2012/13: 18th
in Conference
Hyde
2012/13: 2nd
in Conference – “Just missed out!”
Kidderminster
Harriers
This season we are looking to go one better and the
majority of last season’s squad has remained unchanged with a few exceptions
like Pilkington going to Hereford and Vincent going up to Scotland to join
Inverness but to replace those we have brought the likes of Lee Fowler and Dior
Angus in to name a few to Help strengthen the overall squad.
Steve Burr is one of the best managers that we could find
for the Harriers. His knowledge of unknown players is exceptional and he works
very hard to get the best out of them, which can be shown with Chey Dunkley who
was fairly unknown and is know one of the league’s top defenders. Burr knows if
the players work hard then we can achieve big things this season.
Aggborough is a nice ground for this league and holds
just over 6000 fans. It has great food here so make sure when you come to
Aggborough this season you check out the £4 pies – they are well worth the
money!
Fixtures
There are quite a few games to look forward to the
season. Top of my list has to be Wrexham as that is always a cracking day out,
as well as the other big teams (like Luton, Grimsby and Forest Green). I am
also looking forward to the games against the new members especially Chester
and Barnet – and look forward to a trip to The Hive later on in the season.
Predictions
To get promoted: Kidderminster (Champions) and Wrexham
(Play-offs)
To get relegated: Salisbury, Halifax, Woking and Welling
Kidderminster’s finish: 1st
Liam
@LiamKHFC
@LiamKHFC
2012/13: 16th
in Conference – “stressful, worrying, frustrating”
Lincoln
City
We lost our two best strikers in the summer: Jamie Taylor
who scored 16 goals last season left us for Sutton United for family reasons,
and Vadaine Oliver who scored 13 goals last season was snapped up by League One
Crewe. I feel that our gaffer has done a great job of replacing them by signing
four strikers. The two who I am most impressed are Waide Fairhurst (who scored
13 for Macclesfield last season) and Nick Wright who was part of Mansfield’s
promotion winning side and has had previous impressive goal scoring records at Conference
level with Tamworth and Kidderminster. I am pleased Alan Power, Jake Sheridan
and Tom Miller signed new contracts in the summer as they were key for us last
season.
I believe Gary Simpson is right for the job as he has a
passion and love for the Imps having been our assistant manager to Keith
Alexander, and has unfinished business having seen us come close to promotion
in League Two. Since being appointed manager back in February he saved us from
relegation from the Conference on the final day of the season and masterminded
an impressive set of results together. He clearly has a good eye for players in
the transfer market, although it may be beyond him to get us promoted in his
first season in charge.
We play at Sincil Bank, an all-seater stadium with a
capacity of 10,120. This coming season there is a change to where the away fans
are being housed – moving from the corner of our biggest stand (the co-op) to
our smallest one on the opposite corner which was previously our family stand. The
Stacey West stand behind the goal is being closed for this season to cut costs
but will be open if necessary for larger away followings to sit in. The whole
of the co-op stand is being given to home fans this season – the way it should
be in my opinion as it is our biggest stand. The cathedral can be seen from the
upper sections of the stadium. We have a bar at the ground which welcomes away
fans and shows any live football; there is also a Wetherspoons which is always
popular on match days, as well as a selection of bars in the town centre.
Fixtures
I am most looking forward to playing our fierce local
rivals Grimsby as since dropping to the Conference, we are yet to beat them. Also
looking forward to Alfreton away again this season as it is a short trip, which
we have very little of in this league.
Predictions
To get promoted: Luton (Champions) and Forest Green
Rovers (Play-offs)
To get relegated: Braintree, Alfreton, Hyde and Salisbury
Lincoln’s finish: 7th
Karl
@Lincoln_Karl
@Lincoln_Karl
2012/13: 7th
in Conference – “Paul bucked up!”
Luton
Town
Most people will say Stuart Fleetwood is the biggest
loss; however, I don't agree. There’s no doubt he can score goals, but his
attitude was terrible. The signing of Luke Guttridge being the pick of the
bunch, I also expect Mark Cullen to do a job up front!
John Still is now in charge and I'm hoping he's finally
the right man to lead us back to the Football League! As expected he’s cleared
out a few of the players, but to date has made eight signings.
If you've never been to Kenilworth Road then this is the
season to come and visit us. As away fans you almost go through people's
gardens to get to the stand but don't let that put you off! The atmosphere
inside the ground is fantastic and expect 5-6000 home fans every home game!
Fixtures
I'm personally looking forward to seeing Barnet’s new
ground and Cambridge away is always good!
