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.
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Denne historien er fra June 02, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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WEATHER'S ON THE UP
MARC WEATHERSTONE reckons Welwyn Garden City's togetherness is a big part of their hot start and exactly why he thinks they've got the cahunas if and when the going gets tough.
ROW ARE RAISING A GLASS!
DIRECTOR of football Anthony Millerick has revealed the secret behind Hartley Wintney's recent upturn in form players staying behind for a beer after the game.
TOP TEAMS FIGHT TO QUICKFIRE STALEMATE
GLOUCESTER CITY and Basingstoke Town managed to keep their respective unbeaten home and away records intact, with both sides refusing to be defeated in a well-fought top-ofthe-table battle.
McKIMM MAKES A GOOD POINT
Millers manager takes the draw
WANDERERS LET OFF THE FIREWORKS IN THRILLER
FIREWORKS were on display at Cherrywood Road in a game that crackled and fizzed with plenty of bang for your buck.
EZE DOES IT WITH DAZZLING DISPLAY
BOLTON loanee Dubem Eze stole the limelight with a scintillating first-half display, culminating in a stunning strike on the cusp of half-time which effectively wrapped up the points for the Magpies in the battle of the promotion chasers.
SEAGULLS FLY HIGH IN DEFEAT
WESTON-super-Mare boss Scott Bartlett I was proud of his team's performance, pushing Bristol Rovers to within 25 minutes of penalties.
BENBOW SENDING OFF HITS THE PICS
RUSHALL OLYMPIC manager Adam Stevens pointed Re to the dismissal of striker Luke Benbow as a key moment.
HEARTBREAK AS SHRIMPER DREAM DIES AT THE DEATH
Maher's mad at dramatic collapse
TIME TO POPP THE CORKS AS NILE BECOMES A DERBY HERO
KETTERING Town ignored the 78 places gap to down local rivals Northampton Town with a stunning performance at Sixfields.
