The second part of Chris Vessey's introduction to the clubs we will meet this season in the Blue Square Premier.
Forest Green Rovers
FGR are another traditionally small club who have come on in leaps and bounds since last season. After six games they were winless, bottom and had just sacked Gary Owers. The job looked like a poisoned chalice but Jim Harvey stepped into the breach and started to assemble a team worthy of the Blue Square Premier.
The former Morecambe man guided the unfashionable Rovers to a comfortable mid-table finish, gaining respect and results at unlikely places. They defeated Oxford at the Kassam 2-0 and held promoted Morecambe and Dagenham in their own back yards.
Harvey's consolidation of the on-pitch fortunes have coincided with progression off the field. A new stadium with a gym and computer facilities (for out of football hours use) has been financially successful for the club and allowed them to attract players they couldn't have years ago.
One such player is Anthony Tonkin from Crewe, a stalwart of over 150 Championship and League One appearances.
Harvey signed up 15 of last seasons squad for one more year, but released the unfortunate Paul Wanless. The injury-hit Cambridge legend was restricted to just eight starts last season and 'Wanny' is now the assistant manager at Welsh Premier side Llanelli. Such is the impression Harvey has made at the New Lawn, he has signed a contract till 2010, which is unheard of for a manager, especially at non-league level. Usually FGR are synonymous with struggle, but expect them to fair much better this season. If former United striker Danny Carey-Bertram can locate his scoring boots, mid-table and more is a real possibility.
Grays Athletic
The Blues endured a torrid season last campaign, suffering what many would call the 'second season syndrome'. Grays burst into the Conference in 2004 with gusto, flair and an exciting brand of attacking football. With the likes of Aaron McLean, Jamie Slabber and Michael Kightly running rings around anyone who approached, it looked like the Blues would just keep on going to the Football League, but a play-off defeat to Halifax seriously derailed them. Manager Mark Stimson left, the aforementioned strikers eventually left for pastures new and influential captain Stuart Thurgood was crocked for the season. New manager Frank Gray faired well enough to start with, but after defeat to Bromley in the FA Cup, Gray was sacked. Gray must go down as being the only manager sacked whose last league result was a 6-0 away win at St. Albans!
Garry Hill accepted the job then resigned days later, chairman Mick Woodward tried his hand for a few games before handing over to Andy King, who also walked out weeks later. Finally the club found a manager worthy of the challenge in Justin Edinburgh, fresh from Fisher Athletic. Edinburgh halted the 18 match winless run and guided Grays to safety, but doing so on the last day of the season.
Over the summer the dead wood has gone, Thurgood is fit and he has made two excellent signings in the striker department. Danny Kedwell has signed from Welling and Ben Watson arrives from Bognor Regis. Both are young strikers with prolific goalscoring records at their former clubs and have attracted interest from the Football League in the not to distant past. Pre-season results have bode well so far with Watson and Kedwell forming a menacing partnership. With so many new faces at the Recreation Ground (13 players in, 17 leaving) they will be somewhat an unknown quantity this season but don't expect a repeat of last season's struggle.
Halifax Town
The supporters of Halifax Town breathed a huge sigh of relief when last season came to a close, as yet another chapter in the club's history took a turn for the worse, on and off the pitch. After the previous campaign's narrow play-off miss, the Shaymen were expected to mount a serious promotion challenge. Instead, they got a relegation battle with months of indecision about the club's future and ground.
Still heavily in debt and the half built East Stand rusting away, numerous take-over attempts never came to fruition and at one point it looked like Halifax Town could befall the same fate as Scarborough. Luckily a last minute take-over was complete, plans to finish the East Stand will be under way shortly and, for once, Chris Wilder can focus completely on football.
In recent years the Shay has become a fortress for Wilder, and it was this that saved the West Yorkshire outfit from the drop. Halifax won only three away games last season, losing a cringeworthy ten in a row. Their stubborness at home ensured safety would be achieved by winning their last two home games of the season.
Big defender Adam Quinn has been named club captain and they have been boosted by the return of club legend Steve Bushell, fresh from his Altrincham departure. One loss is playmaker Tyrone Thompson, who has left for Crawley. The former Scarborough youngster was one of the Shaymen's better players last season.
