Non-League Drama as England’s ‘closest title race’ reaches fever pitch

What is the most competitive league in football? It’s become a heated debate among partisan fans across the world, especially in the new era of big spending within the sport. Some recognise the Premier League, England’s elite division, to be the best. Others point to Manchester City’s recent dominance as the mark of a so-called ‘Farmer’s League,’ inferior in quality to Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga or Real Madrid and Barcelona’s La Liga.

In their terms, competitiveness can be measured via the margins separating a division’s brightest clubs. This season, no such race for victory seems to exist among Europe’s top five leagues. In Serie A, Napoli are taking Inter the distance, but the Milan side seemed destined to take all the glory, as do Barcelona in Spain. Bayern Munich would struggle to squander a six point lead; in England and France, Liverpool and PSG already have one hand on the title.

Fans seeking pure competition this season must therefore look beyond the very best of the sport. By definition, the ‘closest title race’ this season can be found in England’s sixth tier, where many players are only part time, and attendances range from 5,000 to under 400.

We are of course talking about the National League South, one of the two divisions which make up the second step of England’s non-league system. Just three points separate the top four sides in the league, with five games left to play. What brings these teams closer together, to an even greater extent, is the unique stories behind each push for promotion.

Top of the league on 80 points, Worthing could make history

Worthing FC are not a household name. Better known for the sleepy seaside town they owe their moniker to, the West Sussex outfit are among English football’s oldest, having been established in 1886. Yet they have never ventured higher in the football pyramid than the sixth tier, and only reached that milestone in 2022. Currently top of the league on 80 points, Worthing could make history. Finishing first in the National League South guarantees promotion to the National League, just one step below League Two. For many rival fans, the title is theirs to lose.

Worthing’s advantage is only slim. Three sides sit just below them on 77 points, with Eastbourne Borough, the league’s fifth placed team, also on 75.

Dorking Wanderers, who shot to fame through the well-known ‘Bunch of Amateurs’ YouTube series, lead the chasing pack. Outspoken owner-manager Marc White has presided over 12 promotions since founding the team in 1999, taking the Wanderers all the way from park football to England’s fifth division. The league’s top scorers by some distance, Dorking face Worthing in their penultimate game of the season.

Even more imminent is Worthing’s meeting with Truro City, the side currently third in the league. After spending much of last season without a home stadium, the Cornwall outfit have defied all expectations by placing among the league’s biggest spenders, aided by the investments of Canadian Owner Eric Perez.

Any of these four teams could still go on to win the league

Just below them are Torquay United, the division’s ‘big’ name. It’s been a rollercoaster few years for the Gulls, who went from defeat in the National League playoff final in 2021 to relegation from that division two years later. Last season, Torquay went into administration, before being rescued by a group of fan-based owners known as the Bryn Consortium. Poor form in early 2025 threatened to derail their season, but United are now the form side in the league, with only Truro to play out of the top sides in their last five games.

Any of these four teams could still go on to win the league. If Truro beat Worthing this Saturday, and Torquay and Dorking both win, then there will be a four-way tie for top spot with only four matches left to play.

Though the title may be out of reach for the teams beyond the leading group, there’s still plenty to play for. Finishing second or third guarantees a spot in the playoff semi-final, plus the opportunity to play the final game needed for promotion at home. That’s right: the most important game of the league cycle will be played not at Wembley, but in front of as few as 3,000 people.

Non-league football can feel so far away from the showstoppers and set pieces of elite competition that it could almost be classed as another sport. If there’s one thing the National League South title race lacks, it’s displays of technical ability typical to football’s most followed competitions. For passionate supporters, converted newcomers, and intrigued neutrals, its more than making up for that in sheer and utter drama.