Not too fussed about the Prem although I'd expect the usual suspect, Stalybridge, Vauxhall, Worksop, Southport, Hucknall have thrown some money at it apparently - wouldnt have thought the ground would be up to it but......
First division for me anyway!
think Witton and Chorley are in with a good chance if their squads can be strengthened - Prescot and Bridlington could be a threat, as could Hyde, Leek and Bishops finished the season strongly and a couple always come from no where so thats the top 8 maybe!
Ossett, Farsley, may struggle - who knows! wouldnt have predicted ossett and kidsgrove would finish where they did!
Premier Champs: Stalybridge - Hurts me to say it
Relegation: Frickley & Marine
Div One Champs: Hyde United (if we adapt well)/Chorley
Relegation: Hyde United (if we don't adapt well)/Kendal
Should be quite an interesting season as teams battle for mid table positions and it meaning something for once. Many of the conference/Uni Prem places for 2004/5 will go down to the last day.
Can I also introduce a new twist to the predictions, the team that finishes 14th in the Prem and just misses out on the league restructure will be ........... Ashton United
Nice to know you all have so much confidence in Frickley!! Is it because you enjoy visiting our glamorous surroundings?
We started last year with no manager, no chairman, no players and no money. Once we got sorted after the first 10 games our form was mid table. We also beat Accy Stanley, Stalybridge, Vauxhall and Worksop away. So why all the pessismism?
Nice to see so many of you think Chorley will be up there come the end of April 04.
For me, I've got this strange feeling that Barrow could win the title, but which division they'll end up in is anyone's guess - the conference didn't exactly show them the door gracefully last time so it might be barred shut to them now!
In the first, we'll win the league, I hope!
I think Gateshead will do the best of the three relegated sides, while it will be a bit of a shock to Hyde fans when they spend most of the season in mid-table. This first division isn't the easiest of leagues to get out of, just as Chorley, Bamber Bridge, Guiseley, Leek Town, Matlock Town and Witton Albion - we've all come down, and are still there trying to get back up!
Don't know about the Premier would go along with Stalybridge and Southport as promo favs though. Bradford PA and Frickley (sorry) for the drop (into the restructured Unibond Premier?)
First Div promo - Chorley and Belper/North Ferriby relegation candidates Kendal, Ossett, Kidsgrove and (John) Prescot. As for Guiseley mid-table probably.
I was hoping we would be overlooked! Seriously with Craig Elliott as a natural replacement for Gavin Knight and Chris Gowans from Frickley, I'll be disappointed not to make a top 6 finish.
My tip for the top must be Chorley with Gatehead and Leek thereabouts.
at least till after a couple of pre season games, just to see who is playing, and how..??
We (Hucknall) are making some signings, but who knows how it will all fit..
usual suspects for promotion - Barrow,Stalybridge,Southport - not sure about Vauxhall or Worksop this season - cannot see Altrincham having another poor (by their standards) season.
us - top ten at least - could cause some waves, but we will have to see
As I see it, relegation starts at 14th - so lots of dissapointed teams
Up - Ferriby,Chorley,Leek,Belper,Matlock,Gateshead - perm any 2 from 6 (or probably more)
THE MOST IMPORTANT NON LEAGUE SEASON FOR MANY A YEAR
I too think leek have a good chance this year as well as Chorley. Both teams came to Alfreton Last season and played us off the park.More to the point the prematch warm-up sequence was very professional as well as the post match warm-down.That shows good prep for matches and a professional attitude,which, to be honest, we lacked at times last season.With Rushbury on board now that should not happen this season. So:-
Prem Div- -One Hopes Alfreton are there or there abouts of course.But who knows-depends on manay factors.
Interesting season ahead with many clubs making an effort to finish 13 and above. Predictions are always difficult at this stage. Glad to see so many think Kidsgrove will struggle. Some are in for a shock.
This is the 3rd time that you have praised us about our warm-up/warm-down. Cheers for that! Made really welcome at Alfreton in a game that could have gone either way. You really did throw the kitchen sink at us in the second half!
Good to see that so many people are tipping us to do well next season.We'll be trying our best to get out of the 1st.
Molly has a training methodology: Run and play til you're sick, rest for 30 secs then start again.We'll certainly have a squad thta can last 90 mins, we just need the footballing skills to go with it!
I dont no where you got the idea Southport wont win the league and burscough will get relegated, be realistic, ex-port players have always gone on to success in management. Southport havent thrown money into it we do what we always do sigen players on a free.
1st Port
2nd Vauxhall Motors
3rd Barrow
4th Staylbridge
5th Lancaster
6th Burscough(depends on signings and if Marsh can find a new ful back to fill teale's shoes.)
A lot of people are tipping Hyde. Having seen Gateshead, who finished 20 points clear of them last season, get thrashed by us in the playoff semis, I think this may be unrealistic. A few good signings have been made, Mayers for example, but Division One is no walkover and only Accrington in recent years have bounced back at the first attempt. Indeed only a very few clubs have ever gone down and up - Lancaster (after about 10 years!), Stanley, Radcliffe, Alfreton (via the NCEL) and Spennymoor (any more?). Considering 2 have gone down each season for the last 15 years that's not a good average. Don't forget Witton have been down here for seven years (I think), a club which reached the FA Trophy Final and was in the Conference in the 1990s.
It's going to be tight in division one. Any one of last year's contenders could do it again, although I fancy Belper, Matlock and North Ferriby had their best chance last season. I expect Chorley, Leek, Guiseley and Bishop Auckland to be the front runners, with my outside tip being Bamber Bridge!
One thing though, a good half of the clubs in Div 1 will not make the cut for the new Alliance League North on ground gradings - Bishop Auckland certainly won't as they don't have first call on the use of their (Shildon's) ground. So the league table at the end of the season could bear little relation to who actually makes it up.
