The 2013–14 Football Conference season was the tenth season with the Conference consisting of three divisions and the thirty-fourth 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 top team and the winner of the playoff of the Premier division will be promoted to Football League Two, while the bottom four are relegated to the North or South divisions. The champions of the North and South divisions will be promoted to the Premier division, alongside the play-off winners from each division. The bottom three in each of the North and South divisions are relegated to the premier divisions of the Northern Premier League, Isthmian League or Southern League.
Skrill sponsored the Conference for this season and the divisions were known as the Skrill Premier, the Skrill North and the Skrill South.[1] Skrill terminated the sponsorship deal early, meaning a new title sponsor must be found for next season.
A total of 24 teams contest 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. Of the 24 clubs, 14 employed their players as full-time professionals, namely Aldershot, Barnet, Cambridge, Forest Green, Gateshead, Grimsby, Hereford, Kidderminster, Lincoln, Luton, Macclesfield, Salisbury, Tamworth and Wrexham.[3] The remainder were semi-professional, training two or three times a week.
Updated to match(es) played on 26 April 2014. Source: Football Conference Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes:
^Alfreton Town deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player
^ abOn 13 June 2014, Salisbury City were demoted to the Conference South due to financial irregularities. Because of this, Dartford were reprieved from relegation.[4] Salisbury were subsequently expelled from the Football Conference altogether on 4 July 2014, after which they went into liquidation.
^Aldershot Town deducted ten points for entering administration
^ abOn 10 June 2014, Hereford United were expelled from the Conference due to financial irregularities. They were later accepted into the Southern League.[5] Because of this, Chester were reprieved from relegation.[6]
On 4 April 2014, the Football Conference confirmed that they had accepted the resignation of Vauxhall Motors from the league and that, as a result, only the bottom two clubs would be relegated.[8]
Updated to match(es) played on 21 April 2014. Source: Football Conference Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes:
^Harrogate Town deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player
^Oxford City deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player
Updated to match(es) played on 24 April 2014. Source: Football Conference Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated Notes:
^On 10 June 2014, Hereford United were expelled due to financial irregularities. Because of this Hayes & Yeading were reprieved from relegation.[9]