2012/13: 2nd in Conference South – “play-off
success”
Salisbury
City
After several summers of
turmoil at the club, it’s nice to see the majority of last season’s play-off
winning side sign on for the new campaign! The ones that have gone are
expected, and only Dan Fitchett is yet to sign (has just had a trial with
Southend). However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, with our gaffer, Darrell
Clarke going off to take the number two position at Bristol Rovers after 6
years with the club. Whilst there were plenty of well known applicants for the
job, number two, Mikey Harris got the job, despite being only 28 and never
playing above the Southern Premier…he knows what he’s doing though, and with
Warren Feeney coming in to partner him, I’m sure those two are more than
capable!
Squad wise, hopefully Jamie
White can get fit after he has his hernia op, as he will be a big man for us up
top with his goals, but apart from that we look pretty solid particularly in
midfield with the likes of Chris McPhee and Ricky Wellard. And hopefully with a
few additions at the back (Exodus Geohaghon and Steve Tully are both currently
on trial), we should have a decent little squad, and I do mean little!
As for our ground, it won’t
be one of the best in the league, but it’s our home! We’ve got a covered
terracing at one end, which’ll be the ‘home end’ if any games are segregated,
with two small stands of seats either side of the scoreboard on the half way
line, opposite the main stand. Holds a capacity of 3,500-5,000 depending on who
you speak to, and we’ve now got a very bright scoreboard opposite the ‘home
stand’ (inherited from Pompey apparently). The floodlights are also up to
scratch, as before the Conference kicked us out three years ago they made us
buy some new ones (!) Oh, and just a tip – for car parking you might be better
off over the road in the industrial estate, particularly if it’s wet (it’ll
save you £2 too!)
Fixtures
Looking forward to the whole season really, it’s good to
be back! Obviously you’ve got the Lutons and Barnets of the league, which will
always be a big game for someone like us, but the biggest game has to be the
visit of Forest Green on 9th November…probably the biggest rivalry
we’ve got in the league.
Predictions
To get promoted: Kidderminster (Champions) and Forest
Green Rovers (Play-offs)
To get relegated: Hyde, Alfreton, Dartford and Nuneaton
Salisbury’s finish: 17th (although anything
outside the bottom four will do!)
Liam
@LiamSCFC
@LiamSCFC
2012/13: 20th
in Conference – “We stayed up!”
Southport
We’ve definitely lost a lot of key players. As manager
Liam Watson left for Telford, he took almost all of the squad with him.
However, the biggest loss was winger Shaun Whalley who left for Luton. I expect
Shaun to have a great season there! However, we’ve brought in Stockport’s Danny
Hattersley after he was on a loan spell here. The signing of Danny was a big
relief, as we only had one striker in the squad! We also brought in ex
Fleetwood Town central midfielder, Jamie Milligan. I believe Jamie will prove
to be a crucial signing, who will be the centre of any success.
We appointed Alan Wright after Liam Watson left and he’s
made five promising signings so far, including Barrow AFC winger Paul
Rutherford. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more players come through the door
throughout the season due to Alan’s wide contact range, which is never a bad
thing to have. Alan has made it clear that his aim is to be around the play-offs.
The Merseyrail Community Stadium is a typical non-league
ground. You have the Jack Carr Stand behind the goal, which is known as the
chanting stand. To the right of the Jack Carr Stand, there is the Popular Side,
which runs along the full side of the pitch – it is a terrace with no roof.
Opposite is the Main Stand: fairly big, with half normally being unsegregated.
Behind the other goal is the Blowick End – another terrace with no roof, which
is where away fans are allocated.
Fixtures
Luton at home is our first game of the season and I can’t
wait to see the ‘new’ team! I am also looking forward to Chester away, which
couldn’t be played at a better time than New Years Day! Another game I am
excited for is Dartford away and finally Barnet (both home and away), to see how
they perform after being relegated.
