2016/17 National League North

[Clem Fandango]

We ended up signing Leroy Odiero (who FGR were tracking). I've not seen him but those that have say he looks class, we beat Cheltenham at Whaddon 3-1 on Saturday although narrowly lost 3-2 to Solihull last night. We had several more trialists playing, 1 who was on Palace's books and another who used to be with Man Utd. Not sure if they will be signed however (they are at Hartpury Sports College).

I see Sean Geddes has already left Worcester only a matter of weeks after joining them!

 

[Harrier94]

Geddes will probably go back to Stourbridge.....again.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

We have added Mark Beck to our squad. Might be useful at this level.

 

[Harrier94]

Geddes will probably go back to Stourbridge.....again.

"Spotted that ex-Glassboy Sean Geddes is on the bench for Rushall today at Chasetown..." Maybe not then

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Well new North season soon to begin.

Who are people predicting to go up/down?

And how will your side do?

 

[DarkSithLord]

Champions - Harrogate
Play-off winners FC Halifax

Relegation-

Worcesty City
Bradford Park Avenue
Curzon/Stalybridge/FCUM

Very difficult to judge us at the moment. Our squad is dangerous thin. If someone like Dan Bradley gets injured we are f**ked. The situation off the pitch is nothing short of a joke and I am concerned that may find its way in to the dressing room.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Halifax champions for me. Quality signings, good squad and a decent pre-season campaign.

Play Offs I'll go with Altrincham.

Relegation - Worcester, Curzon Ashton, Stalybridge or BPA.

 

[Clem Fandango]

Another signing for us this morning, biggest squad I can recall. Zack Kotwica from Cheltenham, spent most of last season at Cirencester in the Southern Prem on loan. Lots of potential but hope he's better than what he was when we had him on loan a few years back. Very skillful but always tried too much.

 

[Harrier94]

Worcester have signed Ebby Nelson-Addy, they had him on loan last season and have signed him on a 1yr deal. They are apparently also in talks with 4 other players.

 

[Alty Pieman]

Halifax champions for me. Quality signings, good squad and a decent pre-season campaign.
Play Offs I'll go with Altrincham.
Relegation - Worcester, Curzon Ashton, Stalybridge or BPA.

I would agree with Halifax, much too early to be predicting an Alty promotion I'm afraid, just at the start of a rebuiling phase at present, some good signings but virtually a complete new side and our first 4 games are Darlo, Halifax, Harrogate and Fylde! Wouldnt be surprised to see Fylde go up with halifax.
Relegation, Worcester, Staly and Gloucester

 

[Luke Imp]

Said it before, but this league has the potential to be a right ding-dong this season. Looking incredibly tough.

Kiddy, Halifax and Alty as the relegated sides, Salford, Fylde, Harrogate, Boston, Telford, Darlington, Nuneaton, Stockport...

 

[StanLee]

Champions: AFC Halifax

Play Off Winners: Harrogate

Relegated: Worcester, Stalybridge & Gloucester

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I am going with Flyde, my problem with alot of the other fave teams is lots of changes.

I think full time status will push them over line, depend on how well they settle at new ground.

Play-offs is interesting.

I also predict Giggs as Salford manager before end of season.

Worcester, BPA and Brackley to go.

Curzon I think solid midtable if keep manager

 

[Prodigal]

Difficult league this year, my bet is Halifax as Champions, think Harrogate will do well, also Fylde(though I hope not). Not sure what to expect for us this year, think we will be better than the bookies odds seem to think, outside chance of play off, maybe. Not at all sure about relegation but perhaps Curzon, Staleybridge and Gloucester in the mix.

 

[SamScfc]

Halifax will win the league with ease, I'll be stunned if they don't.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Halifax will win the league with ease, I'll be stunned if they don't.

They are my favourites as well but not sure if they will do it with ease - I think people need to remember that Ferriby went up via the playoffs and not as runaway leaders.

 

[Modernist]

FCUM look doomed.

 

[Josh Butler]

I wonder about FCUM.... try to play football but lacked a real physical edge, even against us last year. Their style of play really played into our hands and 2-1 and 3-1 wins really didn't do us justice by a long shot.
As for us, we can't cope with balls into our box. Look OK going forwards. A typical Dennis Greene squad as our preseason has gone P8 W2 D3 L3 F14 A13

 

[Josh Butler]

Seems like Halifax have momentum from preseason and the bookies agree now making them faves. I don't think they're far off with us around the top 8 or 10. Alty, Nuneaton rarely have bad seasons at this level. The other relegated sides should go well. Kiddy is a ??? though. Salford and Darlington will do well I'd imagine.... the former especially the £££ they can spend, it is eye-watering

 

[Luke Imp]

Wouldn't be surprised if you ended up with a player or two from us again this season. Either an out of favour first teamer later in the season or a younger one in a month or two.

The Greene's and the Cowleys have known each other a long time.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

How many fans do the Kiddy fans think will travel to Curzon on sat?

Good one for train, a doddle to find ground via tram from city centre.

I will go in my place in big covered terrace which I call 'tee total terrace' as I am about only Curzon fan to use it as it is too far from bar (their fans words not mine)

 

[Harrier94]

How many fans do the Kiddy fans think will travel to Curzon on sat?

Good one for train, a doddle to find ground via tram from city centre.

I will go in my place in big covered terrace which I call 'tee total terrace' as I am about only Curzon fan to use it as it is too far from bar (their fans words not mine)

Think I've seen we've booked 2 coaches, an unofficial mini bus plus cars and trains. Can't make the game due to work unfortunately but hoping it'll be a good game. Probably somewhere between 100-150 going. I think if we'd have started at home first we'd have got more fans going to the away fixtures early on.

