The best title race in England - Six teams can still win the National League South on final day

25.04.2025 - 10:22 | source: Transfermarkt | Reading Time: 5 mins

Exclusive interview with Truro manager

The best title race in England - Six teams can still win the National League South on final day

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In the Premier League, we haven't been treated to the best of title battles this season. After a well-fought three-horse race between Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool for much of last season, Arne Slot's team have ran away with it this campaign, and can be crowned champions with a point against Tottenham at Anfield this Sunday. However, there is one title race in England that could not be more jam-packed with drama. All the way down in the sixth tier of English football, the National League South title race will go down as one for the ages.

Ahead of the final day this Saturday, as many as six teams can still win the title, and therefore subsequently take the one automatic promotion place to the National League. Cornish side Truro City currently lead the way on 86 points, but they are only ahead of Devon rivals Torquay United on goal difference, and a three goal swing in Torquay's favour would see them win the title instead. Meanwhile Eastbourne Borough, Worthing, Boreham Wood and Dorking all remain in contention. All of those six teams avoid playing each other on the final day this weekend. This week Transfermarkt spoke exclusively to Truro manager John Askey ahead of a nervy weekend, as he tries to steer his team over the line.

Staff J. Askey Age: 60 Truro City FC All seasons -

Games 44 Won 24 Draw 11 Lost 9

Can Truro City become first Cornish side to reach fifth tier?

"At the start of the season we were favourites to go down," reveals a jubilant Askey. Like all teams in the National League South, Truro are part-time, with their playing staff ranging all the way from bartenders to builders. However, the vast majority of the teams in the division above - the National League - are full-time, and Truro are an ambitious club. In 2023 they were taken over by a Canadian consortium led by Cornwall RLFC chairman Eric Perez. Since then the Tinners have moved into their new 3,000 capacity stadium and are flying on the pitch. "We've fallen in love with the place and we see massive potential in this football club," Perez said.

If Truro are able to get over the line and clinch promotion this weekend, they would become the first ever team from Cornwall to make it to the fifth-tier of English football. "For the players to be creating history, that's one thing. But I think for the area it is massive," explains Askey. "You know, for local children football has never been so massive in Cornwall. It's one of the only counties probably without a league team. So for us to get close to that would be huge for Cornwall and just show youngsters that it's possible that they can become professional footballers and there will be an opportunity if they're good enough at Truro."

However, Askey knows promotion is far from clinched in what has been a true rollercoaster of a season for all teams involved in the race for promotion. "There's been so many changes at the top, even in the last four or five weeks, and whoever goes top seems to drop out the following week. Although we're in a great position, the best position, we're so close, but still so far." Askey has managed as high as League One with Shrewsbury, as well as taking charge of a plethora of games in League Two with the likes of Port Vale, but getting promoted with Truro would be up there with his greatest feats: "We've got to achieve it first, but if we do then it'll be massive for the football club. With all the travelling, the low wage bill, I haven't got great training facilities - we share training facilities on a Tuesday, we only have half a pitch. We have to overcome a lot really. So it would be a fantastic achievement, near on a miracle if we do go up."

Staff N. Warnock Age: 76 All seasons -

All competitions Games 1173 Won 442 Draw 307 Lost 424

Truro will play at home to 21st-placed St Albans, whilst second-placed Torquay take on Hemel Hempstead away, who are in 11th. A huge win for Torquay could see them leapfrog Truro, even if the Tinners were to win themselves. And they may be looking for some advice from EFL legend Neil Warnock, who became an advisor to the club at the start of the season. Asked how he will approach Truro's final game, Askey admitted it will be no different to any other match, "It's the same as normal. Obviously, I don't have a great deal contact with the players anyway because we're part-time. So now we won't prepare any different. It's going to be tough, St Albans are fighting for the lives and they've had good results."

Askey is hoping a jubilant home atmosphere can be the difference this weekend, "To have a game like this and to be playing at home in front of a big crowd, that could be the difference between us going up or not. If the crowd really get behind us, we'll be hoping that they can cheer us on for a historical win." In recent years, we have seen North American owners inject big money and help Welsh side Wrexham race up the leagues, and Truro will be hoping for something similar in the South West. Not many teams have a bigger catchment area than Truro - they are the only top-six-tier Cornish side, and the nearest professional club is Plymouth, 55 miles away. Whatever the outcome on Saturday, eyes all across the country have been drawn down to the National League South in what has been a truly legendary title race.

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