2020/21 National League North

[DarkSithLord]

Time for a new thread for a new season. Its going to be a season like no other - a midweek start to the league, lots of midweek fixtures, reduced attendances and no away fans.

Team Line Up

AFC Fylde
AFC Telford United
Alfreton Town
Blyth Spartans
Boston United
Brackley Town
Bradford Park Avenue
Chester
Chorley
Curzon Ashton
Darlington
Farsley Celtic
Gateshead
Gloucester City
Guiseley
Hereford
Kettering
Kidderminster Harriers
Leamington
Southport
Spennymoor Town
York City

Welcome back to AFC Fylde and Chorley!

How we all feeling ahead of the new campaign?

 

[JE93]

Should be a pretty interesting season.

• AFC Fylde - expect them to spend big and have the budget to be challenging for the top 3.
• AFC Telford United - seemed to make some decent signings early doors. Should be a better season.
• Alfreton Town - don't know much about your signings. But would guess a solid mid table season beckons.
• Blyth Spartans - look like they're struggling again in putting together a squad on a show string. Expect nothing but another tough season for them.
• Boston United - beaten finalists, seem to have kept most of what they wanted with a few decent additions so far, expect them to be up there again.
• Brackley Town - always there or there abouts.
• Bradford Park Avenue - surely can't start as badly as last season. Bower and Boshell are good at this level, just to be seen what level of budget they have.
• Chester - reduced budget as backer leaves but seem to have signed up a fair amount of last seasons squad.
• Chorley - biggest squad turn over at Chorley than there has been for a while. Some big and dependable players to replace if they want to be competitive at the top again.
• Curzon Ashton - seem to have made some decent signings.
• Darlington - happy with our signings, should be looking to push into top 7 this season.
• Farsley Celtic - not heard anything from them.
• Gateshead - decent squad, Mike Williamson did a decent job first season in charge, aided by being full time.
• Gloucester City - spending big on their return to the city. Not much knowledge of their manager but for the signings they've made they should be aiming for playoffs.
• Guiseley - seem to have lost a few players, will need to find some gems to repeat last seasons form.
• Hereford - surely can't miss spend as badly as they did last summer, but haven't heard any signings announcements or statements of intent.
• Kettering - Paul Cox will have them solid enough. Not pretty but will give them a pretty good chance of staying up.
• Kidderminster Harriers - another team not seen huge amounts about, not seen any marquee signings to suggest they'll push on.
• Leamington - Paul Holleran will make sure they're competitive
• Southport - not seen much from them. Seem a mid table side since the money and full time faded away.
• Spennymoor Town - made some big signings, under performed last season by not making the playoffs, really should be in the top 5 with the squad they have.
• York City - Watson got rid of almost his whole squad and a couple of the ones he wanted to keep (Ferguson and Green) going to the national league. They will feel gutted they were really starting to turn the screw on Kings Lynn last season, but got no where near Alty in the Playoffs. They should be aiming for first place with their resources.

 

[ForzaCounty]

• AFC Fylde - expect them to spend big and have the budget to be challenging for the top 3.

The chairman's made a big fuss about cutting back spending so I doubt it. Mind you, Perkins is a remarkable signing for that level

 

[JE93]

The chairman's made a big fuss about cutting back spending so I doubt it. Mind you, Perkins is a remarkable signing for that level

Pleads poverty and makes big signings quell surprise. They will be one of the biggest spenders in the league solely by staying full time. Only other full time sides are York, Gateshead and Kidderminster (if they've stayed FT?). So would imagine they are immediately second biggest spenders.

So budget wise and the extra time the manager is afforded with the players, full time teams finishing lower than 8th or 9th in this league really are under performing.

 

[Prodigal]

Sadly cant see Chorley being anything other than lower mid table at best, as stated above wholesale changes been made, lots of young players brought in new "hybrid model" I.e. extra daytime training but reading between the lines it's a very low budget. We shall gave to wait and see.

