Chris Vessey continues his introduction to the clubs we will meet this season in the Football Conference.
Northwich Victoria - The Vics are welcomed back to the Conference National after sweeping all before them in the Conference North last season.
They won the league with 92 points and 97 goals on the board, the majority of those scored by the prolific strike partnership of Paul Brayson and Jonny Allan.
Manager Steve Burr has made some shrewd signings as they look to make a surprise assault on the top half of the division, bringing in Gareth Griffiths, Kevin Townson and Tony Gallimore. All have played in the Football League, mainly with League 2 mainstays Rochdale.
One player with his eye on bigger ambitions is Michael Carr (left), by far the most outstanding player for Northwich for the past two years.
The 22-year-old has galvanised the Vics midfield after signing from Macclesfield, and became the first non-league player from below the Conf. National to appear for the National X1 England team, against Italy at the Abbey Stadium last season.
Oxford United - Yet another team with vast league experience has fallen into the Conference, Oxford being one of the seven teams in this division to have fallen from League 2 in recent seasons. There is not much doom and gloom at the Kassam though, 4,500 season tickets have been sold and Oxford are red hot favourites for an instant return.
Most of that is down to the appointment of Oxford legend Jim Smith, who has been better known as assistant to Harry Redknapp on his tour of the Premiership.
He has borrowed old 'Arrys knack of wheeling and dealing by signing no less than seven new players, including Rob Duffy (left), who appeared four times for Cambridge early last season.
Eddie Hutchison left Brentford to join, Carl Pettefer arrives from League 1 Southend and Gavin Johnson signed up after his release from Northampton.
There will be a massive weight of expectation for the U's this season, and they will have been warned that this division is very hard to get out of, as Carlisle and Shrewsbury are the only teams in recent years to bounce back at the first attempt.
Rushden & Diamonds - Relegated last season, Rushden rejoin the Conference scene after a five year adventure in the football league. Max Griggs' millions took the Northants club from non league obscurity to League 1 in less than ten years, some believing Rushden could do what Wimbledon did, maybe reaching the Premiership. All that is a distant dream now though, as Griggs left, and Rushden have slowly slid back down the divisions.
There is much better cause for optimism this season though, as ex-Forest manager Paul Hart is in charge, making a number of solid signings during the summer.
He cleared out the relegation deadwood and brought in target man Leo Fortune-West, who is paired up front with once Cambridge striker Dan Chillingworth (right), a rare survivor of last years' relegation.
Last season's player of the year Phil Gulliver looked set for Hereford, but with a fee required that the Bulls couldn't afford, Gulliver is back at Nene Park in a timely boost for the fans. Gillingham's Chris Hope has signed up for a year, as has young Scunthorpe forward Michael Rankine, but leaving the Diamonds are former Cambridge duo Ash Nicholls and John Turner who have joined fellow Conference outfit Grays Athletic.
Southport - A miraculous effort by Liam Watson and his players last season secured Conference status for the Merseyside outfit, especially as all odds seemed against survival. Stranded in the bottom two for the majority of the season, a clutch of gritty victories in the final weeks of the season ensured a 20th place finish, two points safe from relegation.
The club then announced they would be going full time, which threw the club into turmoil. Similar to the Gravesend situation, many 'Port players had well paid jobs they were unwilling to give up, including manager Liam Watson. Out went the young manager, and ex-Burnley midfielder Paul Cook was named manager. Two of last season's star players, 'keeper Steve Dickinson and winger Steve Daly have left, leaving Cook with a massive job of keeping the Sandgrounders up a second time round. In response he has signed six players, mainly youngsters released from his old club Burnley, and has registered himself as a player if needed. Looking at the more prominent signings other proposed strugglers have made, Cook faces a huge task in keeping 'Port up in his first managerial job.
St. Albans City - One of the surprise promotions of last year, St Albans will be delighted to appear in their first ever Conference campaign. Even more surprising was their demolition of Kidderminster Harriers on the first day, winning 3-1 but coasting 3-0 at half time, which led manager Colin Lippiatt to admit it should have been 5-0 at the break!
St. Albans were promoted after a play-off final victory again Histon, which was fully deserved after enjoying a battle with Weymouth for the title of the Conference South, finishing second to the big spending Terras. Manager Lippiatt is a legend at Clarence Park; since taking over from manager Stuart Cash he has transformed the Saints from a struggling Conf. South side to genuine title contenders.
He has recruited well in the summer, Rambir Marwa joining from Dagenham, whilst the most impressive signing was defender Gary Elphick from Brighton. On the books for the Saints are three ex-Cambridge United players - Adam Wilde and David Theobald have both had minor spells at the Abbey, whilst veteran goalkeeper Paul Bastock enjoyed a handful of games at the start of his long career.
Stafford Rangers - Newly promoted Stafford were amongst the bookies favourites to go straight back down this season, but this last week they made four decent signings which could just swing survival in their favour. Gaffer Phil Robinson has signed midfielder Ged Murphy, an experienced head at this level, and the front line was significantly bolstered with the capture of Guy Madjo, Brian Quailey and Dolapo Olaoyo. The Madjo news raised a few eyebrows as he was pointed out as the main reason Forest Green escaped relegation last season.
