Forget the big leagues, non-league is where it's at this season

English football in 2022/23 looks as tantalising as ever. The Premier League is close, with Liverpool and Manchester City expected to lock horns once again in a thrilling title race, with the usual scrap for European places extending to multiple sides in the upper mid-table. In The Football League, the race for promotion to the top-flight from the Championship has no clear favourite, whilst League One has the strongest line-up seen for years with Derby County’s relegation seeing multiple former Premier League sides vying for a return to their glory years.

Last season's National League winners, Stockport County - Credit: Manchester Evening News.

By: Sam Feierabend.

However, the closest and unpredictable leagues could be the National Leagues. Comprised of three divisions -  The National League, National League North and National League South – the system represents elite clubs in the non-league set up. They feed The Football League, with some fans and pundits even arguing that the quality in these leagues are higher than that of League Two. Despite this claim, and the financial power of some sides within it, The National League is still part of the semi-professional leagues. Some players will balance football with everyday jobs, with the bigger clubs operating on a full-time basis.

So what is the fuss about? Here are some reasons why, as a football fan, you should be paying an interest in the upper echelons of non-league football this season.

1)      1) The clubs relegated into The National League are huge clubs 

 John Sheridan looks to promote Oldham Athletic back to The Football League - Credit: Eddie Garvey.

For years, debates have been held as to why there should be an increase from two to three teams going in and out of the division into The Football League. This has not changed, and the two teams falling out of full-time football are massive for the league this season. Oldham Athletic have become the first side since the formation of the Premier League to play in both the top flight and the non-league of English football. This is the first time in their 127-year history that they will be competing outside of The Football League, and will be hoping for an immediate return to the professional leagues. They have the manager to do so, with John Sheridan in charge for his fourth spell at the club overseeing a complete overhaul of playing personnel. Signings of title-winning Lois Maynard and Liam Hogan from Stockport County are impressive and should set the standard for a strong season. There is still tension between the chairman and fans however, which dogged their last campaign, potentially stuttering progress that has to be made this season. It feels for a club of this size, a lengthy stay in this division could be financially crippling.

Similarly, Scunthorpe United now find themselves outside The Football League after spending a large part of the past decade in League One and Two. This marks their first non-league campaign in 72 years, following a torrid season finishing bottom of League Two. Keith Hill has a tall order this season, with transfers slow and many key players leaving the club. The strength of the league is apparent with a club the size of The Iron not considered a front-runner by the bookmakers.

It will be odd for many football fans to see these clubs competing in the fifth division – a league almost impossible to escape. Last season, Grimsby Town became the first club to bounce straight back into The Football League since Cheltenham Town in 2015/16, and this in itself is a rare occurrence. Clubs such as Luton Town, Leyton Orient, and Tranmere Rovers all took multiple seasons to get out of The National League following their relegations, and both Oldham and Scunthorpe will look to avoid mistakes made by them. Their inclusion in the league adds to an already strong line-up of sides vying for promotion. 

2)     2)  A growing list of sides who genuinely could be promoted

 

Wrexham aim to top the table this season - Credit: The FA.

In addition to the aforementioned sides, there is a long list of clubs in The National League who have ambitions to be promoted, ranging from former Football League clubs to sides who have never stepped foot in the professional game.

The obvious name is Hollywood-owned Wrexham. Last summer, many touted them to win the division with their plethora of impressive signings such as Paul Mullin and Ben Tozer from higher league clubs. However, this did not come to fruition as they started slowly, before getting knocked out of the play-off semi-finals by eventual winners Grimsby Town. With a push for promotion on the horizon, summer has been quiet into comparison to last season. This includes the signing of Jordan Tunnicliffe from Crawley Town in an attempt to sure up a previously leaky defence. They have also signed goalkeeper Mark Howard, reuniting him with manager Phil Parkinson from his Bolton Wanderers days, and the impressive Elliot Lee following his release from Luton Town.

Notts County are one of those sides who were expected to bounce straight back into The Football League but have not yet done so. They have fallen in the play-offs twice in this division – third time lucky? New manager Luke Williams boasts experience as a number two at Swansea City, Bristol City, MK Dons and Brighton and Hove Albion. The Magpies have lost top scorer Kyle Wootton to Stockport, but have moved swiftly to snap up the National League North Golden Boot winner Macauley Langstaff from Gateshead in what is a shrewd piece of business.

Chesterfield also lost out in last season's play-offs, with manager Paul Cook overseeing an overhaul in what will be his first full summer back at the club. A lot of high-earning players have moved on; Stefan Payne to Welling United, Curtis Weston to AFC Fylde and Fraser Kerr to York City. Cook’s recruitment has been impressive. His former club Ipswich Town has provided him transfers of highly-rated youth players Bailey Clements and Armando Dobra, while signing George Cooper from Plymouth Argyle and Ollie Banks from Barrow. This provides a strong spine to a team that, when top scorer Kabongo Tshimanga returns, may have the best squad in the league. 

The other losing play-off contenders from last season, FC Halifax and Solihull Moors will be looking to upset the larger sides in the division by launching a promotion charge once again. Halifax have lost manager Pete Wild to Barrow, and with him has gone star striker Billy Watters, so this season could be a struggle. Additionally, FA Cup heroes Boreham Wood hope to be in the title mix, while fellow London-based Bromley will capitalise on manager Andy Woodman rejecting approaches from Football League clubs to force their way into the title picture. None of these teams have ever graced the professional leagues, but realistically could have their name on the trophy after 46 games.

3)      3) Old meets new

 

Banbury United are one of a host of teams playing at their highest level - Credit: Luke Wright.

