New Non League Goalmouth: Rochdale, Kidderminster & Hornchurch are going up! + Non-League Finals Day

On this week’s edition of the Non-League Goalmouth, Editor at Large Matt Badcock and Executive Editor Jon Couch are joined by the Non-League Paper’s North-East correspondent, Mark Carruthers, to talk through all the latest in Non-League!

National League final

After a remarkable season, Rochdale ended a three-year stay in the National League with a penalty shootout victory over Boreham Wood in the play-off final at Wembley.

Dale were mere seconds away from spending another season at Step 1, but like many times this season, they would fight to the death, and Mani Dieseruvwe headed an equaliser home in the 97th-minute to overturn the Wood’s two-goal advantage, after Tyler Smith came off the bench to halve the deficit with 12 minutes to go.

Rochdale’s fairytale was complete as on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff displayed shootout heroics, saving two penalties, guaranteeing Rochdale a spot in League Two.

Step 2 finals

Elsewhere, in a shocking development, Adam Murray has left Kidderminster Harriers just three days after guiding them into the National League.

The now ex-Harriers boss led his side to victory in the National League North Promotion Final over South Shields, but will now take charge of Barrow – who will also be in the top tier of Non League football following relegation from League Two on the final day of the season.

In the National League South, Hornchurch reached the National League for the first time in the club’s history with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time promotion final victory over Torquay United, with Daryl McMahon’s side coming from behind twice to eventually clinch a spot at Step 1 for next season.

In other news…

We also discuss the latest end-of-season news, including Hartlepool United appointing Lee Clark as Nicky Featherstone’s managerial successor.

The former Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town boss most recently managed Rotherham United and has added former Pools captain Gary Liddle to his coaching staff, while ex-Carlisle United manager Chris Beech takes up the role of head of recruitment.

Finally, we look ahead to Non-League Finals Day this Sunday with the Isuzu FA Trophy final between Southend United and Wealdstone, as well as the Isuzu FA Vase final contested between AFC Stoneham and Cockfosters.

You can subscribe to The Non-League Paper digitally or physically for more great content via this link OR by scanning the QR code shown throughout the video!

Make sure to follow us across social media to keep up-to-date with the latest Non-League news!

WATCH THE LATEST NON-LEAGUE GOALMOUTH HERE

WATCH MORE: New Non League Goalmouth: National League play-offs – Boreham Wood v Rochdale + North & South finals