This season should be interesting for Chris Wilder and Halifax Town. He has to be commended for remaining at the Shay through troubled times, when he could easily have left for other clubs, but another season of disappointment and the Blue Square Premier's longest serving manager could be forced to look elsewhere to realise his ambition of managing in the Football League.
Histon
You don't need me to tell you how well Histon have done over the past few years as many Cambridge fans have followed our neighbours' fortunes with interest. For those who don't know, Histon's remarkable rise is akin to Farsley Celtic's. Four promotions (inc. three titles) in eight years have seen the village outfit rise to the Blue Square Premier in super quick time.
The men behind the success have a massive Cambridge United connection - Steve Fallon and John Beck. Fallon plied his trade as a player at the Abbey for almost ten years, whilst Beck is better known for his managerial talents, guiding the U's to major success in the early 90's. Couple their managerial talents with the commercial acumen of chairman Gareth Baldwin and Histon have a great chance to secure themselves as an established Blue Square Premier outfit, should they avoid relegation in this first tricky season.
The Stutes crushed all in front of them last season, finishing the season on 92 points, some 19 in front of nearest challengers Salisbury. Many felt this was a natural progression after narrowly missing out on promotion the season before with a play-off final defeat. Fallon has added nine players to his squad for this season, knowing strength in depth could be a key should Histon hit tricky times this season. One time Cambridge target Cliff Akurang has signed up, as have former Barnet duo Simon Osbourn and Danny Naisbitt. Histon will look to their brilliant home record if they have any ambitions of anything more than survival, having won a staggering 19 home league games last campaign.
Kidderminster Harriers
Harriers are one team many are tipping to push for promotion this season, due to an impressive finish to last season and a number of shrewd signings by Steve Yates. Even if it doesn't tempt you, try looking at the coincidences - the last two teams before Kidderminster to have finished 10th in the league (Accrington and Dagenham) have gone on to romp away with the title. Having been relegated in the same season as Cambridge, Kiddy too struggled to find their feet and last season's start was just as difficult. At the end of November the Aggborough outfit were struggling in 19th place, and the pressure was on Yates. Cue an eight game winning streak and it looked as if Kiddy could sneak a late challenge on the play-offs, but slightly indifferent form and a welcome cup distraction proved too much and Harriers settled in the final position of 10th. Kidderminster, along with Stevenage, became the first team to play a competitive final at the new Wembley, although sadly for Yates' charges, they threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2.
The pre-season planning went a treat, with long term target Justin Richards becoming a reality when he signed from Peterborough. Paul Bignot - brother of Kiddy legend Marcus - penned a two year deal after snubbing Crewe, and Matthew Barnes-Homer became the Harriers latest signing to date as the striker secured his release from Wycombe. With forwards Iyseden Christie and James Constable currently sidelined, Barnes-Homer's signing is a relief for Yates.
Friendlies so far have been encouraging, drawing against West Brom, Wolves and Cheltenham. If Kidderminster are to challenge the front-runners, they will have to get over the poor starts that have dogged them in previous seasons.
Northwich Victoria
Yet another turbulent summer in Cheshire saw manager Steve Burr leave under controversial circumstances, players threatening to walk out after non-payment of wages, and chairman Mike Connett offering to throw the towel in and take out all he has put in over the years.
As it stands, Neil Redfearn is the new manager, players have come and gone and Connett once again remains at the helm of Northwich Victoria. Last season back in the Blue Square Premier was a mid-table affair for the Vics, and despite being in the bottom half most of the season, that was due to the huge amount of games in hand they had after a successful FA Trophy run and unluckiness with postponed games. The Vics eventually finished the season in 13th, a good achievement considering their fixture backlog and part-time status.
The summer started worryingly for the green 'n white faithful, as manager Steve Burr walked out on the club declaring his working relationship with Connett as untenable. Connett rejected the resignation and instructed his lawyers to act, but Burr had already started work at his new job with Stalybridge Celtic.