 

[Minstermen central]

Read a piece in Blackpool gazette during lockdown that Flyde chairman has reduced payment from £75,000 to £37,500 a month he gives club,so that’s £450,000 plus gate money etc.
They aren’t skint.

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

Time for a new thread for a new season. Its going to be a season like no other - a midweek start to the league, lots of midweek fixtures, reduced attendances and no away fans.

Team Line Up

AFC Fylde
AFC Telford United
Alfreton Town
Blyth Spartans
Boston United
Brackley Town
Bradford Park Avenue
Chester
Chorley
Curzon Ashton
Darlington
Farsley Celtic
Gateshead
Gloucester City
Guiseley
Hereford
Kettering
Kidderminster Harriers
Leamington
Southport
Spennymoor Town
York City

Welcome back to AFC Fylde and Chorley!

How we all feeling ahead of the new campaign?

The biggest loss for us will be Asante and and all the goals he scored to replace him we have 3 lads who took it in turns to play along side him last season and two youth team players who look very good prospects but will they be able to step up when needed, it’s all about cost cutting this year just to survive. All the players who have resigned from last seasons squad have done so on reduced terms so we are very great full to them for that.

 

[Alty Pieman]

Time for a new thread for a new season. Its going to be a season like no other - a midweek start to the league, lots of midweek fixtures, reduced attendances and no away fans.

Team Line Up

AFC Fylde
AFC Telford United
Alfreton Town
Blyth Spartans
Boston United
Brackley Town
Bradford Park Avenue
Chester
Chorley
Curzon Ashton
Darlington
Farsley Celtic
Gateshead
Gloucester City
Guiseley
Hereford
Kettering
Kidderminster Harriers
Leamington
Southport
Spennymoor Town
York City

Welcome back to AFC Fylde and Chorley!

How we all feeling ahead of the new campaign?

Glad we aren't still in NLN
Its becoming the league of death to get out of
It must be much easier to get promoted from NLS I imagine ?

There are so many decent sides in there,.. I wouldn't put money on York getting up this season either btw.
I would make Boston favourites, but so hard to predict who will progress.

 

[Fyldefan]

Read a piece in Blackpool gazette during lockdown that Flyde chairman has reduced payment from £75,000 to £37,500 a month he gives club,so that’s £450,000 plus gate money etc.
They aren’t skint.

Listen don’t worry about us we’re fine. Stockport and Harrogate have just spent fortunes signing our 2 best players. The fee’s would make your eye water

 

[DarkSithLord]

Should be a pretty interesting season.

• AFC Fylde - expect them to spend big and have the budget to be challenging for the top 3.
• AFC Telford United - seemed to make some decent signings early doors. Should be a better season.
• Alfreton Town - don't know much about your signings. But would guess a solid mid table season beckons.
• Blyth Spartans - look like they're struggling again in putting together a squad on a show string. Expect nothing but another tough season for them.
• Boston United - beaten finalists, seem to have kept most of what they wanted with a few decent additions so far, expect them to be up there again.
• Brackley Town - always there or there abouts.
• Bradford Park Avenue - surely can't start as badly as last season. Bower and Boshell are good at this level, just to be seen what level of budget they have.
• Chester - reduced budget as backer leaves but seem to have signed up a fair amount of last seasons squad.
• Chorley - biggest squad turn over at Chorley than there has been for a while. Some big and dependable players to replace if they want to be competitive at the top again.
• Curzon Ashton - seem to have made some decent signings.
• Darlington - happy with our signings, should be looking to push into top 7 this season.
• Farsley Celtic - not heard anything from them.
• Gateshead - decent squad, Mike Williamson did a decent job first season in charge, aided by being full time.
• Gloucester City - spending big on their return to the city. Not much knowledge of their manager but for the signings they've made they should be aiming for playoffs.
• Guiseley - seem to have lost a few players, will need to find some gems to repeat last seasons form.
• Hereford - surely can't miss spend as badly as they did last summer, but haven't heard any signings announcements or statements of intent.
• Kettering - Paul Cox will have them solid enough. Not pretty but will give them a pretty good chance of staying up.
• Kidderminster Harriers - another team not seen huge amounts about, not seen any marquee signings to suggest they'll push on.
• Leamington - Paul Holleran will make sure they're competitive
• Southport - not seen much from them. Seem a mid table side since the money and full time faded away.
• Spennymoor Town - made some big signings, under performed last season by not making the playoffs, really should be in the top 5 with the squad they have.
• York City - Watson got rid of almost his whole squad and a couple of the ones he wanted to keep (Ferguson and Green) going to the national league. They will feel gutted they were really starting to turn the screw on Kings Lynn last season, but got no where near Alty in the Playoffs. They should be aiming for first place with their resources.

