2018-19 National League North

[Prodigal]

Well done Chorley, a very much deserved promotion.

Thank you Blueandwhite, it is very rare for us to get any praise from Chester fans so it is really appreciated, looking forward to a really difficult challenge.

 

[Minstermen central]

We have signed Keiran Green from Blyth,never heard of him so not a clue if any good.

 

[Harrier94]

The James Milner of non league Sam Austin is staying with us next season.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Another out the exit door at Alfreton. Tom Platt has also signed for Boston. Was not one of Billys favourites. Decent player but too inconsistent

 

[Lucky Bobble]

"Brackley Town was named Football Foundation Community Club of the Year at the National Game Awards 2019. "

Don't really know what this means, but is perhaps evidence of how they are building a nice club down here. I see kids in the town wearing Brackley tops these days, certainly wouldn't have happened a decade ago.

 

[hardbutfair]

"Brackley Town was named Football Foundation Community Club of the Year at the National Game Awards 2019. "

Don't really know what this means, but is perhaps evidence of how they are building a nice club down here. I see kids in the town wearing Brackley tops these days, certainly wouldn't have happened a decade ago.

I`m sure our buddy in Halifax has his own explanation, but for me it endorses somewhat my point the other day. The club is building, with backing for sure, but rooted in the local community environment. It is well run, and successful, with a steadily broadening base. Checked Chorley attendance stats, noted that Brackley and Chorley are about level for average attendance as percentage of local population. Food for thought, perhaps.

 

[hardbutfair]

The joys of part-time football - can`t begrudge Connor Hall a shot at an FT contract, hopefully he won`t get as fxxxxd up at Harrogate as Aaron Williams ended up being. Kevin Wilkin now needs a commending CB alongside Gaz Dean as well as that pacy goal poacher we talked about a few days ago.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

The joys of part-time football - can`t begrudge Connor Hall a shot at an FT contract, hopefully he won`t get as fxxxxd up at Harrogate as Aaron Williams ended up being. Kevin Wilkin now needs a commending CB alongside Gaz Dean as well as that pacy goal poacher we talked about a few days ago.

Took him most of the season to get decent, then when he has, he's left....

Mixed feelings about signing up much of the same squad. If we can hit the ground running then continuity for a 4th season in a row could be a huge advantage. Equally we've fallen short the last 2 years, and operate with a threadbare squad, which makes me wonder if a too high percentage of the budget goes on these players. Either way, I'd agree - we need a couple of strong recruits to really crack on - but Kevin has been better at recruiting the old Nuneaton players he knew, than uncovering newer ones. Also aware of how much the loss of Gudger and Williams knocked us back last year. I dream of finding the next Ryan Austin out there - best defender I've seen at the club..

 

[Darlo On Tour]

I`m sure our buddy in Halifax has his own explanation, but for me it endorses somewhat my point the other day. The club is building, with backing for sure, but rooted in the local community environment. It is well run, and successful, with a steadily broadening base. Checked Chorley attendance stats, noted that Brackley and Chorley are about level for average attendance as percentage of local population. Food for thought, perhaps.

In fairness I've always thought Brackley Town are one of the best footballing sides in this division. Apart from when I was absolutely shell-shocked after seeing our best away performance of the season back in August. The likelihood of that happening again next season, highly unlikely.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

A bit late with the Congrats! - Sorry chaps!

Well done Chorley and good luck for the coming season in the National League.

 

[Prodigal]

A bit late with the Congrats! - Sorry chaps!

Well done Chorley and good luck for the coming season in the National League.

Thanks Darlo on Tour, your good wishes are appreciated. We will enjoy the ride, though as it will be, cant wait to get started. Good luck to Darlo next season.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Reece Styche has tweeted he is looking for a new start. Pretty much confirms he is leaving us. Personally despite his ability his attitude stinks so not sad to see him leave

 

[JE93]

Reece Styche has tweeted he is looking for a new start. Pretty much confirms he is leaving us. Personally despite his ability his attitude stinks so not sad to see him leave

Am I going to be made to eat my words on this one?

