The National League kicks off this weekend in what promises to be one of the most open races for the title in recent years.
Whilst there still remain a few clubs who can spend their way to promotion, the 2024/25 season shouldn’t be such an easy procession to the title. The overwhelming consensus is Dean Brennan’s Barnet will have the favourites target on their back. Despite their shock home defeat in the play-offs to Solihull Moors the Bees were the closest challengers to Chesterfield.
They have recruited well over the summer, bringing in experience from Joe Kizzi, Billy Clifford and Rhys Browne, whilst adding a younger edge in Joe Rye, Jermaine Francis and Finley Wilkinson. The signing of the summer could be Anthony Hartigan, who was instrumental in their second-placed finish will hold the key to their title challenge.
Forest Green Rovers have the financial backing to return at the first time of asking and become only the fifth side to spend just 12 months in non-league’s top division.
They have gone for experience added to their squad, Ben Tozer arriving from Wrexham, Sean Long and Liam Sercombe both from Cheltenham Town. A question mark will be leveraged against a club with a double relegation, The National League is non-forgiving and a losing culture is hard to shake as both Scunthorpe United and Southend United fans can testify to.
Oldham Athletic fans will demand their side are in the promotion mix come next May. The Latics have failed to deliver since dropping out of the Football League and despite falling just short of the top seven last year, Micky Mellon knows he has to find some consistency.
Having released 13 players last summer from a very bloated squad, Mellon has been more selective with his captures hoping that less is more in terms of quality, although they seem to still be lacking in the forward areas
Altrincham and Solihull Moors will both expect to be in and around the top seven spots again. Despite the loss of Chris Conn-Clarke, Alty have retained of core of last year’s side which appear to have gone under the radar and will be hard to beat once again.
Moors under Andy Whing were fantastic last season and like the Robins, they are tough to break down and score against. The signing of John Bostock is a statement of intent for the Midlands club who are desperate to become a Football League club having twice been denied at the final hurdle.
Southend United, now free of Ron Martin, should make strides to regain their EFL place. Only their early season 10-point deduction halted the Shrimpers from making the play-offs and Kevin Maher now knows he has the ability to strengthen his squad with boardroom backing.
Being able to pay a fee to prise Josh Walker away from league football is a massive coup and the pacey striker will add flair and goals to a squad that has retained it’s core players backed by a loud and noisy support wherever they go.
Gateshead will be looking to respond to the adversity suffered the end of last season and push again for a play-off place. There is still some uncertainty off the pitch surrounding their tenure at the Gateshead International Stadium which manager Rob Elliott will hope doesn’t transfer onto the pitch.
Mark Beck should become the focal point of their attack and with their crisp passing, attacking football, the Heed should be in the mix once again.
FC Halifax Town will also harbour ambitions of a Football League return. Recruitment on a smaller budget than many under Chris Millington has been measured over summer, but despite this the men from The Shay are notoriously hard to beat and this should be the basis for another solid campaign.
There will be at least one side who isn’t so much fancied but emerges from the pack to challenge any of those sides above. Aldershot Town surprised many after a relegation fight the previous year. This year Dagenham & Redbridge and York City will expect to push on, another two former league clubs who will want to be in that promotion talk.
The Shots, whilst losing both Josh Stokes and Laurent Tolaj, have once again looked for a couple of gems to compliment their retained squad, Lewis Jenkins incoming from a stellar season at Chelmsford City whilst goalscoring responsibilities look to fall on Hady Ghandour and Jack Barham.
Ben Strevens has looked to make the Daggers more robust and if his strike pair of Josh Umerah and Reece Grego-Cox can stay out of the treatment room they should appear in the top end conversation. Deon Pereira from Luton Town is one to watch.
Adam Hinshelwood is used to being involved at the front end of a league table. His York City side, if he can get them playing like the Worthing side he left behind last season, will pick up more good than bad results.
The capture of Ollie Pearce and Joe Felix from the Rebels should go a long way to picking up more wins if both transfer their form to the National League, plus the arrival of Ricky Aguiar from Swindon Town is another face well known to those arriving in Yorkshire from the South Coast.
However, with a lot of players unable to be moved off the wage bill, it might come a year early for Hinshelwood’s side to be able to make strong in-roads into the top seven.
The Bees will take some beating this year given their intent to finish one place better. However, with no transfer window to hamper National League sides, there is ample opportunity for any side to strengthen once the season get’s underway. Whilst the seemingly smart money will wing it’s way to be placed on Barnet, don’t discount any side from laying down their marker on day one and carrying it through.
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