AFC Fylde
The newly promoted side have added 6 players to their ranks.
Spireites may be familiar with Gold Omatayo, who has featured for the likes of Yeovil, Wrexham and Kings Lynn town at National League level. The 29 year old striker hit 25 goals for the Linnets last season and bolsters the attacking ranks of a side who hit 80 goals in the sixth tier last season.
The coasters have also added former Manchester United youth goalkeeper Theo Richardson. The stopper kept 14 clean sheets last season for Buxton in their debut season at National League North level.
Due to Fylde comfortably winning the National League North last year, and strengthening the squad in key areas, we’re expecting them to hold their own in the National League this term.
Predicted finish: 14th
Aldershot Town
To say that this season will be one of transition for Aldershot would be a huge understatement. Following their 18th place finish last season, 15 players have left the EBB Stadium, while the Shots have added 12 new names to their ranks.
Former Kings Lynn manager Tommy Widdrington has added a trio of former Linnets to his ranks as well as striker Kwame Thomas from Sutton United.
With such a mass movement of players we expect Aldershot to start slowly this season. With finances rumoured to be tight in Hampshire, we think the Shots will never really trouble the top half of the table either.
Predicted finish: 18th
Altrincham
Since making the transition to fully professional football last year, Altrincham have impressed their peers in the National League with an effective and at times attractive style of football.
It’s fair to say that losing Ryan Colclough to the Spireites dented their attacking threat significantly in the second half of last season. But despite this they managed to finish comfortably clear of relegation in 17th place - respectable for the huge transition of their first season as a full time club.
Since then the Robins have lost another key player in Josh Lundstram, making the short switch across Greater Manchester to title hopefuls Oldham Athletic.
However, Alty have replaced their key midfielder with the experienced Joey Jones, who joins following his exit from Solihull Moors.
Also bolstering their midfield is former loanee Chris Conn-Clarke, who impressed the Moss Lane faithful last year and rejoins following his release by Fleetwood Town.
Up front, the Robins have signed Dior Angus - a previous National League winner with Ian Evatt’s Barrow - who will be looking to rekindle his goal scoring form at this level.
We think Alty have made some shrewd business so far and would expect them to consolidate their fifth tier status even further this season.
Predicted finish: 15th
Barnet
Barnet’s high octane, attacking style of football secured them an impressive 5th place finish - they were the league’s 4th highest goalscorers overall.
The Bees remain firmly in the conversation in this season’s race for the top 7.
So far they’ve added Callum Stead - whose 13 goals helped Brackley Town reach the National League North playoff final.
The impressive Sam Barratt also moves to North London - the left winger has caught the eye of many National League fans while at Maidenhead United and will provide useful service for the powerful
Nicke Kabamba.
Bolstering Barnet’s midfield is a player who has had plenty of National League experience in his short career - Chesterfield-born Zak Brunt moves down south following his release by Sheffield United.
While at the back, experienced left back Ben Coker joins from Solihull, and former Wrexham man Reece Hall-Johnson comes in at right back.
Barnet have added well to their already talented squad, and we expect them to be up there once again.
Predicted finish: 5th
Boreham Wood
The Wood seem to be omnipresent in the race for a top 7 spot in the National League, and based on their transfer dealings so far they look to be continuing that challenge into next season.
Attacking duo Angelo Balanta and Mo Sagaf have made the switch to Hertfordshire from Dagenham and Redbridge - with the impressive Josh Rees going in the other direction.
Experienced Ghanaian striker Kwesi Appiah also joins from Crawley Town, having scored 10 in 17 on loan at Colchester last season. The move completes what appears to be an impressive attacking line up for Luke Garrad’s side.
Vacating the gap left by Rees in midfield is Tom Whelan, who links up with the Wood following his release by the Spireites. Whelan will be looking for consistent first team football after finding it hard to come by in north Derbyshire, and may have a point to prove when Town face off against him this season, after his second release by the club.
Boreham Wood always impress us with their consistency in the National League, and you feel that as long as Garrad remains at the club, they’re a shoe in to secure a playoff place.
Predicted finish: 6th
Bromley
Another side that always finishes there or thereabouts in the National League. Andy Woodman’s side impressed in last season’s playoffs, knocking out a strong Woking side before nearly pushing Chesterfield all the way in the playoff semi-final.
However, since then several of their key players have departed Hayes Lane - towering defender Omar Sowummi has crossed Croydon to join League Two Sutton United, while winger Harry Forster has joined Crawley Town, and the commanding goalkeeper Reece Charles-Cook has also left the club.
However, in Grant Smith they have signed a more than capable replacement in the shot stopping department, and have signed defender Sam Woods from Barnet to fill the Sowummi-shaped hole in their back line.
Bromley always more than compete at this level of football. But we’re backing them to just miss out on the playoffs this season - more due to transfer dealings elsewhere than anything else.
Predicted finish: 8th
Chesterfield
The Spireites have opted for quality over quantity in the transfers department this summer.
Paul Cook has focussed on additions to key areas of the pitch that will take the Blues to the next level and it’s fair to say that the marquee signing of Tom Naylor, who was playing Championship football with Wigan just last season, fits that bill nicely in midfield.
Up top, Chesterfield have turned up the heat with the signing of Will Grigg. Let’s hope he’ll be setting himself and National League defences ablaze this season by re-capturing his scoring from of previous seasons.
