IT'S 20 years since the Non-League pyramid was given a shake-up at the top. Three feeder divisions to Conference Premier became two as teams Northern, Isthmian and Southern Premiers were effectively merged into Conference North and South.
Two years after play-offs were introduced in Step 1, they were now in play for Steps 2-4.
It was a radical set of changes. The 2003/04 season saw teams finishing second to 13th in Northern, Isthmian and Southern Premier automatically gain a spot in the new set-up.
A set of extra play-offs confirmed the other places, those that missed out would be effectively demoted to Step 3.
Liam Watson's Southport had little to panic over. After relegation from the Conference a year earlier, they finished sixth in Northern Premier and joined Conference North.
Fourteen of their league rivals joined them plus five from the Southern Premier, Redditch United from Southern Midlands/West and Kettering Town from Isthmian Premier.
"I didn't feel like there were any gimmes we lost to all three teams that were relegated in that first year!" Watson told The NLP. "There were some big sides, the likes of Altrincham, Stafford, Nuneaton and Worcester. Kettering were a massive club too.
"I knew if we'd get four or five strong players that summer we'd be tough to beat. The crown jewel was Terry Fearns, who scored 41 goals in all competitions. No-one had anything like our front three of him, Steve Daly and Neil Robinson.
"We had to beat Harrogate on the final day to win the league. They needed a win for the play-offs. After an hour we were 5-0 up. We were by far the best team in the league."
Watson left during the following season following Southport's transition to fulltime, but returned in the summer of 2008.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 02, 2024 من The Non-League Football Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 02, 2024 من The Non-League Football Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
BRENNAN STINGS 'MOANY' BEES!
FRUSTRATED Dean Brennan has lashed out at the \"miserable, moany\" Barnet boo boys and urged them to get behind the team in their bid for promotion.
ACE REED WAITED TO MAKE A MARK
WHEN Mark Reed sensed his manager turn around to look his way on Tuesday night, he knew what was coming next.
CHURCH HAILS TEENAGE KICKS
DEBUTANT Dan Shaw got his teenage kicks with the rocket that fired Alvechurch to the top of the table.
LEES SO PROUD OF HIS SHAKERS
SUPER Shakers made it 14 games unbeaten this season after easing to victory against struggling NPL outfit Blyth Spartans.
SEVEN-UP A STONES
RONAN Silva turned in a four-star display as Salisbury highlighted the three-division difference in quality against their Wessex Premier opponents.
HORGAN'S RELIEF AT TOWN SIX APPEAL
CHIPPENHAM Town heeded manager Gary Horgan's prematch warning about a potential shock and despatched their Jewson Western League hosts.
BRAD'S LEVELLER RESCUES THE IRON
IN A terrific FA Cup second qualifying round tie, Step 4 Newcastle Town held National League North leaders Scunthorpe at Buckmaster Avenue.
WHING IS SURE IT'S MOOR OF THE SAME
A BRACE from Conor Wilkinson brought Solihull Moors back-to-back National League victories.
MOR'S U'S ARE BACK ON TRACK
SUTTON United got back to winning ways with a wel come victory at Southend United.
DUO GET THEIR JUST REWARDS
ENGLAND legend Stuart Pearce has made surprise appearances at two Trident League clubs to hail a pair of award-winning volunteers who earned national recognition for their inspirational exploits.