Very good post.

As for Alfreton I think we have recruited well given the current circumstances we find ourselves in.

Goalkeeper was a huge issue last season. Solved by recruiting George Willis who has loads of NLN experience.
A lot of other signings have little experience of the level. I am confident of avoiding the drop but wether we can push for the top half will depend how they adapt. Losing Josh Wilde to a Step 5 side is no doubt a blow but he couldnt be sure of a consistent starting place given we have signed Nathan Fox from Kings Lynn.
Dan Bradley`s return home is a fantastic signing. One of the best players in the league.
Our frontline is interesting. They have banged goals in at levels below the NLN. Elliott Reeves is particualary exciting and somebody I have wanted us to sign before. Capable of playing in the FL in my opnion.

 

[Quakerz]

Darlo complete the signing of Tony McMahon, 34 year old ex Middlesborough right back.

We still need to add a decent keeper but our squad is looking very strong otherwise.

Defence should be much stronger with the return of David Atkinson to full fitness plus the signings of Nicky Hunt and Tony McMahon.

Attack should be much stronger with the return of Jamie Holmes to full fitness after missing most of last season, plus the signings of Dan Maguire and Luke Charman

We have one of the best midfields in the league anyway - it was sorting out both boxes which needed doing.

A good keeper and we could be top 3, certainly I'd expect an improvement on last season and at least a top 7 finish

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Think the compressed time-frame will count against Brackley - we always operate with about 12-13 trusted players and 3 or 4 makeweights so don't think we'll cope well with the midweek games. Midweek away travel also an issue... Signed 3 players, Ashley Chambers (Mf/St) from Kiddy, Harry Flowers (Cd) from Irish football and Aaron Philips (Fb) from St Ives. Doesn't seem to suggest anything more than another 3rd-5th place finish and a penalty shootout defeat in the playoffs...

 

[Harrier94]

Think the compressed time-frame will count against Brackley - we always operate with about 12-13 trusted players and 3 or 4 makeweights so don't think we'll cope well with the midweek games. Midweek away travel also an issue... Signed 3 players, Ashley Chambers (Mf/St) from Kiddy, Harry Flowers (Cd) from Irish football and Aaron Philips (Fb) from St Ives. Doesn't seem to suggest anything more than another 3rd-5th place finish and a penalty shootout defeat in the playoffs...

Chambo is a great signing. Flowers on the other hand was terrible on loan with us. He threw a tantrum after being subbed when he played awfully and returned to Solihull the next day. He seems tp have done well in Ireland but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't work out

 

[Lucky Bobble]

Chambo is a great signing. Flowers on the other hand was terrible on loan with us. He threw a tantrum after being subbed when he played awfully and returned to Solihull the next day. He seems tp have done well in Ireland but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't work out

We really need a decent 2nd striker - so hope you are right about Chambers. Flowers seemed like he needed to grow up - hope the Irish experience has done that for him. How are Kidderminster looking? Is it worth you staying full-time- coming 15th last year suggests your not getting much benefit from it?

