FORMER York City stalwart Dan Parslow has warned his old club that the National League is just as strong now as when they left it behind four years ago.

Parslow was an ever-present in the Cheltenham Town team that secured promotion back to the Football League at the first attempt last month during a terrific title-winning campaign.

With part-time pair Braintree and Dover making the play-offs, meanwhile, there have been suggestions that standards in the highest echelon of non-League have dropped since the Minstermen last plied their trade at that level by beating Luton Town 2-1 at Wembley back in 2012.

But Parslow, who set up Matty Blair for the winning goal in that match, dismisses such theories and reckons a third of the division will be strong enough to mount a championship challenge next season.

He said: “I wouldn’t say it’s a weaker league than in 2012. It’s similar and there are some good teams in there.

“There are a few that are heavily backed who you expect to be there or thereabouts. Grimsby or Forest Green will challenge again, depending on which one doesn’t win the play-off final.

“Wrexham also appointed Gary Mills because of his track record at this level. They expect him to do the same as he did at York, by obviously playing good football and they will be up there.

“Eastleigh will challenge as well and John Still is staying at Dagenham so he’s another manager proven at that level who will fancy his chances of doing what Cheltenham have done. Tranmere have blown a bit hot and cold, but they will be stronger next season and Braintree and Dover were up there for a reason.

“They had threats at the top of the pitch and were organised at the back. They are also really tough places to go to, with their small, tight stadiums.

“York fans have been to Braintree before, but it might be new to some of the players and there are going to be so many teams fighting for that one automatic promotion spot.”

Parslow also reasoned that the squad City chief Jackie McNamara assembles this summer must be psychologically equipped to perform at traditional Football League arenas, as well as in less salubrious surroundings.

“There are still a handful of ex-Football League teams who, like York, have big histories and expectations, so you have to go to those places and deal with that mentally, as well as playing at the likes of Boreham Wood on a Tuesday night in front of 300 people,” he pointed out.

Cheltenham won 101 points during a campaign that saw them finish a dozen clear of nearest rivals Forest Green with Parslow attributing such success to the team’s work ethic, along with manager Gary Johnson’s recruitment ability, attention to detail and winning mentality.

The ex-Wales under-21 international explained: “Obviously, you need quality, but it boils down to organisation and hard work. We had a group of experienced players like myself and Aaron Downes at the back, who have played at League One, Two and Conference level.

“We had some old heads in midfield like Kyle Storer, who has come so close to getting in the Football League before with Kidderminster and Wrexham. Then, there was Danny Wright up front, who is proven at Conference level.

“There was a big clearout in the summer and the manager also added a smattering of young, hungry players and everybody bought into what he was trying to achieve. He said we have got to win the league.

“That was the message from the chairman and he shared that responsibility with the players and everybody rose to the challenge by hitting the ground running.

“No stone was left unturned either. We spent as much time talking in the analysis room and going through the opposition, as we did on the training pitch and that reaped its rewards.”

Parslow, who is the only player to win City’s Billy Fenton Clubman of the Year award on three occasions, wrote to Johnson asking for a trial last July as it looked like he might kick off the campaign without a club.

Having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury playing for City at Southend in November 2013, he never played for the club again and was released by then manager Russ Wilcox last summer.

He went on to be named Players’ Player of the Year at Whaddon Road during in a glorious campaign and, reliving his fortunes over the last 12 months, Parslow admitted: “Having been at York for so long, it was quite a shock to be in a position where I was looking for a new employer.

“I had played 30 games on loan for Grimsby but had found myself out of favour there and was desperate for another opportunity to prove myself. Right up until July, there weren’t any offers on the table with most squads filled up and I was just trying to keep fit.

“It was a worrying time, because the world doesn’t stop and wait while you’re without a club. There are still bills to pay, so I just thought ‘what have I got to lose’ and I wrote a letter, which was a bit old school rather than an email, to Gary Johnson at Cheltenham.

“He rang me whilst I was doing a week’s training with Barrow and asked me to come down. To go on from that and have the season we have had has been fantastic.

“Picking up the personal award was nice and it means your effort and commitment is being recognised, but I was surrounded by good players. Now, I believe I’m more than capable of playing in the Football League.

“I’ve done it before and, on the back of a cracking season, I’m looking forward to the step up. Unfortunately, at York, I didn’t get the chance to impress after my serious knee injury, which was the most frustrating thing of all, but that’s history and it’s time to move on and re-establish myself.”

Parslow also reckons his career has been partly resurrected by a restoration to his preferred role in the centre of defence, having been moved around the pitch for several seasons with City.

“Even at Grimsby, I had played a bit at right back and in midfield, so this season has been the first in a long time that I’ve played the whole season at centre-half and it felt like being at home,” he explained.

The ex-Cardiff trainee, meanwhile, feels Cheltenham’s title triumph just eclipses going up at Wembley with City in 2012.

“It’s a tough call because the celebrations after winning at a place like Wembley are something that not many players are fortunate to experience,” he confessed. “But I think it’s maybe just a bit better when you’re part of a team that has come out on top after 46 games because, then, you deserve all the plaudits.

“We got the most points, scored the most goals and conceded the fewest, so we were by far the best team.”

In contrast, Parslow’s old club have just set a new club record for fewest league wins in a season, which saddens him after his nine years of service at Bootham Crescent.

“It’s such a shame,” Parslow declared. “We spent a long time trying to get out of that league with so many different team-mates, but it’s been a bit of a stutter and struggle ever since with a few managerial changes.

“The fans and board know how difficult it is to get out of the Conference and I just hope the club get off to a good start and can be at that right end of the table.”