Nip and tuck ‘til the death
AUGUST
STAFFORD Rangers were the surprise early pacesetters in the NPL Premier, dropping just two points from their opening 15 before suffering a surprise Bank Holiday home defeat by Belper Town.
At the same time Belper Town were passionately celebrating their first win of the season, in the same way you could be celebrating on FreeBetsUk.
As a result, Ashton United’s 1-0 away win at Hyde United took them joint top of the table, although South Shields were the only unbeaten side in August having won three and drawn three of their opening six.
Nuneaton Borough finished the opening month on top of the Southern Premier Central table following a Bank Holiday victory over struggling Hednesford Town.
That, however, was only due to Coalville Town’s shock home defeat to Basford United – their first loss of the campaign.
At the other end, Ilkeston, Stourbridge, Hednesford and AFC Rushden & Diamonds were all awaiting their first win after stuttering starts.
Weston-super-Mare made their intentions known early in Southern Premier South, picking up 16 points from a possible 18 to lead western rivals Truro City after the opening month.
Both remained unbeaten at the top but Hanwell Town, Dorchester Town and Chesham United were also showing early promise.
At the bottom, Hendon collected their first points of the season at the seventh attempt with a 3-1 victory over neighbours Harrow Borough.
Sammy Moore’s Potters Bar Town were the surprise frontrunners in Isthmian Premier, alongside Aveley, who were settling in nicely into life at Step 3 for the first time in their history.
Folkestone Invicta and Lewes were the division’s only two unbeaten sides going into September after solid starts, while last season’s big-hitters Bishop’s Stortford and Enfield Town were both in the chasing pack.
SEPTEMBER
PAUL Phillips became the first managerial casualty of the NPL Premier season, leaving Matlock Town after three years in charge following a patchy start. Former Boston boss Craig Elliott was the man to come in.
Hyde United temporarily went top with a midweek win over Nantwich but South Shields were still sitting pretty, unbeaten from their opening nine games. At the bottom, Whitby Town, who saw jointboss Lee Bullock stand down, had to wait until September 25 for their first win, a 2-0 success at Nantwich.
Warrington Rylands had a new man at the helm with Jody Banim replacing Dave McNabb.
Manager Keenan Meakin-Richards stood down at struggling Southern Premier Central club Hednesford Town following a shock FA Cup defeat to Long Eaton United with Steve Burr making a popular return to Keys Park.
It was all change also at Ilkeston Town where Martin Carruthers stepped aside for Jamie Ward to take the reigns with the Robins winning just one of their opening eight games.
Tamworth and Nuneaton Borough continued to lead the way but Coalville Town gave notice of their intention with a 7-0 away thumping of AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Southern Premier South side Bracknell Town were left without a manager after highly-successful boss Bobby Wilkinson left for Weymouth, while FA Vase finalists Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers took over the reins from neighbouring Binfield.
Top two Weston-super-Mare and Truro City were beginning to pull away from the rest after midweek wins stretched their unbeaten start to the season to nine games.
At the bottom, newcomers Plymouth Parkway picked up their first win of the season with a 3-1 success over Salisbury.
In the Isthmian Premier, Kingstonian supporters launched a fundraising appeal for long-standing goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey, who was unable to work due to injury.
On the field, Hornchurch were embarking on a ninematch unbeaten run which took their to the top of the table with Potters Bar, Bishop’s
Stortford and Aveley still very much in the mix.
OCTOBER
ASHFORD United saw their promotion hopes in NPL Premier suffer a setback after they were deducted three points for fielding two ineligible players on the opening day against Liversedge.
Fellow high-fliers Marske United parted company with manager Carl Jarrett after eight years in charge – Curtis Wood-odhouse named as his replacement.
FC United of Manchester finished the month on top of the table after ending
South Shields’ flawless start to the season, while Hyde United were also in contention after a 7-0 thumping of Bamber Bridge.
Club legend Andy Burgess paid the price for AFC Rush- den & Diamonds’ poor start in Southern Premier Central with his job, shortly followed by co-chairmen Chris McCor- mack and Matt Ward.
It was all change also at Bromsgrove Sporting with Thomas Bailee left by mutual consent.
October was the month Tamworth officially launched their title bid with 10 straight wins given them a 10-point lead at the top come the end of the month. Leiston too were begin- ning to make an impression with just two defeats from their opening 13.
Steve Claridge was a shock departure as manager and director of Salisbury in Southern Premier South with former player Brian Dutton almost immediately named as his replacement.
Two struggling clubs also made changes; Ross Weatherstone and Tyrone Newton leaving Hartley Wintney and Peter Beadle departing Yate Town. John Rendell left Paulton Rovers to join Yate, while Hartley hired former Arsenal midfielder Ian Selley.
Truro City were still unbeaten 13 games into their campaign, but a ding-dong battle at the top with Westonsuper-Mare was emerging with the Seagulls having lost just once.
The longest managerial reign in English football came to an end when Neil Cugley stepped down at Folkestone Invicta after 26 years and 1,300 games in charge.