 

[Railway Blue]

The biggest loss for us will be Asante and and all the goals he scored to replace him we have 3 lads who took it in turns to play along side him last season and two youth team players who look very good prospects but will they be able to step up when needed, it’s all about cost cutting this year just to survive. All the players who have resigned from last seasons squad have done so on reduced terms so we are very great full to them for that.

It's where we are at Ken. Reduced to looking at triallists. I think we must be the only club that haven't made a 'new' signing. I'll be very surprised if we challenge for play-offs.

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

It's where we are at Ken. Reduced to looking at triallists. I think we must be the only club that haven't made a 'new' signing. I'll be very surprised if we challenge for play-offs.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed we both end up surprised LOL..

 

[Railway Blue]

Should be a pretty interesting season.

• AFC Fylde - expect them to spend big and have the budget to be challenging for the top 3.
• AFC Telford United - seemed to make some decent signings early doors. Should be a better season.
• Alfreton Town - don't know much about your signings. But would guess a solid mid table season beckons.
• Blyth Spartans - look like they're struggling again in putting together a squad on a show string. Expect nothing but another tough season for them.
• Boston United - beaten finalists, seem to have kept most of what they wanted with a few decent additions so far, expect them to be up there again.
• Brackley Town - always there or there abouts.
• Bradford Park Avenue - surely can't start as badly as last season. Bower and Boshell are good at this level, just to be seen what level of budget they have.
• Chester - reduced budget as backer leaves but seem to have signed up a fair amount of last seasons squad.
• Chorley - biggest squad turn over at Chorley than there has been for a while. Some big and dependable players to replace if they want to be competitive at the top again.
• Curzon Ashton - seem to have made some decent signings.
• Darlington - happy with our signings, should be looking to push into top 7 this season.
• Farsley Celtic - not heard anything from them.
• Gateshead - decent squad, Mike Williamson did a decent job first season in charge, aided by being full time.
• Gloucester City - spending big on their return to the city. Not much knowledge of their manager but for the signings they've made they should be aiming for playoffs.
• Guiseley - seem to have lost a few players, will need to find some gems to repeat last seasons form.
• Hereford - surely can't miss spend as badly as they did last summer, but haven't heard any signings announcements or statements of intent.
• Kettering - Paul Cox will have them solid enough. Not pretty but will give them a pretty good chance of staying up.
• Kidderminster Harriers - another team not seen huge amounts about, not seen any marquee signings to suggest they'll push on.
• Leamington - Paul Holleran will make sure they're competitive
• Southport - not seen much from them. Seem a mid table side since the money and full time faded away.
• Spennymoor Town - made some big signings, under performed last season by not making the playoffs, really should be in the top 5 with the squad they have.
• York City - Watson got rid of almost his whole squad and a couple of the ones he wanted to keep (Ferguson and Green) going to the national league. They will feel gutted they were really starting to turn the screw on Kings Lynn last season, but got no where near Alty in the Playoffs. They should be aiming for first place with their resources.

Chester FC ~ Our budget has been reduced because of the effects of Covid. Absolutely nothing to do with Stuart Murphy's departure. So far as we know he paid the transfer fees for Asante and Johnson and sponsored the Deva Stadium. He promised a lot more but no-one seems to know exactly what he delivered before his attempt to take control of the club, which was vigorously rebuffed..

 

[Harrier94]

We really need a decent 2nd striker - so hope you are right about Chambers. Flowers seemed like he needed to grow up - hope the Irish experience has done that for him. How are Kidderminster looking? Is it worth you staying full-time- coming 15th last year suggests your not getting much benefit from it?

I'm feeling a hit more confident but still need to see what other players we need. We'll stay full time as our whole education system and links with the university is based around it. I think AMS and Montrose are great signings for this level and someone like Koby Arthur has gone under the radar. Don't want to predict too much as we're still a few players short of a full squad.

 

[MWS]

Listen don’t worry about us we’re fine. Stockport and Harrogate have just spent fortunes signing our 2 best players. The fee’s would make your eye water

£10m for Jordan Williams i heard........

