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.
Denne historien er fra June 02, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 02, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
ENSIGN TEEN IS TAYLOR MADE!
WHITE Ensign boss Aaron Bloxham has hailed teenage talent Taylor Jacobi after his stoppage-time winner created history.
RAMADAN A RHYTHM IS BACK IN AT BLUES!
CEMAL RAMADAN reckons Bury Town have got back into their rhythm- but knows the Isthmian North title race is going to be a long haul.
DECRUZ IS SINGING THE BLUES FOR DREAM TIE
MERSTHAM manager Jamie Decruz says it would be \"crazy\" not to stage his side's glamour FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.
GLASSBOYS'JORDAAN IS A SCROOGE FOR BUCKS!
STOURBRIDGE snatched a dramatic stoppage time equaliser to seal a share of the points following a pulsating contest with promotion rivals Telford.
CLINICAL CALLUM HITS THE BULLSEYE
DARTFORD their D place in the play-off places as a 79th-minute goal from Callum Jones gave Adrian Pennock's side all three points.
ARDLEY'S OFF TO A WINNER!
NEAL Ardley got off to a winning start as Woking boss with victory over play-off chasing Altrincham and then admitted the Robins have set the mantra he would like the Cards to follow.
MADINE'S A MARVEL AT POOLS
GARY Madine's third goal in a Hartlepool United shirt fired his team to within two points of the National League play-offs after a dramatic victory over Yeovil Town.
BEES RATTLED BY TOP TOWN
BARNET slipped behind York City at the top of the National League after they were held to a draw by FC Halifax Town - a result thoroughly deserved by the Shaymen who battled for the whole game and gave the Bees barely a sight of goal.
Rovers denied by resilient Shots
DISAPPOINTED Steve Cotterill believes that his side had enough chances to beat Aldershot Town after dropping two points in their title quest.
KEEPER JOS REVELS AS GOAL HERO
IF you think goalkeepers never score, you must be Bark-ing mad.