Eventually Connett saw sense and allowed Burr to leave, and swiftly moved to appoint former Halifax boss Redfearn. By the time Redfearn arrived, he had already lost prolific striker Paul Brayson to York, Mark Roberts to Accrington and Keiran Charnock to Peterborough.
To his credit, Redfearn has encouraged transfer listed Michael Carr (pictured) to stay and enlisted some impressive signings himself. He has raided former club Boston for Simon Rusk, Brad Maylett and Greg Strong and appointed former Shrewsbury and Leeds full back Kevin Sharp as player/coach.
The transfer glut continued with Bury's Jake Speight joining and Paul Tait penning a deal to boost the striking options. Should Redfearn overcome the off-field verbal battles and player unrest from last season, Vics could again be comfortably safe by the time they face Cambridge United on the 3rd May.
Oxford United
After 20 games of last season, not many expected Oxford United to spend a second season in the Blue Square Premier, such was the gulf between them and second placed Dagenham. The U's blitzed the Conference, thrashing most teams out of sight and it seemed a formality they would be promoted. But 12 points ahead of second place with nearly half the season gone, Oxford spectacularly blew up and after 14 wins in 19 games, their first defeat to Gravesend sparked the freefall. One win in thirteen contributed to a devastating downfall which saw the inevitable play-off defeat become a reality, as Exeter came from behind to beat Oxford at the Kassam 2-1. The game went to penalties and Exeter won after 'keeper Billy Turley bravely took a penalty but missed.
With the club having banked on an instant return to the Football League, cuts were made to the staff and the wage budget was slashed. Jim Smith released seven players and secured the contracts of 14 of last season's squad, including top scorer and former U Rob Duffy. Loanee Michael Corcoran was snapped up on a free from Cardiff and unknown Airdrie striker Gary Twigg. The U's then delved into the Conference North to sign Solihull Moors midfielder Phil Trainer. French full back Alex Jeannin arrived from Hereford and the final signing to date was that of Southend's tricky right winger Joel Ledgister.
Despite last seasons disappointment after such a great start, they will still be a force to contend with. Backed by the highest support in the Blue Square Premier, Oxford will still be the team to beat come the start of the season.
Rushden & Diamonds
The Diamonds will be looking for a steadier season than last, which was their first season returning to the Blue Square Premier after relegation from the League. When Rushden won the Conference title in 1999 not many expected them to be back so quickly. They had a massive backer in Max Griggs, who was pumping pots of money into the club, but things quickly changed when he left football for good, leaving the club in the hands of the fans trust. All looked well but the club didn't have the funds to maintain their charge up the league and a slump from League One resulted in relegation the season before last.
With a new look team, the club looked set to at least challenge for promotion under the managerial wiles of respected boss Paul Hart. The former Forest manager was widely renowned as a great coach who masterminded the Leeds United youth set-up that spawned the likes of Alan Smith and Jonathan Woodgate. Sadly it didn't work out for Hart, who was chopped from the job only two months into the season, the Diamonds languishing in 18th place.
The board at Nene Park couldn't be accused of rushing into the next appointment as they waited another three months before making the eyebrow-raising appointment of Graham Westley.
With the club stuck in the thick of a relegation battle, Westley won his first game at the Abbey 1-0 and guided his team to eleven games unbeaten before he was sacked. That's right, unbelievably he was asked to leave.
Westley took Rushden from 22nd to 12th in two months only losing twice yet the official statement from the board claimed Westley was not the right man to take the Diamonds forward. To his dignity he left without a fuss and former Weymouth gaffer Garry Hill took over the reins, guiding Diamonds to mid-table.
The summer signings have been relatively quiet with more players leaving than coming. The ones that have arrived are Curtis Osano on a year's loan from Reading and the hot signature of Exeter playmaker Jon Challinor. One player to watch is professional boxer Curtis Woodhouse, who combines playing football part-time with his boxing bouts. The former Grimsby player was tipped for big things when at Sheffield United and Birmingham but never quite realised his full potential. Quality performances at Nene Park have made him a crowd favourite and he will be a major player if Rushden are to have a successful season.
Preview concludes tomorrow.
Chris Vessey
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