In Martin Ling's first press conference at Cambridge United, he made the following statement:
"For me to go from the Football League to the Conference it had to be a club that could progress back into the League and work its way through Leagues Two and One," he confirmed.
"It's no good going into a Conference club that would be a one season wonder in League Two."
Now, who were the last club that were a one-season wonder and came straight back down?
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The answer is never.
That is, not in the current format of straight promotion and relegation between the Conference and Division Four.
The "experiment" of allowing non-league clubs into the football league without the need of election began in the 1986-1987 season, Lincoln were the unlucky club to be forced to take relegation into the depths of non-league while Scarborough went up. They didn't come back down again until 1999, the infamous day of May at Brunton Park where Jimmy Glass, Goalkeeper on loan from Swindon Town, scored the winner against Plymouth Argyle which doomed Scarborough to non-league football. The goal was scored so late that the final whistle had already gone at the McAlpine where the Scarborough fans were celebrating thinking they had survived.
Since then the teams that have gone up and stayed include the likes of Lincoln City, who eventually got back up, Darlington, Carlisle United, Accrington Stanley etc.... One or two clubs have been yoyo clubs, Barnet etc.... Some have gone up and eventually come back down, Rushden and Diamonds, Kidderminster Harriers, Boston United, meanwhile some went up and then, well..... Maidstone!
Some clubs have even won this league but considered themselves too good for the league and decided to stay, eh, Stevenage Borough?
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However, having said that.....
I looked up the "all time league table".
Two teams are right at the bottom and both only lasted one season each.
Middlesbrough Ironopolis, no connection to the other lot and Bootle. Both only lasted one season.
Both were around the 1890s - 1900s but I can't be bothered to look it up. In 1892, after a successful experiment with the original Football League, they decided that they would increase the League and have a Division Two. I think one or both these clubs were included in then along with the likes of Sunderland and Liverpool. Without looking it up I wouldn't know but that sounds about right.
You really should get out more H ! 
The answer is never.
That is, not in the current format of straight promotion and relegation between the Conference and Division Four.
The "experiment" of allowing non-league clubs into the football league with the need of election began in the 1986-1987 season, Lincoln were the unlikely club to be forced to take relegation into the depths of non-league while Scarborough went up. They didn't come back down again until 1999, the infamous day of May at Brunton Park where Jimmy Glass, Goalkeeper on loan from Swindon Town, scored the winner against Plymouth Argyle which doomed Scarborough to non-league football. The goal was scored so late that the final whistle had already gone at the McAlpine where the Scarborough fans were celebrating thinking they had survived.
Since then the teams that have gone up and stayed include the likes of Lincoln City, who eventually got back up, Darlington, Carlisle United, Accrington Stanley etc.... One or two clubs have been yoyo clubs, Barnet etc.... Some have gone up and eventually come back down, Rushden and Diamonds, Kidderminster Harriers, Boston United, meanwhile some went up and then, well..... Maidstone!
Some clubs have even won this league but considered themselves too good for the league and decided to stay, eh, Stevenage Borough?
However, having said that.....
I looked up the "all time league table".
Two teams are right at the bottom and both only lasted one season each.
Middlesbrough Ironopolis, no connection to the other lot and Bootle. Both only lasted on season.
Both were around the 1890s - 1900s but I can't be bothered to look it up. In 1892, after a successful experiment with the original Football League, they decided that they would increase the League and have a Division Two. I think one or both these clubs were included in then along with the likes of Sunderland and Liverpool. Without looking it up I wouldn't know but that sounds about right.
Impressive football knowledge, but still....... anorak!
Impressive internet research skills more like. 
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The only bit I "looked up" was the bit about the all time League table, honest!
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