Ahead of the 2022/23 National League season [REDACTED] from the All At Sea editorial team sat down on a weekday afternoon, skived off work for an hour and pulled together this incredibly thorough and trustworthy preview of the upcoming season which will definitely not be deleted three weeks before the end of the season
Aldershot Town
The Shots endured a season of struggle last year but the appointment of Mark Molesley ultimately kept them up. Molesley wasted no time in adding to his side during the summer, but it remains to be seen whether the new arrivals are of the calibre required to guide Aldershot away from the drop zone. Inih Effiong and Josh McQuoid look shrewd additions but the Shots still look a little light.
Top summer signing: Josh McQuoid
Prediction: 20th
Altrincham
Switching to full-time football brings new challenges for Altrincham, who seemed to be brilliant one week then abject the next in 2021/22. Squad churn is inevitable when changing the model so significantly, and many players have departed. The key retention is boss Phil Parkinson, who turned down Notts County to stay at Moss Lane. His knowledge of the local non-league scene has resulted in a number of players arriving from lower levels, making them something of an unknown quantity this year. Ryan Colclough staying is vital to their hopes.
Top summer signing: Josh Lundstram
Prediction: 19th
Barnet
An absolute bin fire for much of last season, Barnet have surprised even their own supporters by recognising the need for change and making some impressive signings this summer. Harry Pritchard, Ben Wynter and Sean Shields are all stand-outs with 12 in the door by early July. The loss of Adam Marriott to Bromley will be felt but giant striker Nicke Kabamba is a battering ram and should thrive at this level.
Top summer signing: Ben Wynter
Prediction: 12th
Boreham Wood
Under Luke Garrard, Wood will always be a tough team to beat and despite falling out of the playoff picture towards the end of the last campaign, expect more of the same again. They may not be much fun to watch but they specialise in signing hard working, aggressive players and the signings of Jack Payne from Crawley and Dion Kelly-Evans from Notts County epitomise that. Danny Elliott and Lee Ndlovu are also impressive captures from the level below and will take the pressure off Tyrone Marsh.
Top summer signing: Jack Payne
Prediction: 6th
Bromley
Andy Woodman’s men dropped away from the top at the tail end of last season and will be keen to make a strong start. Top striker Michael Cheek remains, and he is joined by prolific Barnet man Adam Marriott. However, their supply line has been damaged with the surprise departure of Luke Coulson to Dartford.
Top summer signing: Adam Marriott
Prediction: 13th
Chesterfield
The Spireites looked to be the team to catch early doors last year but an injury to big-money capture Kabongo Tshimanga and a mid-season saga around now ex-boss James Rowe proved their undoing. Rowe’s replacement Paul Cook is a hero in this corner of Derbyshire and represented an ambitious capture, but Spireites fans were left underwhelmed as the team stumbled to a 7th placed finish and then fell down in the play-off semis. Despite this, Cook was keen to make early moves in the summer market and, with a full pre-season under his stewardship; expect the Spireites to go hard again in 22/23.
Top summer signing: Michael Gyasi
Prediction: 4th
Dagenham & Redbridge
Goals galore was the mantra of manager Daryl McMahon, and the Daggers did indeed see the opponents’ net bulge more than most last year – trouble is they were also generous at the back and saw their playoff hopes extinguished late on. Paul McCallum and Junior Morais caused havoc at times last season and both remain, while Omar Mussa has been brought in to create chances. At the back, Will Wright and Callum Reynolds have moved on and coming in is physical defender David Longe-King from Grimsby and Wealdstone’s Nikola Tavares. Retaining a mainly settled side will help them.
Top summer signing: Nikola Tavares
Prediction: 5th
Dorking Wanderers
The rise of Dorking Wanderers has been impressive – ten years ago they were playing in the Sussex County League. The club is well run and not short of a few quid, and they were promoted through the play-offs in May. Their success at this level may depend on whether they can retain the services of striker Alfie Rutherford, who has had admiring glances cast his way by plenty of Football League sides and indeed Southend. However, Wanderers can afford to hold out for big money. They’ve signed a couple of players of real pedigree – ex Southampton striker Ryan Seager, who scored a hatload of goals for Hungerford last year, and former Arsenal youth player Jack Jebb, who pulled the strings in midfield for Dartford. Jury’s out, but it’s hard to see them struggling.
Top summer signing: Ryan Seager
Prediction: 16th
Eastleigh
The Spitfires nosedived at the end of last season and were it not for the ineptitude of the bottom three, would have been serious relegation candidates. The dismissal of Ben Strevens halfway through the campaign looks like a rookie error now. Ex-Shrimper Lee Bradbury has a significant task on his hands in steadying the ship, particularly considering the loss of the likes of Sam Smart, Harry Pritchard and Cav Miley to National League rivals.
