Alfreton Town manager Dave Lloyd has SIGNED Carl Bradshaw (33) the former Sheff Utd/Wednesday/Norwich/Wigan utility man; midfielder John Knapper from Ilkeston Town and goalkeeper Stuart Ford from the same club.
Bradshaw and Ford ard on one year contracts with one year options; Knapper has joined on a two year contract.
This takes the Reds' tally of newcomers to four following the capture of former Chesterfield and Halifax defender Mark Jules.

It's good to see some other Div 1 fans on this board, at the moment there only seem to be representatives of Leek, Witton, North Ferriby and Ossett on here regularly. You lot seem pretty confident about your chances this season, it'll be interestign to see how you start off, and how you get on against us on Sept 7. Good luck.

There always has to be a new club who does well (Hucknall, Vauxhall Motors etc) and Alfreton will be optimistic on that basis. I think it's about time that some of the "bigger" clubs did something about getting back into the Premier...

Kidsgrove look the more likely to make an impression of the two promoted sides to me, but time will tell of course. As for the larger sides, we seem to be shaping up for a decent league season for the first time since 1987. How's things at Witton? Has Phillips sorted things out down there?

Good luck to everyone (except Bamber Bridge) this season.

Hi Mark

Kidsgrove manager Kevin Langley has just resigned amid rumours that the club is cutting its budget.

According to the local paper, he walked out following last night's thrashing (6-0) at the hands of Macclesfield saying he didn't like the way some things were done at the club and that some people there knew little about football.

It's also rumoured that former Northwich and Stevenage midfield star, Steve Walters, is on his way to join Rhyl.

As far as Alfreton are concerned, maybe they will do well but, the UniBond league is not as easy as they seem to think it's going to be!!

Best wishes

Mike

Difficult to read too much into pre-season games,of course, but Alfreton looked very competent in beating Burton 2-1 on Saturday. It was not just the result, but the manner of the victory, which was pleasing, and it certainly enhanced the Reds' hopes of a good first season back in the fold.

Yeah fair enough, Alfreton have signed four players from higher divisions with good experience (and I ain't doubting that Jules will be an exceptional signing)... but we at Belper have signed about 8 or 9 new players from higher leagues, and well... we are optimistic, but everyone expects to win the league at the start of the season in division one.

Mike, and every one else . . . We at Alfreton Town are under no illusions that it is going to be an easy ride in UniBond division one. Far from it, and no-one has gone on record as saying that the club are going to stroll it.
It is going to be a very interesting season as plenty of clubs appear to have made plenty of quality signings.
The Reds have just had a change of manager, only five weeks from the start of the new season, hardly ideal is it?
I feel for Kidsgrove if Langley has gone, I know how hard Town fans took it when Chris Wilder left, and how hard it is to get someone suitable as a replacement.
I would have thought expectations would perhaps be higher at clubs like Ossett Town, Radcliffe Borough, Chorley, Leek Town, Spennymoor Utd, etc.
Don't forget there is usually an outsider who surprises everyone as well (Ossett last term?).
However, good luck to all, and may the best teams gain promotion.