Predictions
To be promoted: Luton (Champions) and Wrexham (Play-offs)
To be relegated: Salisbury, Hyde, Nuneaton and Aldershot
Southport’s finish: 17th
2012/13: 19th
in Conference – “Room for improvement”
Tamworth
We’ve lost Adam Cunnington, who scored all the goals and
pretty much carried the team last season. Tom Marshall is another who will be
missed, as he was a big presence at the back for us. Never rated by the fans,
other than myself is Sam Oji – another centre half – who oozes quality and by
far the best defender in the team. We’ve gained Richie Baker who’s a good goal
scorer from midfield and has played a lot of games in the Football League, and
goalkeeper Cameron Belford is a massive coup for the club. He’s also the son of
the manager.
Manager Dale Belford is definitely right for the job.
He’s a legend at the club and will have the players put in a shift every game.
He’s a hit with both fans and the players.
The Lamb Ground may need a bit of attention, but the
atmosphere it can generate is amongst the best in the league!
Fixtures
I look forward to every fixture if I’m honest, but
notably: Nuneaton (home/away), Luton (home), Kiddy (away), Barnet (home/away),
Salisbury (away), Dartford (away) and Wrexham (home).
Predictions
To get promoted: Barnet (Champions) and Chester
(Play-offs)
To get relegated: Hyde, Nuneaton, Welling and Aldershot
Tamworth’s finish: 13th
Ed
@QuarrelsomeGoat
@QuarrelsomeGoat
2012/13: 1st
in Conference South – “Like watching Brazil!”
Welling
United
Anthony Acheampong has moved to Barnet for reasons best
known to himself – commanding defender and good for a few goals. With Ben
Martin also leaving The Wings, that's a couple of regular central defenders
down.
Jamie Day is a fabulously passionate young player manager
who encourages and inspires great team spirit. Without a doubt, he’s the right
man for the job.
Park View Road is shabby and old fashioned. We walk round
the ground at half time so we can always stand behind the goal Welling are
attacking.
Fixtures
As a former Barnet season ticket holder I have to say I’m
looking forward Barnet at home. Also the
two matches against local rivals Dartford.
Predictions
To get promoted: Wrexham (Champions) and Grimsby
(Play-offs)
To get relegated: Alfreton, Salisbury, Hyde and Southport
Welling’s finish: 16th
Peter
@peterwanless
@peterwanless
2012/13: 12th
in Conference – “New, exciting, successful”
Woking
We have only signed one player so far in the approach
towards the start of next season and that is midfielder Josh Payne who recently
played at Aldershot Town. Woking’s squad will mainly be made up of loan players
and this was seen as the key to success last season. However, the most
successful players that featured last season, including Billy Knott, Bradley
Bubb and Jayden Stockley, are not likely to return this season so new key
players will have to be found. The side will be boosted by the return of Woking’s
spine from last season including captain Mark Ricketts and the impressive Kevin
Betsy.
After taking over halfway through the 2010/11 season
Garry Hill took Woking to the Conference South play-offs and then the following
season won the league to see the club return to the Conference Premier. After
an impressive first season in the Conference, I and many other supporters
believe that he is very much the man to keep Woking away from the relegation
zone this season.
Kingfield is situated just over a mile from the town centre
and railway station and its main feature is the Leslie Gosdon stand behind the
goal, of which away supporters usually get a quarter of. Visiting fans also get
a full open aired terrace along the side of the pitch which is a great view.
The only negative to this is, with no roof, visiting supports can expect to get
wet if the weather isn’t great!
Fixtures
The game all Woking fans were looking out for when the
fixtures were released were the games against Aldershot Town as the clubs are local
rivals and due to their success and our relegation, the sides haven’t played
since 2007. As with all smaller clubs in the league the big away days are still
games that we look forward to including Luton, Macclesfield, Wrexham, Grimsby
and of course Barnet. I personally am looking forward to visiting the likes of
Halifax and Chester as I am yet to visit either of these clubs and have heard
good things about their respective grounds.
Predictions
To get promoted: Luton Town (Champions) and Wrexham
(Play-offs)
To get relegated: Aldershot Town, Southport, Braintree
Town and Nuneaton Town
Woking’s finish: 15th
2012/13: 5th
in Conference
Wrexham
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