Still cant see it. Surely you cant sign a player who would be your highest earner when you still dont have a manager in place for next season.

 

[Clem Fandango]

I fully expect us to be here next season again so might as well post here now. We've not signed anyone new yet, basically re-signed almost everyone who wasn't a loanee from the previous season. Chris Todd absolutely decimated our squad however so thats not many. We need half a squad basically.

Mike Cook is confirmed as new manager and he took us from being frankly dead and buried (15 games without a win under Todd) to a team that had play-off form. A lot of that was thanks to Fabien Robert who came to us on loan from FGR, would love him to be here again but not sure it'll happen.

 

[MWS]

I fully expect us to be here next season again so might as well post here now. We've not signed anyone new yet, basically re-signed almost everyone who wasn't a loanee from the previous season. Chris Todd absolutely decimated our squad however so thats not many. We need half a squad basically.

Mike Cook is confirmed as new manager and he took us from being frankly dead and buried (15 games without a win under Todd) to a team that had play-off form. A lot of that was thanks to Fabien Robert who came to us on loan from FGR, would love him to be here again but not sure it'll happen.

He's been released so you never know.

 

[Quakerz]

Reece Styche has tweeted he is looking for a new start. Pretty much confirms he is leaving us. Personally despite his ability his attitude stinks so not sad to see him leave

One of our directors John Woolnough has just tweeted a map of him going somewhere, with Alfreton circled and the comment "a good place to stop over".

This is just too co-incidental.

I'm getting wood here.

 

[Quakerz]

Am I going to be made to eat my words on this one?

Still cant see it. Surely you cant sign a player who would be your highest earner when you still dont have a manager in place for next season.

We re-signed Jordan Nicholson for next season by taking up his one year option without apparently the say so of our next manager.

It's also possible that the new manager candidates might have been briefed about Nicholson and Styche and agreed to it all in principle.

 

[Quakerz]

Latest Northern echo article states that Darlington hope to name our new manager early next week.

The names in contention have played for Darlington (it's an unwritten rule)

Two of the names in contention are current NLN managers, and the 2 that fit the bill are Mark Bower and Alun Armstrong.

Oh, go on then...

 

[DarkSithLord]

Am I going to be made to eat my words on this one?

Still cant see it. Surely you cant sign a player who would be your highest earner when you still dont have a manager in place for next season.

Complete guess but I can see Darlo signing Styche and unveiling Armstrong as manager

 

[Quakerz]

Complete guess but I can see Darlo signing Styche and unveiling Armstrong as manager

Still can't quite get my head around the possibility of Styche coming back to us - he enjoyed it at Darlo but ultimately we had to sell him to keep the wage bill within our means. So if that could happen why would he want to come back? He has said that he didn't want to leave but if he can be sold once he can be sold twice, what about once bitten twice shy?

Can we afford him? Would the new manager want him?

I don't know, I'll believe it when I see it, I'm not hanging my hopes on it happening though.

Armstrong as manager? Yeah that's a strong possibility, I think he would be our first choice (but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be appointed)

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Thanks Darlo on Tour, your good wishes are appreciated. We will enjoy the ride, though as it will be, cant wait to get started. Good luck to Darlo next season.

Thanks Prodigal, we're still living in hope that we'll be joining you in the near future. Looking forward to next season with a new manager at the helm to steady the good ship Darlo! Good luck to Chorley for next season.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Reece Styche has tweeted he is looking for a new start. Pretty much confirms he is leaving us. Personally despite his ability his attitude stinks so not sad to see him leave

Dunno I'm still not entirely convinced he's heading back up North, unless Spenny are sniffing around. He's got plenty of ability it's his mouth that needs duct taping.

