Vanarama National League Preview for season 2022/23

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Saturday will see the start of a brand-new National League Season. The top tier of non-league football never fails to surprise and always delivers plenty of excitement.

Big spending Wrexham will start the season as the bookies favourites for promotion, but as we have seen in the past favourites very rarely go up straight away.

Here is a look at the sides that will be bidding for automatic promotion to the Football League.

Aldershot Town

The Shots failed to deliver last season having struggled all through the campaign, eventually finishing just one place of the drop zone.

However, manager Mark Molesley has been busy this summer, recruiting former Weymouth forward Josh McQuid, full back Joe Partington and forward Inih Effiong.

Luca Ashby-Hammond joins on loan from Fulham having been part of Stockport County’s title winning side last season.

Molesley has also dipped into the lover levels of the pyramid by signing exciting striker Francis Amartey from Hayes and Yeading along with Lewes midfielder Michael Klass.

Altrincham

This season Altrincham have decided to make the move to full time football from part time which should see a change in their fortunes from last season.

Barnet

The appointment of Harry Kewell last term never worked out, with the new man at the helm Dean Brennan in charge.

Ben Wynter has arrived from Torquay along with Dale Gorman ex of Leyton Orient as well as Harry Pritchard. The likes of Nicke Kabamba, Moussa Diarra, Connor Smith and Jamar Loza are players who know this division well and should improve Barnet’s fortunes.

Boreham Wood

Wood were flying last season but then a superb FA Cup run hindered their chances of even reaching the play offs with Luke Garrad’s side eventually finishing in ninth place.

Danny Newton has been snapped up from Solihull Moors along with winger Eric Sousa from Grimsby.

Danny Elliott has been recruited from Hartlepool along side Dion Kelly- Evans from Notts County.

 

Bromley

Bromley will be looking to maintain their momentum of last seasons FA Trophy success by pushing on in the league. Manager Andy Woodman has strengthened at the back by signing Callum Reynolds bas well as youngster James Vennings on a permanent deal from Charlton Athletic.

The experienced striker Adam Marriott is an astute signing along with David Smith who scored a hat full of goals for Folkestone Invicta last season.

Chesterfield

Despite reaching the play-off semi finals only to lose to Solihull Moors, Chesterfield would have been disappointed at not being able to get back to the Football League. Ollie Banks who played under manager Paul Cook returns from Barrow. The club have also signed Michael Gyasi who impressed on loan at Dover last season.

Chesterfield’s chances of success last season were hampered when they lost their top scorer Kabby Tshimanga to a season ending injury. Having scored 25 goals in 30 appearances his spell out of the side was a massive loss.

If he can get back to the goal scoring form of last season, then Chesterfield should be there or there abouts.

Dagenham and Redbridge

The Daggers missed out on the play-offs by just a single point last season and are expected to challenge once again.

Manager Daryl McMahon has added Omar Mussa from Weymouth nalong with Nikola Tavares from Wealdstone and former England C International David Longe-King.

Dorking Wanderers

Driven by owner-manager Marc White the club have raced up the Non-League and now find themselves in the top league of non-league football.

White has made some additions to the squad by bringing in Adam Meki and

Jack Jebb along with former Hungerford Town striker Ryan Seager.

Eastleigh

The Spitfires had a season to forget last term with manager Lee Bradbury looking for much more improvement this time around. The gaffer has signed former Woking player Charlie Carter who also had recent experience in the Football League.

FC Halifax

Former manager Pete Wild has now joined Football League side Barrow with the club now making Wild’s assistant Chris Millington as the man in charge of the club going forward.

Millington has wasted no time in the hot seat by signing Sam Minihan from Stockport County and Jordan Keane amongst a host of new additions to the club.

Gateshead

The Heed are back in the top flight of non-league football after three years away. Under the stewardship of Mike Williamson they will start their campaign back in the top flight without star strikers Macauley Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott.

Maidenhead United

Led by wily boss Alan Devonshire The Magpies enter their sixth season at this level. Returning back to the club is striker Adrian Clifton. Zico Asare has been recruited from Oxford City to enhance a side that are always difficult to play against.

Maidstone United

Having won the National League South title last season, Maidstone are back in the big time under boss Hakan Hayrettin who will be looking at this season as a time for consolidation.

Notts County

Another club that will be fancied to finally get back into the Football League. Gateshead pair Macauley Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott have been recruited along with Kidderminster Harriers Sam Austin.

Head Coach Ian Burchanall has moved on to Forest Green with the club appointing Luke Williams in charge for the season ahead.

Oldham Athletic

Relegated from the Football League the club will be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking but will find it tough. Liam Hogan and Lois Maynard have been signed by the club ahead of the new campaign.

Scunthorpe United

A quiet summer for Scunthorpe has seen the club bring in one standout addition in the shape of Eliott Whitehouse as another former Football League club tries to get out of the division.

Solihull Moors

Moors look to have all the right credentials to mount another serious title challenge having reached last years final before losing out to Grimsby Town. Keeping hold of Joe Sbarra is a massive deal for the club as well as holding on to striker Andrew Dallas. Moors have added Josh Kelly to their squad and in Neal Ardley they have one of the best managers in the division.

Southend United

The Shrimpers have added Dan Mooney from Altrincham to their ranks along with Louis Lomas who ahs been signed from Brackley as Southend look to force their way out of the National League.

Torquay United

A disappointed 11th place finish last season amounted to massive disappointment for a club that were expected to be challenging. Gary Johnson has made a number of changes this season and one can expect them to be back in the mix come May.

Wealdstone

The Stones finished well clear of the dreaded drop zone last season with boss Stuart Maynard looking to build on that. Max Kretzschmar has joined from Woking alongside Lewis Kinsella from Aldershot Town. Sam Habergham has also been added to the squad ahead of the new campaign.

Woking

The Cards under manager Darren Sarll will looking for a much better finish than last term. Sarll has now had a full summer to work with side and has made an astute signing in experienced striker Padriag Amond. Experienced defender Scott Cuthbert has been recruited along with Jim Kellerman alongside youngsters James Daly and Ethan Wady, the Cards have a squad on paper who should be well clear of the relegation mire.

Wrexham

Wrexham have to start the campaign as clear favourites with their huge investment. Experienced manager Phil Parkinson has signed a star name in Elliot Lee. Along with a front line that has goals in their locker with Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer. This side will take a lot of catching.

Yeovil Town

New manager Chris Hargreaves is in the hot seat at Huish Park. The former player has taken on the role of manager and will be looking to improve on last seasons mid table finish.

York City

Manager John Askey knows this league inside out having won it previously with Macclesfield Town. There has been a big squad reshuffle with a number of players from last season’s squad released, with Fraser Keep and Alex Whittle joining from Chesterfield along with Luke Hames and defender Ryan Fallowfield, this could be an interesting season ahead for the Minstermen.

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