With York City and Rochdale racing clear in the National League by a staggering 14 points, the 3UP campaign is showing the current system to be ‘Frozen in unfairness’.
The 3UP campaign is being led by the National League in a bid to increase the number of teams promoted – currently standing at one automatically and one via the play-offs – to the English Football League to increase competition across the pyramid.
All 72 teams across the fifth tier and regionalised North and South divisions are demanding an extra promotion place as part of the 3UP campaign to bring it in line with the EFL, which already has three automatic promotion places in each division.
The National League have announced their 3UP Campaign to add further competition between themselves and the EFL.
To raise more awareness (for their campaign) the National League changed their kick off times to 3:03pm to emphasise the 3UP Campaign
In the National League, Rochdale saw their unbeaten run come to an end, but they still remain at the summit of the league table.
Rochdale are currently two points clear, but their game in hand over York City, who are a massive 14 points clear of third-place Carlisle United, was wasted after a 3-2 defeat to promotion chasing Southend United at Roots Hall.
Carlisle have seen their recent turbulent form return after a 2-1 defeat to mid-table Tamworth, putting further distance between themselves and the chase for the top two.
In the National League the team who win the title are promoted into the EFL League Two, and the six teams below fight it out for the remaining place via the play-offs.
Historical context
Last season Oldham Athletic finished the League in fifth and were promoted through the play-offs, despite York finishing second and being 23 points ahead of them in the league.
With the possibility of York having to tackle promotion through the play-offs again, York fan Chris Konya explained “it doesn’t make any sense.”
Expressing frustration, Chris feels more needs to be done now.
Unhappy over the slow decision-making, Chris stated: “I understand, there’s a process to go through, but the F.A. approved cup replays getting axed very quickly, it needs to happen!
“Why is a positive decision like this, taking so long to get over the line?”
High profile support
MP’s gathered at Westminster to show their support.
But it is not just clubs and fans leading the fight, the 3UP Campaign also has the backing of celebrities and local MPs.
Well-known former Sky Sports presenter, Jeff Stelling has also shown his support towards the 3UP campaign, claiming the EFL haven’t ‘opened the door wide enough.’
A Hartlepool fan himself, Stelling went on to say: “There is just no argument against three up and three down, it is a national sporting scandal.”
Another influential character in non league football, Dorking Wanderers owner and manager Marc White, has proposed a restructure by regionalising League Two.
White founded Dorking Wanderers with friends in 1999 as an amateur team.
He initially played for them, as well as running the club and went on to become first team manager.
He has overseen 12 promotions in 23 years as the club has climbed from the 17th-tier of English football to the fifth.
White has stated: “You get more regionalised games, higher attendances, more money and less travelling and that’s how it used to be.”
Hartlepool MP, Jonathan Brash says (stated in a recent discussion) that “3UP is about fairness, this simple change will be transformational for these historic clubs.”
He said: “It is about making sure the football pyramid is not a closed shop, where the rules protect the few and punish everyone else.”
Similar to York City, Hartlepool United have seen the highs and lows of the English Football League system.
York and Hartlepool have both faced one another in the Football League, but now face off in an increasingly competitive and professionalised National League.
“Something to be proud of”
Brash himself is a football fan, and claims: “As Hartlepool United supporters, we see first hand what our club means to our town. It brings people together, backs local jobs and businesses, and gives Hartlepool something to be proud of.”
Under the current system, Pools were promoted via the play-offs in 2021, but still Brash believes that it is unfair only two teams earn promotion from the National League.
He said: “The system is frozen in unfairness. A fairer pathway into the EFL would put clubs like ours on a level playing field when it comes to competing for promotion, and that is why I am backing 3UP.”