Predictions
To get promoted: Forest Green Rovers (Champions) and Cambridge
(Play-offs)
To get relegated: Hyde, Dartford, Welling and Braintree
Luton’s finish: top five
Richard
@HabbyHatter
@HabbyHatter
2012/13: 11th
in Conference – “Interesting, but frustrating”
Macclesfield
Town
Sam Wedgbury and Keiran Murtagh are the key midfield
losses, but once again they were expected to go. Our Player of the Season
Wedgbury gave everything, all the time. And always came across as someone who knew
what the supporters expected of him and the team. Such was his effort, it was
no surprise when a League club came calling for him. With Murtagh, he was
always solid in the centre and Macclesfield were a lot different and
underachieving whenever he wasn't playing in the squad. Unfortunately such was
his tendency to get booked, Murtagh spent times on the sideline through
suspension, and this certainly didn't help us. Matthew Barnes-Homer, our main
goalscorer has not yet officially left, but most supporters expect him to. He's
currently on trial at Notts County. Given the amount of goals he got for
Macclesfield, it will be a key loss. But John Askey has signed Chris Holroyd, a
Macclesfield born lad who scored nine goals for us during a short loan period
last season. This included a hat-trick against Stockport County at Edgeley
Park, which is certainly a good way of endearing yourself to the Macclesfield
supporters! I'm also delighted that keeper Rhys Taylor has signed a new
contract, and that Jack Mackreth has committed – a young, pacy winger who has
great potential to make it in the higher leagues.
John Askey knows Macclesfield Town in and out, and what
the supporters want to see at the Moss Rose and away. And that he would most
likely commit to the same style of play that his predecessor used. Having been
in charge of Macclesfield's youth output, I'm sure a few young prospects will
make their way into the squad as the season goes on. Not only that, his new
assistant is Efe Sodje, another Macclesfield legend who will bring in his in
depth knowledge and status to ensure the squad has passion before the game
begins. For a coaching team that have nearly 800 appearances in a Macclesfield
shirt between them, they already have the respect from the supporters; they
need it from the players though. I just get the feeling they didn't have it
last season.
Moss Rose is a very quaint, standard League Two/Conference
ground, that combines the modern stands with the old quite well. I suppose it's
nicely old fashioned in the sense that it still has a terrace without a roof –
away fans be warned if you're playing us in the winter!
Fixtures
Wrexham and Chester are the stand-out games – it's good
that after one local rival departs (Stockport County) another can take their
place. A bit more local for myself though, based in Staffordshire, is the trip
to Tamworth and I went there for the first time last season on a Tuesday night.
A dour goalless draw, but I enjoyed good conversation with some of their
supporters beforehand, inside a typical lower capacity Conference ground. It
was what I would call a proper Conference away game. I look forward to
Kidderminster Harriers again this season as well, for the same reason about
supporter interaction.
Predictions
To get promoted: Kidderminster (Champions) and Luton
(Play-offs)
To get relegated: Southport, Salisbury, Tamworth and
Gateshead
Macclesfield’s finish: 11th again
Ian
@Ianthenoodle
@Ianthenoodle
2012/13: 15th
in Conference – “Incredible last third”
Nuneaton
Town
We have signed Louis Moult permanently who we had on loan
at back end of last season and formed a great partnership with Andy Brown.
Browny himself scored 20 goals last year in a ‘bottom four’ side which is
remarkable. We've also just signed Greg Pearson who is a proven conference goal
scorer so attacking wise we look good – we just haven't got a goalkeeper yet!
Our boss Kevin Wilkins is absolutely the right man. He stuck
with us through demotion and delivered three promotions in four years, as well
as Conference survival last season. He was also a brilliant goal scorer for us
in the late 90s.
Our ground is adequate and is quite similar to others in
the league. With metal terraces either end – one of which holds 1100 for away
fans. The Main Stand holds around 400 fans but is located towards the away
end.
Fixtures
Look forward to playing any of the big ex Football League
teams. Luton away in front of 6200 last year showed how far we had come in four
years when we had Dunstable and Marlow as league games! Aldershot will be good
as we've never played there and Macclesfield first game when it's warm (rather
than a freezing cold December fixture)!
Predictions
To get promoted: Luton (Champions) and Wrexham
(Play-offs)
To get relegated: Hyde, Alfreton, Aldershot and Gateshead
Nuneaton’s finish: 17th
Mark
@markjakeman
@markjakeman
No comments:
Post a Comment