And So To Next Year

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 21/05/2012

WITH York being promoted at the weekend at the expense of Luton, the picture for next season is complete. Once again Luton stand out as overwhelmingly the best supported side, and will inevitably be favourites to win the league next season - their fourth at this level.

Stockport are the best supported of the sides in the county with the most teams, Cheshire, and will be looking to improve upon their poor campaign last season. Wrexham and Mansfield are two of the better supported clubs, and are likely to challenge near the top next season.

Grimsby were the fourth best supported club last season, and have underachieved in both their seasons at this level. The second half of last season however was much better than the first, and you would expect the Mariners to be more of a threat this time around, especially with a more established squad and management team.

Of the newcomers Hereford and Macclesfield don't look out of place at this level and few clubs bounce back at the first attempt. Of the promoted sides Woking are the best supported, but they are a part time side without a big budget for players, and will probably not challenge towards the top until they make the step up towards being full time.

Lincoln, like Stockport, had a terrible season last year and are surely due to improve having found their feet at this level.

Gateshead and Braintree both did well last season, but it's difficult to hang on to the better players for the smaller clubs, and they may find their achievements hard to repeat.

Forest Green have supposedly got a big budget this year so will likely improve upon last year's showing.