The Vanarama National League 2019-20 season will be the 41st and its profile has never been higher given the recent FA Cup runs by its members and the number of former Football League Teams playing in it. This season 50% of the teams are ex-football league members in one guise or another and it includes Notts County, who were founder members of the Football League back in 1888-89.

The promotion structure which gives even the 7th place team a chance at the playoff final means that interest is maintained pretty much to the final week, while four relegation places give the teams at the wrong end plenty of incentive coming into April. Only newly promoted Woking are part-time this season such is the lure of a League place, and the hope of emulating Wimbledon & Wigan who went from Non-League to Premier League, and it is attracting a sizable fan base.  Anyway here are our predictions for the coming season:

National League Promotion Contenders

1st Solihull Moors

Solihull Moors were a bit of a surprise team in 2018-19 reaching the playoffs semi-final which they lost 1-0 to AFC Fylde. This season they have added a proven goal scored (at this level) in Paul McCallum and have strengthened the defence with the capable Callum Howe. They are managed by ex-England International Golie Tim Flowers and he will make sure they are hard to score against. With the extra firepower, they should be in the top seven come seasons end and look just about capable of taking the title.

2nd Wrexham

Wrexham left the league in the 2007-8 season and were playing in League One as recently as 2004-5 when they were relegated ironically with fellow divisional rivals Torquay & Stockport. In the 11 seasons since they have generally been a top-half side and have been in the promotion mix a few times, including last season when they finished 4th before losing 1-0 after extra time in the Playoffs Quarter Final.

They have one of the deeper squads in the division and a solid management team including Ex-Wales international Bryan Flynn. They have also got Wales U21 international Mark Harris on loan from Cardiff, who should do well at this level providing he can cope with the physicality.  The Red Dragons should make the playoffs again and will probably challenge for the title.

3rd Torquay United

Another former football league stalwart who has struggled a bit of late, however, they came back up as National League South Champions netting 88 points and scoring 93 goals. They will have some momentum going into the new season and the crowds will be back – especially if they start well. They have a decent starting eleven boosted by several loanees from league clubs. and providing they don’t suffer too many injuries we expect them to be there or thereabouts come season end.

4th Barnet

Barnet struggled to adjust to life back in the non-league last season following their relegation on goal difference in 2017-18. An impressive FA Cup run seemed to act more as a distraction than a motivator and they ended up mid-table – largely thanks to their lack of firepower (only scored 45 league goals). They have been quiet in the transfer window, but they will be defensively competent again and if players such as Simeon Akinola can discover their scoring form then they should be in with a shout.

5th AFC Fylde

Last season saw Fylde make the Playoff Final – where they were well beaten by the money boys from Salford. This was an impressive achievement and looking at their squad they certainly don’t look to have taken a step backwards despite the turnover. Ex Dunfermline midfielder James Craigen looks a good signing and several other transfers have come from league clubs. The squad is a bit small so injuries could play a part but a repeat of last seasons finish looks on the cards.

6th Bromley

Bromley finished 11th last season, but seem to have their sites set higher this year given their transfer activity. Fifteen players have departed and eleven new faces have arrived, including several from League clubs. Reeco Hackett-Fairchild has now joined permanently from Charlton and he could be one to watch. They have a bit of depth in the squad and should be on the fringes.

7th Sutton United

Finished 9th last season all be it well outside of the playoffs points-wise. They have shipped out quite a few players  – manly to near neighbours Havant & Waterlooville, from whom they acquired Goalie Ben Dudzinski. They have also added some young players from League clubs and overall have one of the deeper squads in the division. They made the playoffs in 2017-18 and look good enough to bounce back into them this year.

8th Stockport County

National League North champions last year and another former league club on their way back following a few difficult years. They have been quiet in the transfer market but will be confident after last seasons performance and they will be buoyed by large crowds. Might be a season too early to challenge for the title but should hang around the playoff fringes.