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Reece Styche has tweeted he is looking for a new start. Pretty much confirms he is leaving us. Personally despite his ability his attitude stinks so not sad to see him leave

He might be looking into having a boxing career now that the Impact Arena has been granted permission to host boxing matches on it's pitch. First up Styche in the red corner vs Heath in the blue

 

[Darlo On Tour]

Brackley Town's defender Connor Hall gone to Harrogate Town.
AFC Telford United have signed winger Chris Lait from Tamworth.
Curzon Ashton have signed Nicky Wroe from Boston United.
Salford City's Danny Livesey agrees to join Chester on a permanent deal on July 1st.

 

[Railway Blue]

David Powell, Chester fan and sports correspondent for local newspaper the Chester Chronicle has drawn up his Conference North team of the season having been to all of Chester's 42 league games last season. They are:

GK Tony Breedon (Leamington FC)
RB Sam Minihan (Stockport County)
LB Adam Blakeman (Chorley FC)
CB Gaz Dean (Brackley Town)
CB Andy Teague (Chorley FC)
LW Ollie Crankshaw (Curzon Ashton)
CM Shane Byrne (Brackley Town)
CM Jamie Chandler (Spennymoor Town)
RW John Johnson (Altrincham FC)
ST Glen Taylor (Spennymoor Town)
ST Jordan Hulme (Altrincham FC)

Subs
GK Matt Urwin (Chorley FC)
DF Ash Palmer (Stockport County)
MF Gary Stopforth (Chester FC)
ST Matt Warburton (Stockport County)
ST Daniel Udoh (Telford Utd)

Any comments?

 

[JE93]

If I were to build a team from the league would probably look a bit like:

tional league north team)
4-3-3

Gk - Matt Urwin (Chorley)

Rb - Luke Trotman (Darlington)
CB- Gareth Dean (Brackley)
CB- James Curtis (Spennymoor)
LB - Stephen Brogan (Spennymoor)

CM - Rob Ramshaw (Spennymoor)
CM - Matty Warburton (Stockport)
CM - Shane Byrne (Brackley Town)

Fwd - Dan Maguire (Blyth)
Fwd - Glenn Taylor (Spennymoor)
Fwd - Daniel Udoh (Telford)

 

[Minstermen central]

Could not name a team but

Warburton and right winger on loan at Chester were players I saw last season.
Johnson and Holme at Altrincham,Colby Bishop at Leamington and Deaney at Telford we’re others I rated.
Newton is York best player but downed tools under Collins but brilliant under Watson.

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Why has Adam Walker left Brackley to join Telford?

Played every match for the last 3 seasons at Brackley. The rest of last year's squad pretty much signed up - wonder why he has chosen to leave?

Brackley going backwards? Statement of intent by Telford? Or some other reason. He's a real loss - a 7/10 player week in week out, but the formation needs to suit to get the best out of him...

 

[AndyPark]

Welcome Alun Armstrong to Darlington.

Decent appointment for us.

 

[hardbutfair]

Why has Adam Walker left Brackley to join Telford?

Played every match for the last 3 seasons at Brackley. The rest of last year's squad pretty much signed up - wonder why he has chosen to leave?

Brackley going backwards? Statement of intent by Telford? Or some other reason. He's a real loss - a 7/10 player week in week out, but the formation needs to suit to get the best out of him...

Agree, and on balance sorry to see him go. Adam has had a very consistent season without maybe quite hitting the heights. Does he live up towards Telford, is it a question of money, does Kevin Wilkin have a change of formation in mind? If I was being marginally critical, he is maybe losing a yard of pace that he didn`t start off with anyway, and doesn`t score the goals he might. Leaving the club short of combative midfielders, as well as a centre back with Connor Hall`s departure. No doubt Wilkin has a plan, as long as it doesn`t involve Greg Smith-types, and it has to include a pacy striker capable of starting.

No problem with freshening up the squad, but I hope he is getting on with it right now. Would hate to think the new season will start without the squad in place, that`s what hurt us this season gone, and stopped a title challenge.