Almost time to say goodbye
It’s the last weekly review of the non-League season. A special edition will preview the FA Trophy Final and wrap up the 2022-23 season. The Final takes
place on 22nd May at Wembley. We’ll be back next season for more weekly reviews.
Can’t count on it
Notts County fans can quite reasonably argue that the playoffs are nonsense. They have attained 107 points in the National League, more than any other club in the League’s history, but had to settle for the second spot behind Wrexham. County finished 23 points above third-placed Chesterfield and 36 points above Bromley, the lowest of the playoff competitors.
Scarred for life
The playoffs do add excitement, though. Before the kick-offs for the final round of National League North games, all teams down to 13th could achieve promotion. After 75 minutes, Spennymoor Town looked well-placed to grab the last playoff spot. Gloucester City were losing 3-1 at home to Chorley, and Scarborough Athletic were behind by the same score at home to Banbury United. Then things went crazy. Spennymoor and Scarborough both drew level at 3-3, with both teams scoring on the stroke of 90 minutes. This meant Scarborough had grabbed the last playoff spot. That is until Tope Obayedi scored a fourth for Gloucester City to put them in the playoffs, which leaves Spennymoor Town and Scarborough Athletic in the National League North for another season.
Go west, young man
Officials of the National League will need to get their maps out in preparation for next season’s National League South and North split. Gloucester City already play in the National League North, but relegations and promotions mean that the National League South will need to accommodate several
teams from the West. Weymouth ended the season well to remain in the National League South, while Taunton Town and Bath City were comfortably in mid-table.
The new Western teams
However, joining the National League South next season are Yeovil Town and Torquay United, relegated from the National League, and Weston-super-Mare and Truro City after gaining promotion from the Southern League South Division. Truro City gained promotion with a goal in added time by skipper Connor Riley-Lowe away to Bracknell Town. It will likely mean the National League North has to creep further south. Eastbourne Borough should still be in the South Division, though.
Terrafic escape
In the National League South, Weymouth travelled to Dover Athletic under the threat of dragging each other into the relegation spots if Dulwich Hamlet won or drew. The Terras overcame Dover Athletic winning 2-0, thanks to two first-half goals. This left Dover Athletic sweating on Dulwich slipping up at home to Chippenham Town. However, the chips were down for Hamlet as Chippenham won 1-0, which means they will be relegated to the Isthmian Premier or Southern Premier.
Swanning along
A mention for Walton & Hersham. Back in 2019, the club was bought for a nominal sum by a consortium of 19-year-olds. The Swans have now enjoyed three back-to-back promotions and will next season be playing in the Isthmian Premier after beating Hanworth Villa 3-1 in the Isthmian South Central playoff final.
Swans make it eight
Walton & Hersham also became the eighth club to win three straight promotions in the Non-League Pyramid. The other seven are Truro City ‘06-08, FC
Utd of Manchester ‘06-08, Chester ‘11-13, Kings Langley ‘14-16, Hereford ‘16-18, South Shields ‘16-18 and Bromsgrove Sporting ‘17-19.
My twelve teams
As it’s the last fullish week of the non-League season, I thought it was time to look back on the seasons of the twelve teams I saw in last season’s FA Trophy trail. I have almost become a part-time supporter of all the clubs I saw, keeping an eye on their results most weeks. In the order that I saw them lose, they are as follows:
Hashtag United – Isthmian League North Division champions by a 7-point margin. Promoted to Isthmian Premier.
Aylesbury United – 12 points clear of danger in Southern League Division One South after being in the relegation places for much of the season.
Whitehawk – Winners of playoffs in Isthmian League South East Division. Promoted to Isthmian Premier.
Chipstead – Chipstead ended the season in mid-table of the Isthmian South Central Division. I was sorry to see Rob Kember resign as manager, as he was most welcoming at the four Chipstead games I saw.
Leiston – Finished 3rd but lost playoff in extra time to Nuneaton Borough in the Southern League Premier Central League.
Bishop’s Stortford – Isthmian Premier champions – promoted to National League South.
St Albans – Finished 6th in the National League South. They now face Chelmsford City in the playoffs, with two more possible games to make it to the National League.
Cheshunt – Relegated from National League South back to Isthmian Premier after winning playoffs last season.
Needham Market – Finished in the lower half of the Southern League Premier Central Division but always clear of relegation.
Stockport County – Have reached the playoffs in League Two. Could be in League One next season.
Wrexham – National League champions. Promoted to League Two next season.
Bromley – 7th in the National League, contesting playoffs for promotion to League Two.
That’s it for now, folks. Look out for the special FA Trophy edition later in May.
