Southport FC and Scarborough and Scarborough Athletic joined forces during Non League Day on Saturday to show their backing for the 3UP campaign.
The campaign is calling for fairness from the English Football League, allowing relegation and promotion between the Football League and the National League to be available to three teams, not two – as is the case in all higher divisions.
All 72 National League clubs, including Southport FC, are supporting a letter to the EFL requesting a vote to create three promotion places into their league.
It follows a weekend of huge attendances in the National League.
Saturday’s total attendance in Steps 1-4 was 149,060. This is an 11.92% increase on Non-League Day 2024.
Scunthorpe United broke the National League North attendance record on Saturday as a crowd of 8,274 watched the Iron secured a significant 3-1 victory.
The win saw them surge four points clear at the top after beating title rivals Chester.
A Southport FC spokesperson said: “All 72 Vanarama National League clubs are supporting a letter to the EFL requesting a vote to create three promotion places into their league.
“It’s time to Put Football First.”
The National League says the 3UP campaign is vital to secure the future of the English football pyramid and also reduce the feeling that the EFL is becoming a closed shop.
They want the change to be brought in for the start of the 2025/26 season.
The campaign was endorsed at an Extraordinary General Meeting of all the clubs which includes famous names and former Football League sides like Southport, Oldham, Altrincham, Southend and Hartlepool.
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