Boz
Member
- Joined
- 30 Sep 2005
- Messages
- 8,940
- Player
- Iain Hume
The NL will feature the following sides next season.
Aldershot
Barrow
Boreham Wood
Bromley
Chester
Dagenham
Dover
Eastleigh
Ebbsfleet
Fylde
Gateshead
Guiseley
Halifax
Hartlepool
Leyton Orient*
Macclesfield
Maidenhead
Maidstone
Solihull
Sutton
Torquay
Tranmere
Woking
Wrexham
*always a risk their financial problems don't resolve, in which case York likely to be reinstated.
The new arrivals don't set the pulse racing. Orient were my local team when I lived in London, while we've played Hartlepool often enough. 3 of the promoted sides Ebbsfleet, Fylde and Maidenhead have significant financial backers. Don't think we've played the southern pair, but did meet Fylde in a pre-season friendly. For reasons of geography, I'm quite pleased Halifax are back, though still would prefer a trip to Haig Avenue rather than the Shay.
On paper, I don't think the strength of this league has changed greatly. The relegated sides are weaker in playing staff and finances than Lincoln or Forest Green, but no obvious strugglers have come up this year (like North Ferriby) and it would be no surprise to see one or more of the promoted trio with funds in the play-off mix, while Halifax should hold their own.
Too early to make assessments of how Rovers will fare next season, but with a number of players out of contract and moving on, I would be wary of making assumptions that the title is there for the taking. Those sides like Aldershot, who have their key players already signed up are in a stronger starting position.
Aldershot
Barrow
Boreham Wood
Bromley
Chester
Dagenham
Dover
Eastleigh
Ebbsfleet
Fylde
Gateshead
Guiseley
Halifax
Hartlepool
Leyton Orient*
Macclesfield
Maidenhead
Maidstone
Solihull
Sutton
Torquay
Tranmere
Woking
Wrexham
*always a risk their financial problems don't resolve, in which case York likely to be reinstated.
The new arrivals don't set the pulse racing. Orient were my local team when I lived in London, while we've played Hartlepool often enough. 3 of the promoted sides Ebbsfleet, Fylde and Maidenhead have significant financial backers. Don't think we've played the southern pair, but did meet Fylde in a pre-season friendly. For reasons of geography, I'm quite pleased Halifax are back, though still would prefer a trip to Haig Avenue rather than the Shay.
On paper, I don't think the strength of this league has changed greatly. The relegated sides are weaker in playing staff and finances than Lincoln or Forest Green, but no obvious strugglers have come up this year (like North Ferriby) and it would be no surprise to see one or more of the promoted trio with funds in the play-off mix, while Halifax should hold their own.
Too early to make assessments of how Rovers will fare next season, but with a number of players out of contract and moving on, I would be wary of making assumptions that the title is there for the taking. Those sides like Aldershot, who have their key players already signed up are in a stronger starting position.