Top summer signing: Brennan Camp
Prediction: 24th
FC Halifax Town
The Shaymen were one of the best sides in the league last year, but just fell short in the playoffs. Since then, they’ve seen manager Pete Wild depart for the Football League, and top scorer Billy Waters and solid defender Tyrell Warren follow him to Barrow. Niall Maher, a rock at the heart of a mean defence last year, has joined promoted Grimsby. However, Town suffered similar losses of key players last summer, and went on to have a fantastic year. The club has recognised the need to retain some continuity, promoting Wild’s assistant Chris Millington to the hot seat, and the signing of striker Mani Dieseruvwe is a statement of intent. The West Yorkshire lads will be no pushovers in 22/23.
Top summer signing: Festus Arthur
Prediction: 7th
Gateshead
After a torrid few years where the very existence of the club was in serious doubt, the Heed have powered themselves back up to Non League’s top table, seeing off a strong challenge from Brackley to win the National League North last year. The trouble is, Macauley Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott, the two men that scored many of the goals that helped them win it, will be wearing the black and white of Notts County this season. They will be hard to replace. Manager Mike Williamson is a canny operator though and many of his promotion-winning side remain. Their strategy of picking up some discarded talent from neighbouring giants has paid dividends in the past and Williamson will be hoping that Kenton Richardson, Tom Allen and Dan Langley take their opportunity to shine. If they don’t, it could be a tough year.
Top summer signing: Dan Jarvis
Prediction: 21st
Maidenhead United
They don’t come much cannier than Alan Devonshire at this level, and unfashionable Maidenhead will again be seeking to specialise in handing out bloody noses to those more glamorous than themselves. Devonshire has again snaffled some top prospects from levels below. Koby Arthur, Dover’s stand out player last year, is a particularly impressive capture but Zico Asare, who starred for Oxford City in last year’s National League South, looks a talent. However, the loss of Josh Kelly to Solihull will make things much tougher but you write off Devonshire at your peril.
Top summer signing: Koby Arthur
Prediction: 18th
Maidstone United
The Conference South winners have had an understated summer, with five new arrivals including tricky winger Solomon Wanjau-Smith from Hungerford and Bromley’s powerful forward James Alabi. The jump from the South to the National League’s top tier is bigger than from the North, and Maidstone will probably be happy to stay out of the bottom four. Avoiding injuries will be key, and Hakan Hayrettin is a canny operator.
Top summer signing: Solomon Wanjau-Smith
Prediction: 22nd
Notts County
There’s been more upheaval around Meadow Lane than Notts fans would have liked during the summer. Manager Ian Burchnell departed for Forest Green, and he was followed through the exit by Kyle Wootton (Stockport) and Cal Roberts (Aberdeen). Ruben Rodrigues is still one of the best forwards at this level and remains, and County have brought in Gateshead’s prolific pairing of Macauley Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott. With some other strong signings also in place, expect a strong promotion challenge from the Magpies.
Top summer signing: Macauley Langstaff
Prediction: 2nd
Oldham Athletic
The Latics have renewed hope after a takeover ousted their hated and destructive owner Abdullah Lemsagam. As such, they will be looking up not down this season as they look to dust off the ignominy of becoming the first former Premier League club to fall through the Football League’s trapdoor. Unsurprisingly there’s been a significant summer purge and John Sheridan has wasted no time in bringing in players that know how to win at this level, notably Stockport’s promotion winning captain Liam Hogan. The losses of Nicky Adams, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Carl Piergianni will be keenly felt however, and a season of transition may be the best the Latics can hope for as they look to build themselves up again.
Top summer signing: Liam Hogan
Prediction: 11th
Scunthorpe United
The Iron dropped out of the Football League in May and seem unprepared for life in the top tier of Non League. Signings eventually have arrived but there is a whiff of putting their hopes in injury-prone veterans, Phil Brown stylee. There’s a rumoured takeover in the wind, but until that day comes, Scunthorpe have a low budget, no momentum and a weak side. If nothing big changes soon, the Iron could well be falling into the fire.
Top summer signing: Marcus Dewhurst (on loan)
Prediction: 23rd
Solihull Moors
Neal Ardley’s side enjoyed a fantastic 2021/22 although a disappointing finish may gnaw away at them. Keeping hold of Joe Sbarra and Andrew Dallas represents arguably their best summer business, although the signing of Josh Kelly is a statement at this level. Ardley has utilised the loan market over the summer and you would expect Moors to be a strong bet for the playoffs again this season.