Rangers had to come through the nail biting trauma of the play-offs to be promoted, and after nervously beating Harrogate Town on penalties, they managed to win from the spot again when they defeated Droylsden in a shoot out after a tense 1-1 draw.
Stevenage Borough - 'Boro have been designated title favourites this season, instantly putting them into the ill fated 'team to beat' category. This has put instant pressure on new boss Mark Stimson, who was recruited after quitting Grays Athletic. Outspoken former boss Graham Westley's boasts got the better of him and he was forced to resign after his side failed to make the play-off shake up, only one year after they lost the final to Carlisle United.
Many Stevenage fans were glad to see the back of Westley, who strangely released nine players just days before leaving Broadhall Way. Sadly for 'Boro fans, they lost their main asset up front, Anthony Elding, after a major spat with Westley, and he finally settled for joining Boston United. Stimson has managed to retain the bulk of the squad from last year, including flying winger George Boyd. He has been constantly linked with teams in higher divisions, namely Leeds United and Swansea, but none have ever been brave enough to offer a firm bid. Cambridge fans will remember Boyd's wonder goal against us last season, a dipping volley in the match at Broadhall Way.
Tamworth - The Lambs can count themselves very lucky to be plying their trade in the Conference this season. They actually finished in the first relegation place but were reprieved after Canvey Island resigned from the league. Despite this, the board have kept faith in young manager Mark Cooper, and most know he won't get another chance if the club struggles at the foot of the table again.
Cooper has made numerous signings to try to prevent a repeat of last season, swooping to sign Emmett Friars and Matt Williams from Notts County, although there was widespread disappointment at the Lamb Ground when ex-Yeovil striker decided to join Harrogate Town, after initially hinting his future lay at the Lambs.
Defensive errors were all too prone last season so Cooper has signed defender Graeme Law, once of York, to try and eliminate those frailties. Tragedy struck for another new signing, Steve Burton, who badly damaged his knee in his first training session for the club and will be out for months. 22yr old Burton, signed from Crawley, was going to be the main goal threat for the Lambs this season, and Cooper has yet to replace the striker. The Lambs look like they could be in for a long, hard season, and conceding a goal after 10 seconds in their first game against Weymouth certainly did not help. Tamworth tried to fight back but eventually succumbed to the Terras 3-1.
Weymouth - Big things are expected from the Terras this season, who were promoted from the Conference South as champions and arrive with money, quality players, and a manager who knows how to succeed at this level.
Garry Hill was the manager who almost led Dagenham & Redbridge to the Football League five years ago. He managed that with no funds and a skeleton support, but at Weymouth he has money to spend and a decent fanbase following his side.
They could almost be compared to Grays of last season, who came into this division on the crest of a wave, and carried it on all the way to the play-offs.
Hill has been cagey about his side's chances though, claiming consolidation would satisfy him. Just a glance at the signings made show some serious promotion intent, as Raphael Nade, Richard Logan, Dean Howell, Simon Weatherstone and former U Marcus Richardson have all signed... and that's just the attacking players.
Hereford captain Tony James has also penned a deal for next season, as has Shaun Wilkinson for his second spell at the Wessex Stadium. Just to highlight the strength in depth Weymouth have, they had six first teamers missing for the trip to Tamworth yet still managed to dominate from start to finish, romping away with a 3-1 win.
Woking - The Cards will be looking for major progress on the pitch this year, as their long suffering fans have watched them loiter around mid-table every season for the past few years. Although last season included a trip to Upton Park to face Grays in the FA Trophy, they were overrun and humiliated by the Essex outfit, the players facing jeers and booing after the 2-0 defeat.
Manager Glenn Cockerill was apparently on the shortlist for the vacant Grimsby job, and many fans believed he should have left to give the club a fresh start.
Cockerill remains though, and he faces this season without top scorer Justin Richards, who has signed for Peterboro'. Richards netted over 20 goals for Woking last season and has yet to be replaced.
The only incoming player is Danny Bunce (right), who performed admirably for Cambridge last season before being released by Rob Newman. It's hard to see Woking troubling either end of the table this season, and it looks like the Cards faithful are in for another possible mediocre season.
York City - After a couple of torrid years, York City look to be a team on the up. After relegation from the league, then a desperate debut season in the Conference, Billy McEwan has slowly built a squad ready for a good honest title challenge. Last season came a little early for promotion, and after a good start York faltered and finished just outside the play-off shake up.
Last season's Conference Golden Boot winner hailed from KitKat Crescent, in the shape of Andy Bishop, and York fought tooth and nail to keep him, but he opted to activate a clause in his contract and left for the Football League, joining Bury. Nothing too much to worry about for York fans though, as his strike partner Clayton Donaldson weighed in with 15 goals, confirming them as the deadliest strike partnership in the Conference.
Former Exeter striker Craig Farrell has been given the task of filling Bishop's goalscoring boots, a challenge he claimed he is looking forward to. Also incoming are young striker Jack Wilkinson, former Scunny stopper Tom Evans, local lad Ross Greenwood and Huddersfield defender Anthony Lloyd. The Minstermen will be quietly confident of their chances this season if they stay relatively injury free, and look to have a competent, solid squad.
Chris Vessey
[Preview Part 1] [Fixture List]
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