Arguably the best transfer business done by Town this summer has been keeping all three of Armando Dobra, Ryan Colclough and Liam Mandeville. Whoever plays up top won’t be short of service with that imposing attacking trio backing them up.
Cook has even managed to add to that department in Bailey Hobson - a bright young attacker who screams “rough diamond” - and former Tractor Boy Harley Curtis, who has looked bright so far in pre season and will have something to offer in the “3” or the “1”.
In recent days, Cook’s also pulled a cracker out of the hat - with winger Michael Jacobs signing on the eve of the new season.
Thanks to having friends in high places (thanks Sean), the Spireites have also secured the National League North’s goalkeeper of the season on loan in Harry Tyrer - a solid replacement for Ross Fitzsimons between the sticks.
With the titans of Notts County and Wrexham out of the way, and Chesterfield adding even more quality to the squad over the summer, this is by far the club’s best chance since our 2018 relegation to make our football league return.
Predicted finish: 1st
Dagenham and Redbridge
The side from East London are undergoing somewhat of a rebuild after finishing 10th last season.
The Daggers have lost a trio of attackers, with Angelo Balanta and Mo Sagaf joining Boreham Wood, and former Spireites loanee Paul McCallum signing for fellow playoff hopefuls Eastleigh.
In total 12 players have left Victoria Road, and their most notable signing to date is the dynamic midfielder Josh Rees, along with another trio of midfielders.
Despite losing several attacking players, their recruitment has been light in that department. Although in Inih Effiong, who they signed last year from Aldershot, they have a formidable target man and focal point.
It seems that the focus this summer has been on solidifying the foundations of a side that conceded 72 National League goals last term. However, entering the season with only Lincoln City youngster Charlie Kendall as a backup striker seems a big risk.
Despite this, we think the Daggers will have a good crack at the top 7, in what is sure to be a tight race for the playoff places this season.
Predicted finish: 9th
Dorking Wanderers
Anyone who has watched the popular Bunch of Amateurs YouTube series will harbour a soft spot for Dorking. And they won the hearts of many national league supporters last season with their at times fearless, gung-ho attacking football which saw them end the season as the league’s joint seventh top scorers - despite finishing in 16th.
Since then the club has begun the transition from part-time to full-time football - with Wanderers manager Mark White admitting that this has led to a disjointed, challenging pre-season.
In terms of their transfer business, most onlookers would say they haven’t pulled any trees up - mainly signing younger players from sides lower down in the league pyramid.
As was the case with Altrincham last, clubs generally struggle in their first professional season, as teething problems are ironed out and clubs adapt to signing from a different pool of players than was the case previously.
However, the dependable James McShane and Ryan Seager remain at the club and you would imagine will provide vital goals for the Surrey side this season.
We think that Dorking will be right in the relegation dogfight this season, but will eventually retain their place in the National League.
Predicted finish: 20th
Eastleigh
The Spitfires narrowly missed out on a playoff spot last season, and caused many sides problems with their direct attacking football, coupled with a decent defensive record - the league’s 8th best.
And the Hampshire outfit have added genuine quality to their ranks over the summer. Former Notts County attacker Enzio Boldewijn returns to the National League after a spell in League Two. And he’s joined by Paul McCallum, who returns to his former club in the hopes of firing them to the top 7 this season.
Also bolstering the attack is Scott Quigley. The former Stockport man played a part in getting them back to the football league 2 seasons ago, and adds even more depth to the disposal of Lee Bradbury.
Thanks to the attacking additions, we think that Eastleigh will sneak into the top 7. It may just add that bit of attacking quality they needed to complement their solid foundations.
Predicted finish: 7th
Ebbsfleet United
The Fleet absolutely romped to the National League South title last season, amassing 103 points with a goal difference of +62.
The electric Dominic Poleon smashed in an impressive 35 goals for the Kent side and will be a big threat in the fifth tier you’d imagine.
After the highs of last season, the Ebbsfleet fans may be hungry for more success, but realistically a season of consolidation would be a good result for a side who have been exiled from the National League since relegation in 2020.
And that has been reflected in their relatively low profile transfer window so far. No big names have come through the door at Stonebridge Road, but the management and powers that be probably feel they already have enough to stay up.
We agree, and think barring a disaster of some kind, Ebbsfleet will adapt comfortably to this level.
Predicted finish: 13th
FC Halifax Town
Adapting to life post-Pete Wild was always going to be a struggle for Halifax last season. So to come back from their early season woes to finish in a very respectable 11th place under Chris Millington - with home victories over Chesterfield and Wrexham along the way - shows that the foundations of the club are well set up to be a solid side in the National League.
The loss of the popular striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe to Hartlepool after scoring 13 goals for the Shaymen last term will have felt like another hammer blow to the West Yorkshire faithful.
Matt Warburton and Harvey Gilmour have also departed the club, leaving a hole for Millington to replace in midfield.
In response, up and coming central midfielders Jo Cummings and Kane Thompson-Sommers both make the step up from National League North football.
And joining from AFC Wimbledon is striker Aaron Cosgrave.
All three of these signings are in the earlier stages of their careers, suggesting a transfer policy of signing younger players and developing them to sell on.
This can be a solid strategy, but also a risky one when you take into account the quality of the departing players.
For that reason, we think Halifax may regress slightly on the pitch this year, but won’t be in any real threat of relegation.
Predicted finish: 16th
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