YORK City have been priced as joint favourites to win the Vanarama National League North by the bookmakers ahead of the start of the new season.

York have been tipped for promotion to the National League for the past two seasons, losing out to Altrincham in the play-offs in the former and seeing the coronavirus pandemic put paid to their chances in the latter.

As the 2021/22 season gets underway with a home clash against Kidderminster Harriers at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday, City are again much-fancied to go all the way in this campaign.

According to BetVictor, the Minstermen's greatest rivals to winning the league and thus securing automatic promotion are AFC Fylde.

Both York and Fylde are priced at 7/2 to win the division.

Fylde were second in the North division when the season was cancelled and their last competitive game was a dominant 3-1 win at York.

Elsewhere, Boston United lead the best of the rest (8/1) while Brackley Town, Chorley, Spennymoor Town and Gloucester City are 16/1.

Chester FC are slightly wider at 16/1 whereas Darlington, Hereford, Gateshead and Kidderminster Harries are all 20/1.

Big prices can be found for AFC Telford, Alfreton Town and Guiseley (all 25/1) as well as for Southport(33/1) and Farsley Celtic (40/1).

Blyth Spartans, Kettering Town, Leamington (50/1), Curzon Ashton and Bradford Park Avenue (66/1) look set to be battling it out to avoid relegation.