York City's rival teams in the Blue Square Premier League | The Press, York

A place in the Football League is the ultimate prize for all 24 clubs in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Here JAKE FARRELL and HENRY COWEN run the rule over the 23 teams that stand between York City and promotion.

AFC Telford United

Manager: Andy Sinton
Ground: The New Bucks Head Stadium (capacity 6,300)
Last season: 2nd in Conference North
Nickname: The Bucks
Star man: Shane Killock
In: Craig King (Leicester), James Reid (Hinckley), Robbie Williams (Altrincham), Craig Farrell (Rushden), Ryan Valentine (Hereford), Nathan Rooney (Wolves), Dwayne Samuels (West Brom), Dan Preston (Birmingham City), Jordan Johnson (Newcastle Town).
Out: Danny Carey-Bertram (Worcester City), Yannick Salem (Concordia Chiajna), Steve Abbott (Northwich).
Verdict: “The main aim for Telford is to stabilise after promotion. I think they’ve got a good chance of doing that and I would expect them to finish in lower mid-table.” (Chris Hudson, Shropshire Star)

Alfreton Town

Manager: Nicky Law
Ground: Impact Arena (capacity 3,500)
Last season: 1st in the Conference North
Nickname: The Reds
Star man: Paul Clayton
In: Greg Young (York), Chris Senior (Darlington), Dan Lowson (Blyth Spartans), Leigh Franks (Huddersfield), Adie Hawes (Eastwood Town), Levi Mackin (York), Jamie Mullan (Fleetwood).
Out: Anthony Howell (Mansfield), Chris Hall (Boston), Darren Stride, Paul Lister, Daryl Clare (Cambridge), Aden Flint (Swindon), Laurie Wilson (Harrogate), Ian Ross (Harrogate), Liam Hearn (Grimsby), Dan Dillon (Workington), Chris Mackenzie (Corby).
Verdict: “I think the club will rise to the challenge of staying in what is undoubtedly a very tough division and would expect a final position in the lower mid-table placings.” (Kevin Miles, Ripley and Heanor News)

Barrow AFC

Manager: Darren Sheridan and David Bayliss
Ground: Holker Street (capacity 5,000)
Last season: 18th
Nickname: The Bluebirds
Star man: Paul Rutherford
In: Andy Ferrell (Gateshead), Gavin Skelton (Hamilton), Adam Boyes (Boston), Danny Hurst (Fleetwood), Shaun Pejic (Crystal Palace Baltimore), Jack Mackreth (Tranmere).
Out: Danny Forrest, Marc Goodfellow, Clark Masters, Paul Jones, Nick Chadwick (Stockport), Simon Spender, Paul Edwards (Fleetwood).
Verdict: “Anything above the relegation zone and up to mid-table would be good for Barrow. The three years we’ve been in the Blue Square Bet Premier we’ve been attempting to avoid relegation so an improvement on that would be a success.” (Lee Proctor, North West Evening News)

Bath City

Manager: Adie Britton
Ground: Twerton Park, (capacity 8,840)
Last season: 10th
Nickname: The Romans
Star man: Alex Russell
In: Glyn Garner (Newport), Gary Mills (Rushden), Jamie Cook (Crawley), Paul Stonehouse (Mansfield), Jason Matthews (Eastleigh), Sido Jombati (Cheltenham), Alex Russell (Yeovil), Paul Stonehouse (Mansfield).
Out: Ryan Robinson, Giancarlo Borhy, Leigh Henry, Adie Harris (Neath), Jonathan Brown (Southport), Josh Egan (Blackpool), Kaid Yusef Mohamed (Cheltenham).
Verdict: “I think they over-performed last time, but a top-ten finish is not beyond them with the signings they’ve made. They were the country’s top-ranked part-time side last season and I think they’ll repeat that” (Neil Beck, Bath Chronicle)

Braintree Town

Manager: Alan Devonshire
Ground: Cressing Road (capacity 4,151)
Last season: 1st in Conference South
Nickname: The Iron
Star man: Sean Marks
In: Ben Wright (Crawley), Aswad Thomas (Woking), David Stevens (Hampton and Richmond), Andy Yiadom (Hayes and Yeading), Patrick O’Connor (Millwall), Chibuzor Chilaka (Bradford), Ashlee Jones (Billericay).
Out: Paul Starkey, Ollie Thorne (Corby), Glenn Poole, Cliff Akurang (Chelmsford).
Verdict: “The majority of supporters are expecting a tough season. It’s the first in the Conference and it’s the highest level the club have ever been at so expectations will be low despite optimism – most fans will just want to survive.” (Jon Waldron, Braintree and Witham Times)

