The English football league system has evolved over the years into a complex pyramid.
It is one of the most comprehensive systems in the world consisting of 140 individual leagues, containing more than 480 divisions.
The league system is bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation.
The most successful clubs in each league can rise to a higher league whilst those that finish at the bottom can find themselves sinking down a level.
The Pyramid consists of broadly 5 levels.
At Level 1 comes the Premier League containing 20 clubs, they are often referred to as the ‘Top-Flight’.
Below the Premier League comes the English Football League, which is further divided into three divisions of 24 clubs each, making up the other levels of the pyramid.
The 20 clubs in the Premier League and 72 clubs in the English Football League are all full-time professional clubs.
Then starts non-league football.
The top tier is the national league. It contains a national division of 24 clubs and is the lowest level of nationwide coverage.
Some of these clubs are full-time professionals while others are semi-professional.
Some of the now-famous football players started in Non-League Football.
Players like Ian Wright, an Arsenal legend, played in Sunday League until the age of 21, at Tenem Bee before moving to Greenwich Borough.
From there Wright caught the eye of Crystal Palace and started his professional career.
Another example of such a player would be a current footballing hero – James Vardy.
Before becoming a pro, Vardy, aged 25 had played for various non-league football clubs.
Since then, Vardy became the FA cup winner, played for England, won the title with the Foxes, and became a part of the Premier League 100. A truly remarkable Career.
Non-league football can be a source of true inspiration, be it free-kick routines, comic videos or undiscovered gems.
One such gem that has made the headlines lately is Adam ‘Garmz’ Garmson, a Wolverhampton Casuals player who plays in the Midland Football League Premier Division.
Garmz became a social media sensation for a compilation of his goals which he shared on social media and it’s easy to see what all the hype is all about.
In the compilation, the player scores all types of goals, be it long-range screamers or acrobatic efforts.
The highlight reel even includes finishes from seemingly impossible angles.
The 23-year-old recently played for Down Syndrome Awareness FC to raise support and funds for his friend’s son, scoring another worldie.
Most of his scoring videos can be attributed to his mother, who attends his games and records goals.
When your son is scoring scorchers week in and week out, we can understand why she chooses to do so.
With the player now coming into the limelight, it won’t be long before his name comes up in discussion for the Puskas award.