 

Playoff Fringes & Mid Table Teams

9th Boreham Wood

Boreham Wood didn’t seem to recover from the disappointment of the 2017-18 season when they came so close to reaching the Football league, losing 2-1 to Tranmere Rovers in the playoff final. They have added Tyrone Marsh to the squad, who can score goals at this level and Piero Mingnoia who they signed from Accrington should be better suited to the Conference.

10th Yeovil Town

Relegated last season after a nice stint in the league, where they got as high as the Championship in 2013-14. Like so many newly relegated teams they might need a season to adjust to this level before pushing for a return.

 

11th Dagenham & Redbridge

Hung around the playoff fringes last season, but have had a massive turnover in players. We don’t see any real improvement in the squad.

 

12th Hartlepool United

Long-time football league members, but struggling to come to terms with this level. They have added a bit of experience in the shape of Jason Kennedy from Carlisle United and Michael Rayes from Crewe, however, they still have the look of a team in transformation and mid-table looks like the ceiling for them this year.

 

13th Woking

Promoted last season from the National League South and as mentioned the only part-time team in the division. Still, they seem to have attracted some decent u23 players on loan from the likes of Watford & Southampton and although they have a small squad being part-time adds a lot of flexibility. Could start brightly but the winter might take its toll.

 

14th FC Halifax Town

Halifax struggled to score goals last season and we are not really sure that the changes up front are an improvement. They have a small squad and although they might start well they may be prone to injuries as the season progresses.

 

15th Harrogate Town

Harrogate had a pretty good 2018-19 following their promotion from the Conference North, however, they were comfortably beaten by AFC Fylde in the playoffs. The squad looks a bit depleted and with only 18 players on the books, they are prone to injury and players suffering a loss of form. A step back looks likely but relegation shouldn’t be an issue.

 

16th Chesterfield

The appointment of John Sheridan as manager turned their season around in 2019 and he did wonders keeping them up. Expectations are high going into this season, however, there has been a lot of changes and they might need this season to consolidate before pushing to get back into the league.

 

17th Dover Athletic

Another side who has seen a big turnover in players. Nothing they have done indicates a promotion push and although they shouldn’t get sucked into the relegation zone they may struggle to better last seasons performance.

 

Looking Over Their Shoulders

18th Maidenhead United

Maidenhead have sort of established themselves in the Conference following their impressive National League South win in 2016-17 (with 98 points). They are currently managed by West Ham legend Alan Devonshire and despite having a tiny budget and being many peoples favourites for the drop we think they will be ok this year. It will be interesting to see how Joe Ellul settles into this level following his transfer from New Zealand Premier League side Tasman United.

 

19th Barrow

Barrow has lost a couple of decent players to league sides but may have pulled off a coup in grabbing Scott Quigley from Blackpool. Staying up is probably their aim for this season.

 

20th Notts County

It’s sad to see a club of Notts County’s history falling this far, and the fall might not be over given their financial woes. Adjusting to the Conference can be hard and we think they might struggle both with the squad they have and overall confidence. A second consecutive relegation looks a possibility.

 

Relegation candidates

 

21st Eastleigh

Eastleigh appears to have decided to consolidate after pushing for promotion a few times of late. They have lost their better players and with a small squad, this may be the season when they take a huge step backwards.

22nd Chorley

The Magpies did well to get promoted last season but this is a step up and they don’t have the resources to strengthen the squad. It may be a short stay.

23rd Aldershot

Stayed up last season thanks to Gateshead’s financial woes – which saw them demoted to the Conference North. Nothing they have done in the transfer market indicates things will go any better this season.

24th Ebbsfleet United

Although Ebbsfleet actually paid a transfer fee this year (reportedly £5k for James Ball from Stevenage) financial concerns still weigh heavily on the team and they appear to be in turmoil. Sadly we are pretty sure they are in for a long hard winter and are our tip to be the first team relegated.