LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD

As the Nationwide Conference moves into an exciting new era, we can look back on 2003/04 as one of the most successful seasons in our history.

Attendance figures topped the one-million-mark and viewing figures on Sky's televised games were higher than ever before in a season that ended in dramatic fashion at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday 16th May.

The second year of the promotion play-offs proved just how exciting they can be, as Shrewsbury triumphed in a penalty shoot-out against Aldershot after the teams had played out a 1-1 at Stoke City's ground.

The Shrews therefore joined Chester City in winning promotion to the Football League after Mark Wright's team enjoyed an extremely successful championship-winning season.

As we bid farewell to those two clubs, wishing them every success for the future, we welcome Carlisle and York into the Nationwide Conference, who will no doubt be hoping to emulate the achievements of Chester and Shrewsbury. We also welcome Crawley Town and Canvey Island, who won promotion following their successful campaigns in 2003/04.

Canvey Island, who enjoyed an extended run in the FA Cup, where they took Southend to a First round replay before going out to a last-minute goal in a 3-2 defeat, stormed to the Ryman Premier title, amassing an impressive 104 points and scoring 106 goals in the process!

Crawley meanwhile won their place in the Nationwide Conference by claiming the Dr Marten's Premier League championship.

Hucknall Town were the Unibond Premier League champions, but were not able to make the step up to the Nationwide Conference due to the fact that their stadium does not yet meet the required criteria. They have now joined the Nationwide North and will be hoping for similar success in the new semi-national division as they look to improve their ground and return to the Nationwide Conference.

In fact, for the first time ever, there were no teams officially 'relegated' from the Conference, which meant a welcome reprieve for Leigh RMI and Northwich. Having gone into liquidation, Telford have reformed, under FA regulations, and will play in Division One of the Northern Premier League next season, while Margate's ground no longer meets Conference criteria and they will now play in the new Nationwide South semi-national division.

The Football Conference are delighted to have agreed an extension of our sponsorship deal with Nationwide Building Society until the end of the 2006/07 season. This sponsorship also covers the newly formed feeder divisions Nationwide North and Nationwide South.

And with plans in the pipeline for four Nationwide Conference clubs to build new stadia in the near future, the general feeling is that the competition is truly entering a new era, which will effectively begin on August 14th when the 2004/05 season kicks off!