 

[Swedes]

• Southport - not seen much from them. Seem a mid table side since the money and full time faded away.

We're just quietly ticking away and getting our business done. It seems we're coming out of the turnover period from full-time with overpaid players, to part-time with what so far appears to be a well-balanced squad. Just waiting on a couple more of the trialists to sign on, one of which is probably the worst kept secret / bit of nepotism of the summer! Already got 8 pre-season friendlies played with a few more to come. I can't comment on the football as I haven't seen anything, but results so far seem promising (even though they count for nothing).

 

[Kenneth Dodd]

We're just quietly ticking away and getting our business done. It seems we're coming out of the turnover period from full-time with overpaid players, to part-time with what so far appears to be a well-balanced squad. Just waiting on a couple more of the trialists to sign on, one of which is probably the worst kept secret / bit of nepotism of the summer! Already got 8 pre-season friendlies played with a few more to come. I can't comment on the football as I haven't seen anything, but results so far seem promising (even though they count for nothing).

You lads started very early with the friendly‘S it’s another month yet until the season starts.

 

[Minstermen central]

Darlo complete the signing of Tony McMahon, 34 year old ex Middlesborough right back.

We still need to add a decent keeper but our squad is looking very strong otherwise.

Defence should be much stronger with the return of David Atkinson to full fitness plus the signings of Nicky Hunt and Tony McMahon.

Attack should be much stronger with the return of Jamie Holmes to full fitness after missing most of last season, plus the signings of Dan Maguire and Luke Charman

We have one of the best midfields in the league anyway - it was sorting out both boxes which needed doing.

A good keeper and we could be top 3, certainly I'd expect an improvement on last season and at least a top 7 finish

Whitley on loan I’m hearing.

 

[JE93]

Whitley on loan I’m hearing.

Would be surprised by this. Imagine Saltmer (currently on trial), Sol Brynn (Boro) or Zac Hemming (Boro) are the 3 most likely candidates.

In other news our application to play home games at the Darlington Arena has been provisionally accepted by the league, subject to a league safety certificate being issued. Should hopefully mean we can accommodate our average attendances in the echo bowl.

Quakers granted permission to play at the Northern Echo Arena - News

darlingtonfc.co.uk

 

[Minstermen central]

Would be surprised by this. Imagine Saltmer (currently on trial), Sol Brynn (Boro) or Zac Hemming (Boro) are the 3 most likely candidates.

In other news our application to play home games at the Darlington Arena has been provisionally accepted by the league, subject to a league safety certificate being issued. Should hopefully mean we can accommodate our average attendances in the echo bowl.

Quakers granted permission to play at the Northern Echo Arena - News

darlingtonfc.co.uk

He is going out on loan for game time,2 teams after him other one is close to York and league below.
This is from is a very reliable source.

 

[Quakerz]

Fylde away first up for us. If Carlsberg did first fixtures...

It wouldn't be fucking Fylde.

 

[Harrier94]

Harriers and first home games at the Northern Echo Arena go hand in hand.

 

[Quakerz]

Well I hope that the result isn't going to be the same as the first match there (0-2), but that the crowd is (11,660)

 

[Fyldefan]

Fylde away first up for us. If Carlsberg did first fixtures...

It wouldn't be fucking Fylde.

Biggest hooligans we’ve had visit us darlington. Caused absolute aggro. Police vans everywhere. Can’t wait

 

[DarkSithLord]

Chester fans - What's James Jones like? He has signed for Alfreton

 

[Bluandwite]

Chester fans - What's James Jones like? He has signed for Alfreton

Yeah decent player at this level, he was on the bench for us mostly and would step in if either Grand or Livesey got injured or suspended. Played for us a bit in the league above as well before we got relegated, he was just a kid then though.

He’s tall and dangerous from set pieces, scored a few for us. Could do with filling out a bit more though I’d say. Ideally we’d have him in the same role again this season but can understand he probably wants to play more regularly.