Top summer signing: Josh Kelly
Prediction: 3rd
Torquay United
For the second successive summer, Gary Johnson has seen his Torquay side carved up, with four of their key players (Connor Lemonhaigh-Evans, Joe Lewis, Ben Wynter and Armani Little) all moving on to other clubs. A raft of players have come in, mostly unproven, but Johnson remains a clever manager and few would bet against the Gulls being tough opponents again this season. New signing Ryan Hanson was highly rated in a poor Dover side, while Dylan Crowe is a former England youth international who never got a look-in at Ipswich.
Top summer signing: Corrie Andrews
Prediction: 8th
Wealdstone
Every year gets a little bit tougher for Wealdstone, one of the remaining part-timers with nothing like the resources of a growing number of their peers, yet a solid 2021/22 saw them avoid too much danger. The loss of Fulham loanee goalkeeper George Wickens and striker Josh Umerah will be felt, as will the departure of Nikola Tavares to Dagenham. Coming in have been some young defenders as well as marquee signings Max Kretzschmar and Lewis Kinsella. Shutouts were key for the Stones last season and boss Stuart Maynard will need to keep them tough to beat and be lucky with injuries if they have a chance of survival, but they will back themselves all day long.
Top summer signing: Max Kretzschmar
Prediction: 17th
Woking
Darren Sarll has wasted no time in shuffling his pack since arriving at the Cards. The experienced duo of Scott Cuthbert and Padraig Amond have arrived from the EFL to replace several departing players including player of the year Max Kretzschmar. The Surrey side have a fresh look to them and, with probably the biggest crowds of any team outside the EFL graveyard, they’ll look to push on this season.
Top summer signing: Padraig Amond
Prediction: 9th
Wrexham
A slow start ultimately did for the Hollywood Reds last year as the relentlessness of Stockport’s late assault on the title proved too much to overcome. Despite this, the Racecourse sold out of season tickets for 22/23 within days and, with a settled, high value side and no significant losses to the playing staff, it would be a shock if Wrexham were not comfortable winners of the National League next year.
Top summer signing: Elliot Lee
Prediction: 1st
Yeovil Town
With a 12th placed finish in 21/22 representing an improvement for the Glovers, they will be looking to challenge in the top half next time around. Manager Chris Hargreaves has some talented players at his disposal and keeping hold of Charlie Wakefield is a bonus, but it seems a lot of hope is pinned on 19-year-old Ollie Hulbert, who arrives from Bristol Rovers having scored goals at the level below for Gloucester last season. Experience has been added at the back in the shape of Choiri Johnson, Jamie Reckord and Ben Richards-Everton.
Top summer signing: Choiri Johnson
Prediction: 14th
York City
The Minstermen endured a spectacular fall from grace, disappearing into the void of regional football for five long years. Bootham Crescent is no more, and they now play at a compact and tidy new stadium on a retail park – bad news for those who love the city centre pubs. Momentum from last year’s promotion, where they finished strongly to triumph in the play-offs, may have been curbed by the total shedding of the squad – only a handful of players remain. City are a sizeable club at this level despite their time in the doldrums and have been necessarily busy in the transfer market, making a few shrewd captures. It’s a big ask, however, to replace an entire team and expect immediate success.
Top summer signing: Sam Sanders
Prediction: 15th
AND FINALLY…
Southend United
The appointment of the managerial team of Kevin Maher, Darren Currie and Mark Bentley rejuvenated Southend last season and, were it not for a shocking start to life in non-league, they may have been challenging for a play-off place. Blues strengthened over the summer, notably tempting the National League’s young player of the year, Dan Mooney, to join the Kevolucion. However, the loss of loanees Harrison Neal, Kacper Lopata and Matt Dennis (who has joined League One MK Dons), will be felt keenly. Young defender Louis Lomas looks to be a top talent but the defence lacks experience. Much rests on the fitness of Nathan Ralph and goalscorers Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde, all of whom missed large chunks of last season. Good seasons for them may mean the difference between playoffs and mid table.
Top summer signing: Dan Mooney
Prediction: 10th
Full predictions
1 Wrexham
2 Notts County
3 Solihull Moors
4 Chesterfield
5 Dagenham
6 Boreham Wood
7 FC Halifax Town
8 Torquay United
9 Woking
10 Southend United
11 Oldham Athletic
12 Barnet
13 Bromley
14 Yeovil Town
15 York City
16 Dorking Wanderers
17 Wealdstone
18 Maidenhead United
19 Altrincham
20 Aldershot Town
21 Gateshead
22 Maidstone United
23 Scunthorpe United
24 Eastleigh