Cambridge United

Manager: Jez George
Ground: Abbey Stadium (capacity 10,847)
Last season: 17th
Nickname: The U’s
Star man: Michael Gash
In: Tom Shaw (Kidderminster), Michael Wylde (Tamworth), Harrison Dunk (Bromley), Kieron Murtagh (Wycombe), Ryan Charles (Rushden), Michael Gash (York), Ashley Carew (Ebbsfleet), Steve Connors (Fleetwood), Steven Kinniburgh (Oxford – loan).
Out: David Partridge, Sam Ives, Darryl Coakley, Paul Carden, Danny Wright (Wrexham), Brian Saah (Torquay), Simon Russell (Lincoln).
Verdict: “In the two years after the play-off final it’s been a bit of a struggle. We were pretty much in a relegation scrap last year in the last eight games. To break into the top ten after two seasons of struggling would probably be acceptable, although after eight new signings if you asked the fans they would probably say they wanted a play-off place.” (Michael Vaughton, Cambridge Evening News)

Darlington

Manager: Mark Cooper
Ground: Darlington Arena (capacity limited to 10,000)
Last season: 7th
Nickname: The Quakers
Star man: Adam Rundle
In: Kris Taylor (Port Vale), James Walshaw (Guiseley), Graeme Lee (Notts County), Adam Rundle (Morecambe), Chris Atkinson (Huddersfield – loan), Ryan Bowman (Carlisle), Ben Purkiss (Oxford - loan).
Out: Curtis Main (Middlesbrough), Chris Senior (Alfreton), Chris Moore, Josh Gray, Kevin Austin, Gareth Waite, Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton (Fleetwood), Adam Verma (Kettering), Dan Burn (Fulham).
Verdict: “We finished last season well and probably had good enough form to reach the play-offs. They paid for too many draws though and a poor start. They’ll hope to push on this season and although they’ve played it down the play-offs and ultimately promotion will be the aim.” (Craig Stoddart, Northern Echo)

Ebbsfleet United

Manager: Liam Daish
Ground: Stonebridge Road (capacity 5,011)
Last season: 3rd in Conference South
Nickname: The Fleet
Star man: Paul Lorraine
In: Liam Enver-Marum (Forest Green), Ian Simpemba (Havant & Waterlooville), Joe Welch (Histon).
Out: Ashley Carew (Cambridge United), Derek Duncan (Woking).
Verdict: “Having enjoyed a rather unexpected promotion back to the Conference Premier at the first attempt, Ebbsfleet’s main aim this season will be to secure their safety from relegation, before hopefully being able to push on to a position in mid-table.” (David Byrom, News Shopper)

Fleetwood Town

Manager: Micky Mellon
Ground: Highbury Stadium (capacity 5,663)
Last season: 5th
Nickname: The Trawlermen
Star man: Richard Brodie
In: Richard Brodie (Crawley season-long loan), Peter Till (York), Keith Briggs (Kidderminster), Andy Mangan (Wrexham), Matty Hughes (Celtic), Paul Edwards (Barrow), Rob Atkinson (Grimsby), Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton (Darlington), Alan Goodall (Stockport County).
Out: Steve Connors, John Miles (Stockport), Danny Hurst (Barrow), Simon Grand (Southport), Jamie Mullan (Altrincham), Nick Rogan (Corby).
Verdict: “They only just missed out last time and they’re trying to take that extra step this year. You would have to fancy their chances, only Luton can match them for spending and an apparent desire to go up.” (Andy Moore, Fleetwood Weekly News)

Forest Green Rovers

Manager: Dave Hockaday
Ground: The New Lawn (capacity 5,147)
Last season: 20th
Nickname: Rovers
Star man: Al Bangura
In: Chris Todd (Newport), Curtis McDonald (Newport), Matt Bulman (Cirencester Town), Jamie Turley (Salisbury), Charlie Griffin (Stevenage), James Norwood (Exeter), Al Bangura (Gabala), James Rowe (Reading), Luke Graham (Kettering).
Out: Steve Guinan (Kidderminster), Craig Armstrong, Steve Davies, Jonathan Else, Lee Smith, Zak Jones, Luke Jones (Kidderminster), Gavin Caines, Ross Dyer (Mansfield), Liam Enver-Marum (Ebbsfleet), Ollie Cleaver (Histon).
Verdict: “Perennial strugglers Forest Green have invested relatively heavily this summer, backed by ambitious chairman Dale Vince. Boss Dave Hockaday no longer has any excuses and his team should be capable of at least a mid-table finish.” (Peter Orchard, The Citizen)

