The 2003âÂÂ04 Football Conference season was the 25th season of the Football Conference and the last consisting of a single division. The top team and the winner of the play-offs were promoted to Football League Two, while this season only one team was relegated.
A total of 22 teams contest the division, including 17 sides from last season, two relegated from the Football League Two and winners of Northern Premier League, Southern Football League and Isthmian League.
Teams promoted from Northern Premier League
Teams promoted from Southern Football League
Teams promoted from Isthmian League
Teams relegated from Third Division
Chester City clinched the league title and won promotion to Football League Two.
Shrewsbury Town also earned promotion to League Two following their 3âÂÂ0 play-off win on penalties after a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Aldershot Town.
No clubs were relegated on the basis of their performances, due to Margate being demoted, Telford folding and the winners and runners-up of the Unibond League not meeting the criteria for a place in the Football Conference.
Shrewsbury Town had the highest attendance, 84,150 in all, with an average of 4,007. Margate and Leigh RMI had the least spectators with 11,905 and 11,881, respectively, with an average of 567 and 566, respectively.
The total number of attendance was 880,220, yielding an average of 1905 per game, which was the all-time record for the Football Conference.
The regular season began on 9 August 2003, and ended on 24 April 2004.
The Conference National play-offs determined the second team that would be promoted to Football League Two. The teams placed second through fifth qualified for the play-offs. The semi-finals were played in a two-leg, home and away format, while the final was played as one leg.
Aldershot Town won 4âÂÂ2 on penalties after tying 1âÂÂ1 on Aggregate.
Shrewsbury Town won 5âÂÂ3 on penalties after tying 2âÂÂ2 on Aggregate.
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