There are plenty of former Football League sides that haven’t been mentioned yet. Across the three National League divisions there are no fewer than 15 ex-Football League clubs plying their trade. In addition, there are multiple phoenix clubs rising from old clubs through the divisions. For the first time, the National Leagues North and South will compete with 24 teams – increasing from the 22 seen since the reformation of the leagues in the early 2000s.

Joining the leagues are a number of clubs competing at their highest level ever. Dorking Wanderers have continued their impressive rise up the football pyramid to join The National League from The National League South. In The National League North, Banbury United and Peterborough Sports have been promoted into the league from the Southern Central Premier to play in the sixth tier for the first time. They are joined by Buxton FC who have appointed former Chorley manager Jamie Vermiglio to oversee their debut at this level.

Similarly in The National League South, three sides will be competing at their highest level. Both Worthing and Cheshunt came through the Isthmian League – Worthing could be an outside bet to get promoted again with impressive summer recruitment and good financial stability. Taunton Town will also play in the division; Rob Dray’s men enjoying a stunning run in the second half of the season to clinch the Southern League title on the final day of last season.

The prospect of these sides testing themselves against some of the biggest sides in non-league will certainly be an exciting prospect for fans and players alike, with the potential for some major upsets to be caused on the way.

4)    4)  A different play-off system keeps more teams in the hunt

 

Since changing format, the play-offs have thrown up some thrilling matches - Credit: Lewis Storey.

Those who are more familiar with The Football League will know the prospect of the play-offs being competed with four teams who play a two-legged semi-final before a play-off final to determine the promotion winner. The National League only allows two promotion spots from each league – one for the champions and one for play-off winners. To mitigate having to finish in the top five to have any hope of promotion, the play-offs in The National League divisions have been operating differently.

Rather than the traditional four teams, the play-offs are competed with six teams. Those who finish second through to seventh take part, with ‘eliminators’ being played by teams finishing fourth to seventh before the traditional semi-final and final. All games are decided on the night, so there are no second-leg comebacks.

This has led to some thrilling encounters – for example just last season the semi-final of The National League between Wrexham and Grimsby Town finished 5-4 in favour of Grimsby. Having more spots keeps clubs with something to fight for longer into the season – last season, with three games left across the National Leagues North and South, 16/22 teams still had something to play for.

5)  5)   The North and South looks more open than ever

The competition is set to be closer than ever this season - Credit: BBC Sport.

 For the first time in many years, there are no clear favourites for the North and South divisions of the National League. Last season saw Gateshead and York City promoted from the North and Maidstone United and Dorking Wanderers from the South – given the financial backing and fanbase size of these clubs, this was no major surprise. This season is the first where 24 teams will compete in each league, with an increase on relegation places from two to four. The pressures on clubs have never been higher, with an extra four league games in addition to cup competitions meaning that squads will be pushed to their limits – many clubs at this level operate part-time and do not have the budgets for a large squad. Squad management will be key to avoid an early burn-out.

In the North, last season’s close-runner teams could challenge again, with Kidderminster Harriers, Boston United, Brackley Town, and newly relegated King’s Lynn Town looking the early front runners for the bookies. Then you have a whole pack of clubs aiming to improve on their season before, including AFC Telford, AFC Fylde, Chester, Gloucester and Hereford -all could mount a promotion push.  

Additionally, there has been some impressive transfer activity across the board in the league. AFC Fylde signing Curtis Weston from Chesterfield will be key, while Boston’s acquisitions of Scott Pollock from Northampton and Will Atkinson from Southend could be the difference in their quest to better a play-off finish last season. Arguably, the most impressive signing of the league is Darlington’s capture of Marcus Maddison which hit the news after he messaged the club on social media to ask for a contract – his Football League experience will prove key for the club.

Meanwhile, The National League South is as wide open as ever. The departure of Steve King as Dartford manager has heads turning, but the club acted swiftly to replace him with Alan Dowson, whose experience in the league above with Woking has put them in the running for the title. He has overseen a squad overhaul, with key players such as Jake Robinson, Jack Jebb and Ade Azeez moving on, being replaced with experienced players at this level such as Samir Carruthers, Alex Wall and Charlie Sheringham.

Many will look to Dover Athletic with keen interest. They had to forfeit the 2020/21 season as playing part-time at The National League was not sustainable. Last season, they started with a minus-12 deficit and were inevitably relegated. Andy Hessenthaler’s recruitment looks for stability and experience; Lee Martin from Ebbsfleet United, Alfie Pavey from Maidstone and Stuart Nelson from Sutton United should provide that.

After also being relegated from The National League, Weymouth have seen an exodus of players with 15 of their first team moving elsewhere. There has been no incomings either, so much interest will be paid to the club in the weeks building up to the season.

A whole host of other clubs will look for a title-challenge this year. Ebbsfleet United, Havant and Waterlooville, Dulwich Hamlet, Worthing, Bath City, Oxford City and Tonbridge Angels all could find themselves in the title mix at the end of the season.

What is certain are these leagues are not ones to take your eyes off.

6)      6) There will be an affordable game near you to catch

  

Community spirit is high at the non-league level - Credit: Colin McPherson.

One of the beauties of Non-league football is that it offers a completely different football experience to attending a game in The Football League. For one, you are much closer to the action, sometimes only separated by a bar to the playing pitch which makes a more immersive experience for the fan.

The prices are more affordable too. Most clubs will offer admission for between £10 and £18 which is far more manageable than a professional club, especially for a curious eye wanting to catch their local team for a one-off. Keep an eye out on social media as well, as it is common for clubs to run special games billed as ‘pay what you want’, or a ‘community day’ with special deals on admission fees.

Attendances across non-league football saw a positive increase last season and hopefully that continues. With the current cost of living crisis, people will still clamour for an escape from the world and live football has always been a part of that. Watching local, but still quality football, is a good way to continue this while not taking as big a hit on the wallet. You never know, it might become your new fix.