Corinthian-Casuals also boarded the managerial merry-go-round in Isthmian Premier after parting company with Tony Reid. And that capped a pretty miserable month for the southwest London club after high winds caused a tree to crash through the clubhouse at King George’s Field.
Marc Weatherstone left Wingate & Finchley with the club just hovering above the relegation zone.
Potters Bar still led the way but Aveley weren’t giving up the fight, ending the month with a 6-0 away thumping of Brightlingsea Regent.
NOVEMBER
NPL Premier outfit Ashton United hoovered up plenty of column inches when they put in a cheeky bid to take Manchester City’s Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland on a month’s loan while the World Cup was going on.
It took until late November but Truro City finally suffered their first defeat of the campaign in Southern Premier South.
The White Tigers were beaten 3-1 at Chesham United, a result which prevented them leapfrogging Weston-super-Mare to reach the summit.
In a top two clash late on in the month in the Isthmian Premier, Hornchurch romped to a stunning 5-2 victory at Potters Bar Town to close to within a point of the leaders. Liam Nash bagged a hat-trick for the Urchins.
Potters Bar then suffered a major blow when manager Sammy Moore surprisingly departed for Isthmian South East basement side Faversham Town. In a clash of eventual winners South Shields and playoff victors Warrington Town in the NPL Premier, it was the latter who triumphed 3-2 on home turf.
On the managerial front, it was proving a busy time. Early in the month, former Arsenal star Ian Selley took the reins at Southern Premier South strugglers Hartley Wintney, while former pro footballer and boxer Curtis Woodhouse was appointed by NPL Premier Marske United.
Later, Lee O’Leary put family first when he decided to step down as manager of Isthmian Premier Kingstonian. He was replaced by former Wingate & Finchley boss Spencer Knight.
Danny Ellis was axed as manager of NPL Premier Guiseley and replaced by Paul Phillips, while ex-Cray Valley PM gaffer Kevin Watson was installed by struggling Isthmian Premier side Herne Bay. Chris Cummins stood down as boss of Southern Premier Central Kings Langley.
Southern Premier South side Gosport Borough appointed Mark Molesley as director of football.
DECEMBER
SOUTHERN Premier Central outfit Ilkeston Town began the month with something of a coup as they snapped up former Peterborough United and Cardiff City attacking midfielder Lee Tomlin as player-coach .
By the end of the year, it was Tamworth who led the way in that division. The Lambs signed off from 2022 with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Stratford Town. Weston-super-Mare were in pole position in Southern Premier South.
Kevin Phillips‘ South Shields were top of the pile in the NPL Premier after wrapping up the year with an entertaining 4-2 win against Whitby Town, while Hornchurch held a single point advantage over Bishop’s Stortford in the Isthmian Premier.
Isthmian high-flyers Potters Bar Town gave assistant Lee Protheroe the chance to take charge following Sammy Moore’s exit, while Southern Premier Central toilers Bedford Town turned to Paul Davis after Gary Setchell’s departure the previous month.
It was all-change at NPL Premier Matlock Town as Martin Carruthers arrived to take the hotseat vacated by Craig Elliott, who had stepped up a level to lead National League North outfit Buxton.
The experienced Steve Burr departed Southern Premier Central strugglers Hednesford Town after just three months in charge. Danny Glover took over in the dugout.
Another ailing side in the division to make a managerial change were AFC Rushden & Diamonds, who appointed Chris Nunn to become their third manager of the season.
JANUARY
THERE was a blockbuster clash at the end of the month as top two Weston-super-Mare and Truro City went head to head in Southern Premier South.
In front of a crowd of 1,314, Rocky Neal’s goal four minutes before the break won it for Truro, who moved to within a point of the leaders.
Tamworth were still setting the pace in Southern Premier Central despite a 1-0 loss at Coalville Town early in the month, while there was a real bunfight going on in the Isthmian Premier. Following the last weekend of the month, only two points separated the top five, with Enfield Town leading the way on goal difference from Aveley.
Hyde United edged ahead of South Shields in the NPL Premier on goals scored, though the north-east side had four games in hand on their rivals.
In the middle of the month, a bumper gate of 1,809 saw Warrington Town run out 2-1 victors in their derby at Warrington Rylands thanks to a Jordan Buckley double.
There was another managerial change at Southern Pre- mier South side Hartley Wintney as Ian Selley departed after a short stint in charge to be replaced by Rowan Vine.
Lee Attenborough took the hotseat at NPL strugglers Belper Town after the Nailers parted company with Steve Kittrick, while Steve Cunningham took the reins at Ashton United after Michael Clegg’s resignation.
FEBRUARY
SOUTH Shields were cruising at the top of the NPL, finishing the month 11 points clear of Hyde United.
Tamworth had a commanding lead in the Southern Premier Central, but it was tight at the top of the Isthmian Premier. Bishop’s Stortford leading the way ahead of Aveley and Hornchurch, but right down to 12th places had a decent shot at the play-off places.
