Thanks to my Chryso Crystal Ball, my prediction tally for last season went better than I had anticipated given the inevitable changes which can transpire through the course of a season; managerial changes, player movement etc.
In all fairness, last season was a fairly settled season, with not a great deal of movement in terms of managers and players.This upcoming season however! I honestly can`t recollect seeing so much managerial movement in the close season in the Evo-Stik and Ncel leagues than this Summer.
A wave of player movement is in full flow as players are either being released by the incoming management, or re-joining their previous managers at their new clubs, making any real chance of predicting the respective league positioning come next May nigh on impossible. With so much movement at clubs that for me would have been viable candidates for either promotion or a play-off spot, it really is anyone`s guess as to where the spoils will eventually land.
Anyway, irrespective, with everyone fancying their chances and the reality that someone has to be promoted and someone has to be relegated, here`s my punt for the upcoming campaign.
Evo-Stik Premier Division
For me, you`d have to be a fool to omit Altrincham from this one, a massive club with it`s past historically entrenched at an higher level than the one they now find themselves at but there's no disputing their fall from grace has been alarming. Even taking this into account, I`m still going to put them in as title contenders, with seasoned play-off specialists, Ashton United making the push once again and it would be hard to ignore Stourbridge`s ablity to finish in and around the hot seats.
For the play-off spots I`m going to chuck in a few curved balls, in the shape of newly promoted, Shaw Lane, with Warrington and Witton Albion, in and around. Some big spending during the break and the release of some quality players, for me has signalled the intent of these Newbies, so I wouldn`'t be too surprised to see a couple of these sides featuring in the season finale. Of the existing members of the NPL, I 'd like to think Matlock and Grantham could just make that extra step.
Evo-Stik Division 1 North
Still not a league I get to see a great deal of, although I did manage to take in a few games last season. I`m going to indulge in a spot of selfish nostalgia with this one; Scarborough Athletic is one club I've had an infinity with since first visiting them at Queensgate, the home of their up until now hosts Bridlington.
Thankfully after years of persistence to get the local council to find them a location and tireless fund- raising, they now have a place they can truly call home back in the town in the form of their new, state of the art facility, built on the old Gas Works site at Weaponness. Such a shame that their devoted chairman Dave Holland, who spent countless years ensuring the club would finally get `Back to Boro`, who`'s untimely loss shook the club and the community, won`t be there to witness his dream becoming reality.
Ten years on since the Phoenix Club rose from the ashes of Scarborough Fc, the club has won my heart over, a great bunch of lads with a real sense of community and high expectations to return to the level from which they departed back in 2007. Ex-Guisley boss Steve Kittrick hoisted the club to the upper echelons of the league last season and these are my tip for promotion.
Play-off contenders for me could well include newly promoted and FA Vase holders, South Shields, along-side Hyde United, Ossett Town, and Glossop North End.
Evo-Stik Division 1 South
A little closer to home, and the place most of my Evo-Stik day`s out are spent, with the added benefit of teams I regularly watch and those promoted from the Ncel Premier League.
Lots of player movement and a few new-comers this season, but despite this, for me, Frickley are going to be the team to beat, a really solid pre-season, regularly brushing aside previous NPL opponents and with the mercurial goal machine Gavin Allott back in the squad after his release from Shaw Lane, this makes them my favourites to lift the title and bounce straight back up.
Who`s in the frame for the play-offs, "difficult one this!!. For now, I`m going to stick to a one side I`ve watched steadily grow into a really competitive young squad...Stockbridge Park Steels. Under the excellent guidance of Chris Hilton, this once raw young outfit have inched themselves ever closer and I can`t honestly see the trend changing.
With Frecks leaving Spalding United, and taking a few choice players to Gainsborough, it`s hard to evaluate what the season will behold for the new management team and squad, but you never know.
Afc Rushden and Diamonds and Basford are going to be in the chase with newly promoted Cleethorpes Town keen to impress after an excellent season. Having said that, the pace of the game can be relentless at Step 4. As an outside prediction, if Bedworth can stem the amount of goals they concede, the amount they managed to score last season could have put them in with a shout of a play-off spot.
Ncel Premier Division
I could write paragraphs about this league, but the harsh reality is, I honestly don`t think you can look beyond last seasons second and third placed teams. I honestly do think Paul Marshall's Pickering Town squad will breeze it this season. With such a rich catchment area for players from an higher level, the choice available to him is second to none. Champions for me!!
Bridlington Town under the steady guidance of Curtis Woodhouse and Ian Ashby have flourished and also taken advantage of the great player pool in North East Yorkshire. Also in the following pack will be the likes of Handsworth, Worksop, Afc Mansfield and Staveley Miners Welfare. Ian Richards` Penistone Church had a great season, and although he`s really boosted the squad with some quality signings, the Premier League is a difficult nut to crack, nevertheless, it would be nice to see them to do well with fellow promotees Pontefract Collieries.
Why do I not fancy Handsworth some have asked? To be perfectly honest, I think Parramore`s `Purple Patch` was under Pete Duffield, a great squad with a wealth of experience and one of my favourite Nutjobs...`Keiran Wells`in scintillating form along-side John Froggatt`s strength and experience was for me their best opportunity to escape this bottle-neck of a league. Since Pete`s departure, the momentum seems to have steadily waned, and with a new management team and squad; I honestly think it might take some time for them to flourish again; pretty much a similar situation Worksop Town also find themselves in, but they`ll both definiteley be in and around!!.
Ncel Division 1
This is the league where so much has changed pre-season, you would literally have to be psychic to pull a bet off in. Darren Hepworth and Ryan Hindley`s departures from Afc Emley and Hallam respectively, leaves the two clubs most would have expected to make the move up this season facing major reconstruction, non-plussed by the swathes of players who have moved to follow suit, so it`s really difficult to see these two clubs replicating their last two seasons form.
Here goes then!! Purely out of a selfish desire to see the club enjoy some better days, that, and a belief that the club has assembled a decent squad, incorporating experience from a higher level and some bright looking young talent, I`m chucking Shirebrook Town in the hat for promotion either automatically or via the play-offs along with Yorkshire Amateurs. Ashley Flynn`s goal tally at Afc Emley has been incredibly prolific to put it mildy, and for that reason alone I think his addition to the squad will see `The Yammas` in the top two come next May.
Play-off contenders are probably going to be Grimsby Borough, Knaresborough, relegated side Armthorpe Mw along with Campion, although the loss of Eli Hey`s goals will be a big loss to them.
Really looking forward to this season. Good luck to all those involved, on and off the pitch.
Have a safe and enjoyable season!!
