The National League game starts at 15:03

Anyone who glances at the weekend game schedule will probably notice that the Enterprise National League game kicks off at 3:03 p.m.

The odd time, three minutes after the traditional 3pm kick-off time, is to raise awareness of the National League’s campaign to improve promotion and relegation between top-flight non-league football and the Football League.

Until the end of the 1986/87 season, promotion to the Football League was based on a voting system by the Football League clubs, meaning it largely did not occur.

Neil Warnock’s Scarborough were the first team to benefit from automatic promotion, replacing Lincoln City, and the promotion places were expanded to two in 2003.

Fast forward to 2025/26 and the National League have launched a petition to show fans’ enthusiasm for the three games.

In terms of arguments for change, the 2022/23 season is one such example when the top two teams both posted over 100 points. Champions Wrexham managed 111 while runners-up Notts County posted 107. However the latter, forced through the play-offs, eventually beat third placed Chesterfield (84 points) in the final.

Last season’s champions Barnet bagged 102 points while second-placed York City (96) lost out in the play-offs.

Former Premier League boss Neil Warnock has backed 3UP

Speaking to the National League website, Warnock himself backed the three points: “I think it encourages everyone.

“And that’s why I really believe that they should follow suit with 3UP. The clubs in the bottom division of the EFL, they don’t have the gods to stay there when there are non-League teams who are really great and doing really well.”

“These are clubs that have good teams, have good facilities. In my opinion, it would be criminal if only the teams that go up are automatically up.”

“I think what makes our football great in England is that everyone gets the same incentives in the Football League… and non-league has grown tremendously. When you look at our non-League, we should be very proud of that and the number of people we attract.

“All that is needed now is common sense, and the right to do so.”

3UP: National League Action Day

National League Action Day takes place over the weekend on Saturday November 15th. All National League matches will kick off at 3.03pm to raise awareness of the 3UP campaign. If you would like to sign the petition – put your name to 3UP here.

Slough Town’s home game against Gloucester City in the FA Cup will also kick off at 15.03 but it is not yet known whether Maidenhead United’s trip to Leamington in the same competition will follow.

Related: ‘It should have been Everest’ – The number of National League promotion places has been good