Conference South (as of 2011 billed as Blue Square Bet South for sponsorship reasons) is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference North it is at the second level of the National League System, and at the sixth tier overall of the English football league system.
The Conference South was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of English non-League football. The champions are automatically promoted to Conference National. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to fifth place. The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues.
In an agreement with Setanta Sports, some Conference South matches were to be broadcast live on the Setanta channels. Setanta also re-instated the Conference League Cup, under the name of the Setanta Shield. On June 23, 2009, Setanta entered administration; this will likely terminate the agreement. Conference South teams were expected to receive a minimum of £15,000 per year under the agreement and this is expected to end.
From the 2007–08 season to 2009–10 it was known as Blue Square South; it is now known as the Blue Square Bet South.
Read more about Conference South: Conference South Clubs, 2012–13, Past Conference South Winners, Records
Famous quotes containing the words conference and/or south:
“For 350 years we have been taught that reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man and writing an exact man. Football’s place is to add a patina of character, a deference to the rules and a respect for authority.”
—Walter Wellesley (Red)
“We have heard all of our lives how, after the Civil War was over, the South went back to straighten itself out and make a living again. It was for many years a voiceless part of the government. The balance of power moved away from it—to the north and the east. The problems of the north and the east became the big problem of the country and nobody paid much attention to the economic unbalance the South had left as its only choice.”
—Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)