Division

Play-offs

SemifinalsFinal
2Salisbury City022
5Chelmsford City101
2Salisbury City3
3Dover Athletic2
3Dover Athletic30 (4)3
4Eastleigh12 (2)3

First leg

30 April 2013Chelmsford City1–0Salisbury CityMelbourne Stadium, Chelmsford
19:45Cook 89' (pen.)Attendance: 1,248
30 April 2013Eastleigh1–3Dover AthleticSilverlake Stadium, Eastleigh
19:45Zebroski 66'Ademola 1' May 18' McMahon 90'Attendance: 915

Second leg

4 May 2013Salisbury City2–0Chelmsford CityThe Raymond McEnhill Stadium, Salisbury
White 45' Sinclair 90+1'Attendance: 1,554
4 May 2013Dover Athletic0–2(a.e.t.) (4–2 p)EastleighCrabble Athletic Ground, River
Southam 50' Scannell 90'Attendance: 1,662

Final

11 May 2013Salisbury City3–2(a.e.t.)Dover AthleticThe Raymond McEnhill Stadium, Salisbury
White 2' Wellard 50' Sinclair 99'Bricknell 2' Simpempa 89'Attendance: 3,408

Stadia and locations

2012–13 Football Conference is located in Southern England
Locations of the Conference South 2011–12 teams
TeamStadiumCapacity
AFC HornchurchHornchurch Stadium3,500
Basingstoke TownThe Camrose6,000
Bath CityTwerton Park8,840
Billericay TownNew Lodge3,500
Boreham WoodMeadow Park4,502
BromleyCourage Stadium6,000
Chelmsford CityMelbourne Stadium3,019
Dorchester TownThe Avenue Stadium5,009
Dover AthleticCrabble Athletic Ground6,500
Eastbourne BoroughPriory Lane4,134
EastleighSilverlake Stadium3,000
FarnboroughCherrywood Road4,000
Havant & WaterloovilleWest Leigh Park5,250
Hayes & Yeading UnitedKingfield Stadium (Groundshare with Woking)6,036
Maidenhead UnitedYork Road3,000
Salisbury CityThe Raymond McEnhill Stadium5,000
Staines TownWheatsheaf Park3,009
Sutton UnitedGander Green Lane7,032
Tonbridge AngelsLongmead Stadium3,000
Truro CityTreyew Road3,500
Welling UnitedPark View Road4,000
Weston-super-MareWoodspring Stadium3,500

Results

Home \ AwayAFCBASBATBILBORBROCHEDORDOVEABEASFARH&WH&YMDHSALSTASUTTONTRUWELWSM
AFC Hornchurch3–02–11–01–11–00–21–00–10–11–01–12–22–00–22–21–11–11–11–20–30–0
Basingstoke Town0–22–13–32–31–11–22–10–12–20–36–21–22–22–00–43–12–11–03–20–11–3
Bath City3–11–12–10–00–22–22–31–22–21–13–22–02–33–10–00–10–43–01–11–01–2
Billericay Town1–11–32–01–12–30–13–11–21–24–02–13–14–11–01–22–32–43–32–11–20–0
Boreham Wood2–11–10–03–01–20–01–21–12–13–03–11–23–02–11–01–13–04–20–01–10–1
Bromley4–01–21–00–11–12–02–10–40–23–11–31–10–43–21–20–00–21–14–00–20–1
Chelmsford City1–42–00–11–12–13–24–00–31–01–16–01–16–23–12–13–21–02–13–22–32–1
Dorchester Town3–12–22–16–10–00–41–01–02–11–02–00–02–24–02–10–40–11–22–22–12–1
Dover Athletic1–00–52–04–10–11–00–10–00–02–02–22–22–12–01–30–11–10–13–23–23–1
Eastbourne Borough1–11–00–32–11–13–01–20–00–31–00–10–12–10–21–22–00–11–21–00–30–2
Eastleigh1–01–13–15–01–13–01–03–11–31–03–12–23–14–21–04–31–04–13–11–33–0
Farnborough1–12–10–14–30–32–03–11–15–20–16–21–14–12–12–13–11–34–14–10–32–1
Havant & Waterlooville5–24–12–15–01–11–21–14–01–12–30–30–12–12–12–23–13–02–21–00–10–3
Hayes & Yeading United1–32–12–24–20–11–13–01–32–41–12–13–21–41–12–34–00–03–21–22–12–1
Maidenhead United2–42–20–13–22–14–22–11–21–21–20–23–22–00–20–11–10–13–18–02–10–1
Salisbury City2–10–23–22–02–23–13–24–01–11–05–31–05–12–01–13–11–02–04–32–11–1
Staines Town3–12–01–31–21–13–11–32–10–20–21–31–21–17–10–63–21–41–41–02–21–1
Sutton United3–13–20–23–02–14–31–01–22–22–02–10–11–15–11–11–01–22–20–12–11–3
Tonbridge Angels1–00–03–41–14–20–30–40–22–11–13–12–31–01–12–11–21–01–13–21–11–1
Truro City3–22–22–12–42–00–11–21–20–32–21–33–33–33–10–11–10–31–22–00–31–2
Welling United4–01–11–15–24–03–13–03–21–12–01–12–01–03–03–21–03–22–24–14–34–1
Weston-super-Mare1–05–21–41–02–43–03–02–00–33–22–41–12–21–11–10–31–01–12–00–22–0

Top scorers

As of 29 April 2013

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Ollie PalmerHavant & Waterlooville25
2Jamie SlabberChelmsford City23
3Jamie WhiteSalisbury City21
4Kieffer MooreDorchester Town20
5Francis CollinTonbridge Angels19
Ross LafayetteWelling United
Ben MayDover Athletic
8Dan FitchettSalisbury City18
Jai ReasonEastleigh
10Craig McAllisterEastleigh17
11Pierre Joseph-DuboisBromley16