 

[Darlofan97]

Looking forward to this next season. Not too sure what to expect from any of the sides barring Salford. This season should prove a greater step-up than the Northern Premier League with some full-time teams.

We've recruited relatively well so far. In has came Mark Bell (33), who won promotion from the Northern League and Northern Premier League Division One North with us, as back-up goalkeeper to Peter Jameson.

Right-back Liam Marrs (23) has signed from Boston United. Just over 90 games experience in the Conference North, and nearly won promotion to the Conference Premier last season. I'm unsure as to whether it will be him or Chris Hunter that will be first choice right-back this season.

Another new signing is left-back Jordan Watson (23) from Blyth Spartans. Played 50 times for Blyth last season as they nearly beat us to the title. He will probably be back-up to Terry Galbraith.

Lewis Nightingale (25) is another new signing having arrived from Farsley Celtic. He can play right midfield, left midfield or behind the forward. Finished in the Northern Premier League Division One North Team of the Season last year and scored 21 goals for Farsley last season.

Arran Wearmouth (24), signed from Blyth Spartans like Jordan Watson. However a slight knee injury whilst playing for Blyth has developed into an ACL Tear. He's had this operated on but may miss all of next season. He did actually play for Blyth after he twisted his knee, giving the impression that everything was OK. Can play on either the right or left wing.

As a replacement for Wearmouth, we have signed Josh Gillies (26) after he failed to agree terms with Gateshead. Josh was offered a new contract at Gateshead, but decided to chase up an offer with Inverness in the SPL which subsequently fell through. He's spent this summer primarily on trial at Northampton, but once released has signed for Darlo. He has experience playing in the Football League and Conference Premier with Carlisle, Cambridge and Gateshead. Seems like a bit of a coup but time will tell.

We've also brought in former Carlisle and Wrexham forward Mark Beck (22) following his release from Yeovil. We've needed to bring in a target-man as Graeme Armstrong departed in the summer, so hopefully, standing at 6ft 5in, he can do the business for us. Hardly's received glowing reports from Wrexham fans so we shall see how he gets on in a division lower.

Outgoings:

There have been a few leaving us this summer, former Hartlepool Goalkeeper Jim Provett (33) has departed. He was back-up for Jameson last season.

Alan White (40) has left and took up an opportunity to be a player/coach at Spennymoor Town. He barely featured towards the back-end of last season and had a bit of a questionable disciplinary record having being sent-off at home to Marine and away to Barwell.

Paul Weldon (24) has been released. He came in for us towards the end of last season and filled-in at left-back whilst we had 9 games in 22 days.

Graeme Armstrong (33) was offered a contract but has departed and signed for Spennymoor Town. Remarkably came back for the beginning of last season after splitting his pancreas in 2 following a clash with Bamber Bridge's goalkeeper in the 2014/2015 Play-Off Final. Scored some important goals for us last season including a hat-trick against Whitby to clinch the title and the winner against Halesowen. He would have been one of the four departed that I would have kept.

As a side-note, Spennymoor have now signed 11 players directly from Darlington since 2012. Another 3 left us but then ended up at Spennymoor indirectly. They've splashed some serious cash this summer having signed former-Gateshead trio James Curtis, Rob Ramshaw & Jamie Chandler. They've also signed Tom Craddock from Guiseley and goalkeeper Andrew Rafferty from Dover. A good bet for the Northern Premier League title if you ask me.

Predictions:

To be totally honest, although some have ear-marked us for a push of the play-offs, I would take an 8th/9th place finish and a return to Darlington at the end of 2016. Let's get to know the league, the grounds, the teams and the managers and then get, most importantly, the club safely back to Darlington.

Then push on with an average attendance of 2,000+, back in town, with our proper name of Darlington FC back, and have a right good crack at achieving promotion to the Conference Premier in the 2017/2018 season.

 

[Luke Imp]

That's not *the* Alan White, surely? As in the CB who played alongside...(name escapes me!)?!

 

[Darlofan97]

That's not *the* Alan White, surely? As in the CB who played alongside...(name escapes me!)?!

Yes, the *Alan White* who has played for Notts County, Colchester, Boston, Leyton Orient, Luton etc.

Born in Darlington. Had his first spell with us in 2007-2009. Came back to us in 2010 when we were relegated from League 2. Then re-joined the club in 2013 where he helped us to 2 promotions in 3 seasons.

Even at 38/39, he looked a cut above in the Northern Premier League D1N. Even played up front for us at the beginning of last season in the Northern Premier League when we had a forward crisis, had a decent return of 4 goals in 10 games.

 

[Luke Imp]

I thought he was in his mid-30's all those years ago! Who was his CB partner in your L2 days?

 

[JE93]

I thought he was in his mid-30's all those years ago! Who was his CB partner in your L2 days?

Traditionally it was Alan White and Steve Foster at the heart of our defence in the L2 days, before Ian Miller started breaking into the team more regularly.

 

[Josh Butler]

Wouldn't be surprised if you ended up with a player or two from us again this season. Either an out of favour first teamer later in the season or a younger one in a month or two.

The Greene's and the Cowleys have known each other a long time.

I could see that too. DG loves to go through 40 players a season!

 

[Luke Imp]

Traditionally it was Alan White and Steve Foster at the heart of our defence in the L2 days, before Ian Miller started breaking into the team more regularly.

That's the one! Steve Foster. They were a good, solid CB pair.

 

[Darlofan97]

That's the one! Steve Foster. They were a good, solid CB pair.

They were, and would have been in our relegation season but instead Staunton refused to play Foster for a certain amount a games as a clause said he would be due a contract extension for the next year at the time.

I'm not saying we would have stayed up, but it would have helped to have Foster playing.