Pyramid Guide
How Promotion and Relegation Actually Balance
The key thing: each league is balanced by movement from both directions. You cannot validate League One only against League Two in isolation, because clubs also arrive from the Championship and leave for it.
Why the numbers look uneven
- - League One: 3 up, 4 down. It stays full because 3 come down from the Championship and 4 come up from League Two.
- - League Two: 4 up, 2 down. It stays full because 4 arrive from League One and 2 arrive from National League.
- - National League: 2 up, 4 down. It stays full because 2 arrive from League Two and 4 arrive from National League North/South.
- - Play-off winners are part of promotion totals, so "automatic" and "total promoted" are different numbers.
Movement Overview
| Tier | League | Typical movement | Balance note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | EFL Championship | 3 up to Premier League, 3 down to League One | Provides 3 relegated clubs into League One each season. |
| Level 3 | EFL League One | 3 up (2 automatic + play-off winner), 4 down | Receives 3 clubs from the Championship and 4 clubs up from League Two. |
| Level 4 | EFL League Two | 4 up (3 automatic + play-off winner), 2 down | Receives 4 from League One and 2 promoted from National League. |
| Level 5 | National League | 2 up (champions + play-off winner), 4 down | Feeds League Two and splits relegation between National League North and South. |
| Level 6 | National League North / South | 2 up each division (champions + play-off winner), 4 down each | Feeds Step 3 leagues (Northern Premier, Southern, Isthmian at the next tier). |
Read this alongside league pages
Our league hubs show automatic spots as the baseline number. Recent outcomes tables include the full promoted list, including play-off winners.