This season, the race to earn promotion and reach the Vanarama National League has brought much emotion to both National League North and National League South.

The South has received much coverage across media outlets, and as we head into the final day of the season on Saturday, six teams could earn automatic promotion, including Truro City, Boreham Wood and Dorking Wanderers, but the battle in the North is just as keenly fought.

Three teams could still win Vanarama National League North outright in Kidderminster Harriers, Brackley Town and Scunthorpe United, which would take them up automatically to begin next season in the National League. Those three sides, plus Chester in fourth,h have already earned a Play-Off place should they need it. From there, six teams are contesting the three remaining Play-Off positions from fifth-place King’s Lynn Town all the way down to Spennymoor in tenth.

1st – KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS, 87 pts

Going into the final day of the season, Kidderminster Harriers sit top of the ladder with 89 points and a +50 goal difference that gives them a certain advantage against Brackley Town, who share their return but only have a +28 goal difference. Kidderminster are on a 13-game unbeaten run, containing 11 victories, and their last loss came in late February away to Spennymoor. Their opponents to end the season are Southport, who haven’t won since an away trip to Rushall in mid-March. Earlier in the season in the reverse fixture, Kidderminster were victorious 2-0 at Aggborough thanks to goals from Ashley Hemmings and Zak Brown.

2nd – BRACKLEY TOWN, 87 pts

It’s hard not to appreciate Brackley Town given their part-time status and consistency to challenge for promotion. Level on points with leaders Kidderminster, they require a swing of 22 goals on the final day to win the title, should both teams pick up three points. As unlikely as it sounds, Brackley are in the best possible position to make that happen as they take on bottom-side Farsley Celtic at St. James Park. Farsley have conceded 108 goals this season at an average of 4.7 per game. Back in December, the two sides drew at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium with Robbie Fox and Jez Abbey on the scoresheet.

3rd – SCUNTHORPE UNITED, 87 pts

Of the top three sides gunning for title glory, Scunthorpe United face the most difficult challenge on the final day of the 2024/25 Vanarama National League North campaign. The Iron travel to Play-Off challengers Hereford with both sides desperate for three points. A goalless draw at the Attis Arena in late December won’t give Scunthorpe much reason to cheer either. Since winning the Lincolnshire Senior Cup, United have been inconsistent with three wins and two losses, but crucially, both losses came away from home, as Saturday’s game will also be.

4th – CHESTER, 84 pts

Many experts believe that momentum is key heading into the Play-Offs, and Chester can boast that, having won three of their last three games played. Callum McIntyre’s side prepare for a tough away tie at King’s Lynn Town, having not lost a game since they travelled to Scunthorpe United on 22 March. Their most recent three have been confidence-building fixtures against teams in mid-table and below; Darlington, as they slipped from Play-Off contention, Southport and Marine. Chester will need to take that momentum into their away game at King’s Lynn; the game between the two sides earlier in the season at the Deva Stadium ended 1-1.

5th – KING’S LYNN TOWN, 79 pts

Desperately unlucky not to gain promotion in 2023 when they ended the season just two points shy of winners AFC Fylde, King’s Lynn Town are back two seasons on, challenging for promotion. Adam Lakeland’s side had a small dip mid-March with two home games garnering just one point before the beginning of a run of five wins and a draw in their most recent six. Earlier in the season, King’s Lynn played out a 1-1 draw with their opponents on Saturday, Chester, with Charlie Caton and Jonny Margetts on the scoresheet.

6th – CHORLEY, 76 pts

On paper, Chorley should have enjoyed a fairly easy run-in with three of their last four against Marine, Radcliffe and relegated Rushall Olympic. A goalless draw against Marine at Victory Park, along with some poor away form, has left Andy Preece’s side under pressure ahead of a trip to Rushall. The worry for the Magpies is that Chorley will face a series of away fixtures in the Play-Offs, and their record across the season is a concern. Chorley have lost more (9) than anybody else in the top ten and picked up the fewest wins (6) on the road. In their favour, the Lancashire club are known for punching above their weight and in Andy Preece, they possess a very experienced campaigner at the helm.

7th – HEREFORD, 76 pts

If Chorley had the kindest run-in on paper, Hereford had the most difficult with three of their last five being against Chester, Kidderminster Harriers, and they end the season at home to Scunthorpe United. Hereford had gone five games unbeaten before they were put to the sword last time out by title contenders Kidderminster Harriers. No game exists in isolation, and Hereford won’t want to go into the Play-Offs on the back of two defeats.

8th – CURZON ASHTON, 76 pts

A confidence-boosting success against Farsley Celtic over the Easter weekend has lifted the mood at the Tameside Stadium after three games without a win (two losses and a draw), but more alarmingly, no goals for Curzon Ashton in those three. On Christmas Day, Curzon topped the league table but had just suffered a 4-1 defeat to Leamington, who are their opponents this weekend. Level on points with the two sides above them, the Nash also share an identical goal difference to Hereford. Despite being outside the top seven, Curzon are strongly tipped to make it back in by the final whistle on Saturday, given that Hereford host Scunthorpe but Leamington are a stubborn side to break down.

9th – BUXTON, 74 pts

Buxton are relying on results elsewhere, sitting two points shy of seventh and having lost an important game at Alfreton Town last weekend. Prior to that, they had gone four games unbeaten, including three wins. John McGrath will be confident of a home win against relegated Warrington Town in the final round of fixtures, although Town did pick up a win in the reverse fixture in December courtesy of a Joe Rodwell-Grant goal.

10th – SPENNYMOOR TOWN, 73 pts

Spennymoor Town have two games to look forward to, at home to Oxford City in their final league game before taking on Aldershot Town in the FA Trophy Final on Sunday, 11 May at Wembley. Mathematically, Spennymoor are in with a shout, just three points behind Chorley and Hereford but boasting a better goal difference. They remain only outside shots because the likelihood of Buxton, Curzon, and the two sides above the Play-Off line dropping significant points is slim. Too many draws at home (8) and too many losses away (9) have left Spennymoor with it all to do.

Whoever does win automatic promotion and earn a Play-Off berth will undoubtedly have earned it; all three of the National League competitions are a slog, and travel can be extensive, especially for part-time teams.