Gateshead

Manager: Ian Bogie
Ground: International Stadium (capacity 11,800)
Last season: 14th
Nickname: The Heed
Star man: Yemi Odubade
In: Michael Cummins (Grimsby), Sam Rents (Crawley), Yemi Odubade (Stevenage), Eddie Odhiambo (Newport), Chris Carruthers (York), Ewan Moyes (Hibernian), Kyle Nix (Mansfield), Chris Moore (Darlington).
Out: Paul Heckingbottom, Carl Jones, Andy Ferrell (Barrow), Craig Nelthorpe, Stephen Baptiste, Jonny Allan, Richard Offiong, Ashley Winn (Farnborough), Brian Wake (Östersunds FK).
Verdict: “Talk of the play-offs lies somewhere between reality and over-optimism, but Ian Bogie will aim to continue the progress Gateshead have made under his stewardship. Mid-table would do, for now. Along the way, expect attractive, attacking football.” (Steve Brown, Newcastle Chronicle)

Grimsby Town

Managers: Paul Hurst and Rob Scott
Ground: Blundell Park (capacity 9,546)
Last season: 11th
Nickname: The Mariners
Star man: Anthony Church
In: Gary Silk (Mansfield), Liam Hearn (Alfreton), Damian Spencer (Aldershot), Craig Disley (Shrewsbury), Anthony Church (Boston), Shaun Pearson (Boston), James McKeown (RSKV Leonidas), Frankie Artus (Cheltenham), Anthony Elding (Rochdale).
Out: Michael Cummins (Gateshead), Dwayne Samuels, Charles Ademeno (AFC Wimbledon), Rob Atkinson (Fleetwood), Alan Connell (Swindon), Steven Watt (Dover Athletic), Mark Gray (Gainsborough Trinity), Lee Peacock (Havant and Waterlooville).
Verdict: “The new managers came in at the back end of last season and have made huge changes. Optimism is high as the bosses are trying to bring in young players on the way up rather than guys dropping out of the league. There was no sustained pressure at the top of the table last season and hopefully that will change this year.” (David Pye, Grimsby Telegraph)

Hayes and Yeading

Manager: Nas Bashir
Ground: Kingfield Stadium (capacity 6,036)
Last season: 16th
Nickname: United
Star man: Tom Cadmore
In: Steve Arnold (Wycombe – one-month loan), Julian Owusu-Bekoe (Berekum Chelsea), Richard Pacquette (Eastbourne).
Out: Bradley Pritchard (Charlton), Andy Yiadom (Braintree), Lewis Ferrell (Hampton and Richmond), Elliott Buchanan (Newport), Phil Appiah (Farnborough), Charlie Wassmer (Crawley), Adam Grenn (Dartford), Adam Bygrave (Farnborough), Esmond James (Farnborough).
Verdict: “It depends on how talented the youngsters that the manager has brought in are. It’s hard to weigh up how they’ll do. I guess lack of experience could be key.” (Chris Slavin, Uxbridge Gazette)

Kettering Town

Manager: Morell Maison
Ground: Nene Park (capacity 6,441)
Last season: 13th
Nickname: The Poppies
Star man: Jean-Paul Marna
In: Aman Verma (Leicester), Jerel Ifil (Bristol Rovers), Craig Dobson (Woking), Steven Meechan (Motherwell), Djoumin Sangaré (Oxford), Laurie Walker (Morecambe), Philip Ifil (Dagenham & Redbridge), David Bridges (Stevenage), Jamie Navarro (Real Madrid).
Out: Ian Roper (Bedworth United), Nick McKoy (Northampton), Luke Graham (Forest Green).
Verdict: “They’re in a new ground so they’ll have to settle in there. It’s difficult to tell but I think they’ll be looking to make themselves safe.” (Jon Dunham, Northants Evening Telegraph)

