The longest serving national league team is...

[tenacres]

Eastleigh FC!

next season will be our 10th in this league, which surpasses Wrexham now they are moving up.

In the 9 seasons we have made the playoffs twice, missed out on the last day twice and never finished less than 8 points above 21st (never been close to getting relegated IMO).

We've made the 3rd round of the FA Cup twice and reached the 2nd round on another 2 occasions.

We have been in the top half of the crowd league every season.



I suppose what I'm saying is, is it time to lose the "little Eastleigh FC in a big league" tag?

[boyatthood]

it is a quiet forgotten achievement to establish a team at this level which has been more used to Wessex league football in its history. Four ex-football league clubs going down this season too underlines how challenging this league is to stay in. 

[blueandwhite]

It’s good to remember the past, but the old days were the old days. What happened decades ago doesn’t have relevance on now or the future. Will be a tricky league to get promoted from, even with millions of pounds of investment east to fail on an individual season. I think if we keep knocking on door we will get there

[unknownquantity]

Have not Aldershot Town been in the National League longer?

[hantslondoner]

Yes - came down from League 2 in 2013. But it was called the Conference Premier until the year we joined.

[tenacres]

Good point re Aldershot. Not sure why they were missed out, have read in a couple of places that we were the longest serving team in this league behind Wrexham. Perhaps it can still be said if we add a caveat about not finishing in 21st or below (Aldershot came 1st & got a reprieve in the 18/19 season).