What are the “steps” the FA refers to?
The step numbers are used by the FA for the National League System. Step 1 is level 5 (Conference National Division), step 2 is level 6 (Conference North and South divisions), and so on. This site avoids use of step numbers, primarily because it covers leagues above and below the National League System. (Also, the author was not aware of the step system at the time of the site’s creation in 2002, possibly because it wasn’t then in use by the FA).