Kidderminster

Manager: Steve Burr
Ground: Aggborough (capacity 6,250)
Last season: 6th
Nickname: The Harriers
Star man: Kyle Storer
In: Luke Jones (Forest Green), Steve Guinan (Forest Green), Scott Phelan (Halifax), James Cresswell (Walsall), Tom Marshall (Tamworth), Luke Medley (Mansfield), Mickey Demetriou (Eastbourne), James Vincent (Stockport), Dean Lyness (Hearts), Kyle Storer (Nuneaton), Marc Williams (Wrexham).
Out: Andrew Stevens, Aaron Griffiths, Tom Shaw (Cambridge United), Keith Briggs (Fleetwood), Mark Albrighton (Nuneaton), Matty Blair (York), Lee Morris (Eastwood Town), Chris McPhee (Torquay).
Verdict: “They really raised expectations last year so we’ll have to wait and see whether they can surprise people again.” (Peter McKinney, The Kidderminster Shuttle)

Lincoln City

Manager: Steve Tilson
Ground: Sincil Bank (capacity 10,120)
Last season: 23rd in League Two
Nickname: The Imps
Star man: Josh Gowling
In: Jamie Taylor (Eastbourne), Alan Power (Rushden), Sam Smith (Rushden), Francis Laurent (Northampton), Kyle Perry (Tamworth), John Nutter (Gillingham), Tony Sinclair (Gillingham), Josh Gowling (Gillingham), Nick Nicolau (Boreham Wood), Simon Russell (Cambridge), Luke Howell (Dagenham & Redbridge), Bradley Barraclough (Bellamine University Knights).
Out: Delroy Facey, Clark Keltie, Paul Green (Tammorth), Elliot Parish, Jamie Clapham, Joe Anderson, Ashley Grimes, Ben Hutchinson, Cian Hughton, Tom Kilbey, Scott Spencer, Patrick Kanyuka (Tamworth), Drewe Broughton, Albert Jarrett, Julian Kelly, Paul Musselwhite, Moses Swaibu, Mustapha Carayol, Conor Higginson, Matthew Somner (Lewes), Ashley Cain (Tamworth), Luke Howell (Darlington).
Verdict: “Suddenly, it looks like we have a competitive squad. Budget wise, we are still mid-table. Many fans are hoping for play-offs but above 10th will be a good season.” (Chris Brammer, Lincolnshire Echo)

Luton Town

Manager: Gary Brabin
Ground: Kenilworth Road (capacity 10,226)
Last season: 3rd
Nickname: The Hatters
Star man: Robbie Willmott
In: Aaron O’Connor (Rushden), Dean Beckwith (Northampton), James Dance (Crawley), Will Antwi (Dagenham & Redbridge), Curtis Osano (Rushden & Diamonds).
Out: Lloyd Owusu, Adam Newton, Jason Walker (York), Zdenek Kroca (Kilmarnock), Claude Gnakpa (Walsall).
Verdict: “Anything less than the play-offs would be a massive disappointment. There’s a feeling that there’s no stand-out team this year and I think it will be between Luton, York and Fleetwood.” (Mark Wood, Luton Herald and Post)

Mansfield Town

Manager: Paul Cox
Ground: Field Mill (capacity 7,300)
Last season: 12th
Nickname: The Stags
Star man: John Thompson
In: Lee Stevenson (Eastwood Town), Lindon Meikle (Eastwood Town), Paul Bolland (Macclesfield), Anthony Howell (Alfreton), Matt Bell (Port Vale), Ross Dyer (Forest Green), Jon Worthington (Bradford), Luke O'Neill (Leicester), Ritchie Sutton (Port Vale), Andy Todd (Eastwood), Shane Redmond (Chesterfield), Josh Thompson (Notts County), Martin Riley (Cheltenham), Matt Green (Oxford), Joe Kendrick (Bray Wanderers).
Out: Kyle Nix (Gateshead), Tyrone Thompson, Niall O'Rafferty, Paul Stonehouse (Bath), Mark Preece, Steve Foster, Ashley Cain (Tamworth), Ben Turner, Dan Spence, Steven Istead, Luke Medley (Kidderminster), Neil Collett, Kevin Sandwith, Gary Silk (Mansfield).
Verdict: “They’ve got a good shot at the play-offs. In Paul Cox they’ve got a decent manager who knows this level well so play-offs should be the aim.” (Matt Halfpenny, Nottingham Post)