Margate confirmed Reece Prestedge as new manager at the start of the month, while there was a dug-out change at Kingstonian where Spencer Knight departed to be replaced by Westfield chief Simon Lane.
There were changes throughout Step 3, with Carl Jarrett returning to Marske United to replace Curtis Woodhouse.
Also back in the dug-out was former Atherton Collieries and Ashton boss Michael Clegg as he took over at Warrington Rylands.
Elsewhere, Nantwich Town appointed Paul Carden in a bid to revive their season while, in Southern South, popular management duo Neil Baker and Jon Underwood took the reins at Beaconsfield Town.
Brett Munyard went back to manage Brightlingsea Regent – just a few weeks after leaving!
Hednesford Town chairmen Graham Jones and Hayden Dando announced their intention to stand down at the end of the season. Dando would later return to rescue the club after their resignation from the National League System was withdrawn at the last minute.
MARCH
STEVE Kittrick was back in management at Matlock Town following the departure of Mark Clifford.
AFC Dunstable announced long-serving boss Steve Heath would be leaving at the end of the campaign.
There were changes at Potters Bar Town where Lee Protheroe moved on and Justin Fevrier departed struggling Corinthian-Casuals. The club announced former England midfielder Andy Gray would replace him in the summer.
Isthmian Premier Hastings United revealed a possible groundshare with Eastbourne Borough for the next season had been put on hold as they stay at their Pilot Field home.
South Shields continued their march at the top of the NPL Premier but Tamworth had seen their lead chipped away by Coalville Town with the two separated only on goal difference.
At the bottom, it was looking unlikely AFC Rushed & Diamonds would survive.
‘ I was brought here to do a job and i did it, although I’d have loved to have taken it further. Circumstances have changed ‘
Kevin Phillips
Just four points split the top four in the Isthmian Premier, with Hornchurch leading the way ahead of Bishop’s Stortford, Canvey Island and Aveley.
In Southern Premier South, FA Cup and FA Trophy kings Bracknell Town were reeling in leaders Weston-super-mare and Truro City.
APRIL
SOUTH Shields finally fulfilled their Step 2 dream by clinching the NPL title on Easter Monday. The northeast club had seen their meteoric rise from Step 6, via an FA Vase win at Wembley, halted by Covid when the 2019- 20 season was scrapped.
Play-off heartache then followed before Kevin Phillips’ side eased over the line with a 1-0 win over Whitby.
“I am just relieved we have finally got there and got into the National League North,” chairman Geoff Thompson said.
But there was a shock to come for the Mariners supporters when, just minutes after their final game of the season, it was announced Phillips would be leaving by mutual consent. “I was brought here to do a job and I did it, although I’d have loved to have taken it further,” Phillips said. “Circumstances have changed and I’ll be supporting the club in the next phase of its journey from afar.”
The next two popping the title champagne would be Weston-super-Mare and Bishop’s Stortford.
Southern Premier South winners Weston clinched top spot with a 4-1 win over Hendon after Bracknell Town had beaten Truro City to give Scott Bartlett’s side the chance to wrap it up 24 hours later.
“Hopefully this is just the first step on the journey,” player-assistant manager Scott Laird said. Stortford celebrated in their clubhouse after training as closest rivals Aveley were held to a draw by Canvey Island – despite the Millers coming back from two goals down in a late rally.
The Southern Premier Central race went to a dramatic final day.
At kick-off, Tamworth topped the pile ahead of Coalville Town by a goal difference of just two goals.
Coalville took the lead against Stourbridge in the opening minutes on their way to a 3-1 home win. But Tamworth kept their cool to win at Redditch United by the same scoreline and book their return to Step 2.
And so to the play-offs. Warrington Town have missed out in recent seasons but finally ended their hoodoo by beating Bamber Bridge in the NPL Premier final thanks to Isaac Buckley-Richards’ 90th-minute winner.
Mark Beesley’s side had booked their spot by seeing off Matlock Town 4-1, while Bamber Bridge beat Gainsborough Trinity on penalties.
Coalville Town’s final day heartache was compoundedd a few days later when they lost the Southern Premier Central semi-final on spotkicks – going down 4-3 too Rushall Olympic.
Nuneaton Borough won the other semi 2-1 awayy at Suffolk fit Leiston but it was the Pics out- who kept their cool from 12 yards again to win 5-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in the final.
Bracknell Town and Truro City were separated by a single point in the Southern Premier South but it was third-place Truro who squeezed past the Robins with a 3-2 final win.
Truro had beaten Poole Town in the semi on penalties, while Bracknell won 1-0 at home to Chesham United.
And Horn – church suffered playoff final heartache for a second season in a row.
Aveley won 1-0 and celebrated promotion to Step 2 for the first time in club history.
Both semis went to penalties with Danny Scopes’ Aveley winning 4-2 against Canvey Island – the same score as the Urchins after a 3-3 thriller with Cray Wanderers.
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