THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

It's time to widen path to EFL - the competition is Savage, says Robbie

- BY JASON MELLOR

THE National League is shining a light on more than 20 years of hurt in their ongoing fight to make the EFL less of a closed shop.

Just three points separate the top six ahead of today's games, which all kickoff at the later time of 3.03pm as part of the 3UP campaign to secure a third promotion spot into League Two.

The initiative was launched this year by the 72 National League clubs in a bid to help widen the route into the EFL after years of inactivity from the football authorities.

Automatic promotion from the fifth tier was introduced in the 1986-87 season. It took another 16 years before a second route was added through the playoffs.