Newport County

Manager: Anthony Hudson
Ground: Newport Stadium (capacity 4,700)
Last season: 9th
Nickname: The Exiles
Star man: Danny Rose
In: Danny Potter (Torquay), Craig McAllister
(Crawley), Tommy Doherty (Bradford), Ismail Yakubu
(AFC Wimbledon), Paul Rodgers (Northampton), Paul Robson (Crystal Palace Baltimore), Elliott Buchanan (Hayes and Yeading).
Out: Glyn Garner (Bath), Chris Todd (Forest Green), Curtis McDonald (Forest Green), Paul Bignot (Blackpool), Jamie Collins (Aldershot), Michael Burns (Guiseley), Charlie Griffin (Forest Green), Eddie Odhiambo (Gateshead).
Verdict: “They’ll be aiming for the play-offs, I think they saw last year that there’s not much to fear in the Conference and we have a bright, young manager and an improved squad so hopefully it will be the play-offs.” (Michael Pearlman, South Wales Argus)

Southport

Manager: Liam Watson
Ground: Haig Avenue (capacity 6,008)
Last season: 21st (Reprieved)
Nickname: The Sandgrounders
Star man: Jean Paul Kissock
In: Steve Akrigg (Skelmersdale), Andrew Owens (Accrington Stanley), James Smith (Altrincham), Jonathan Brown (Bath City), Simon Grand (Fleetwood).
Out: Dave Roberts (Marine), Adam Flynn (Altrincham), Robert Marsh-Evans (Chester), Matty McNeil (Chester).
Verdict: “The boss has signed a host of new players and will hope to get one player in per week until the start of the season. I’d say that after the repreive last season we just want to stay away from the trouble at the bottom of the table.” (Luke Reddy, Southport Visiter)

Stockport County

Manager: Dietmar Hamann
Ground: Edgeley Park (capacity 10,852)
Last season: 24th in League Two
Nickname: The Hatters
Star man: Sean McConville
In: Martin Gritton (Yeovil), John Nolan (Everton), John Miles (Fleetwood), Ryan Fraughan (Tranmere), Ryan McCann (Ayr), Euan Holden (FC Hjørring), Sam Sheridan (Bolton), Nick Chadwick (Barrow), Sean McConville (Accrington).
Out: Mansour Assoumani, Alan Goodall, Adam Griffin, Jordan Rose, Danny Swailes, Tom Fisher, David Poole, Craig Roberts, Jake Simpson, James Vincent (Kidderminster), Matty Kosylo, Paul Turnbull (Northampton), Greg Tansey (Inverness CT).
Verdict: “It will take them a bit of time to adapt to the level of football. Dietmar Hamann has no experience at all at this level, but with the money they’re splashing about they would expect to be up and around the play-offs come the end of the season.” (Rob Dawson, Stockport Express)

Tamworth

Manager: Marcus Law
Ground: The Lamb Ground (capacity 4,195)
Last season: 19th
Nickname: The Lambs
Star man: Daniel Bradley
In: Kyle Patterson (Hednesford), Liam Francis (Hednesford), Ashley Cain (Mansfield), Connor Gudger (Hinckley), Jonathan Hedge (Halifax), Nabil Sharif (Rushden & Diamonds), Samuel Habergham (Norwich), Danny Mills (Peterborough – loan), Joe Collister (Tranmere), Paul Green (Lincoln), Patrick Kanyuka (Lincoln).
Out: Michael Wylde (Cambridge United), Tom Marshall (Kidderminster), Kyle Perry (Lincoln), Ben Wilkinson (Boston United), Aaron Mitchell (Eastwood), Jason Bradley (Eastwood).
Verdict: “There’s quite a lot of optimism around the place. The new manager is young and hungry and they’ll be hoping to enjoy a decent season, mid-table as opposed to flirting with relegation.” (Matt Panter, Tamworth Herald)

Wrexham

Manager: Dean Saunders
Ground: The Racecourse Ground (capacity 15,500)
Last season: 4th
Nickname: The Robins
Star man: Lee Fowler
In: Jake Speight (Bradford City), Danny Wright (Cambridge), Chris Westwood (Wycombe).
Out: Andy Mangan (Fleetwood), Kai Edwards (Neath), Marc Williams (Kidderminster).
Verdict: “Expectations are high after reaching last season’s play-offs. Despite losing top scorer Andy Mangan, Dean Saunders has kept the core of the squad and they are once again expected to clinch a top-five berth.” (Richard Williams, The Leader)