Exciting Battles Lay Ahead In 2017/18

The National League North champions have strengthened their squad with several new signings, including a trio of ex-Kidderminster Harriers players, and they are being tipped by some pundits to challenge for back-to-back promotions.

FC Halifax Town who, of course, are no strangers to the top echelons of Non-League football, came up with the Coasters as play-off winners and also start off at home against a strong Aldershot Town outfit, whose squad remains mostly in-tact from last season.

National League South champions Maidenhead United, like AFC Fylde, are also new to the top competition. However, their vastly experienced manager Alan Devonshire isn`t and his knowledge of the level will be vital if one of the now few part-time sides are to survive.

They begin their National League challenge with a trip to Kent to take on Maidstone United, who have brought in some interesting summer signings, including one of the county`s biggest hopes in recent season`s, striker Johan ter Hosrt, whose move to Hull City didn`t quite work out for the former Folkestone Invicta player.

Ebbsfleet United are welcomed back to the National League after winning the National League South play-offs and begin with a trip to Yorkshire to take on a Guiseley AFC side, who only remained in the division by the skin of their teeth on the final day of the season.

Boss Adam Lockwood hasn`t made too many changes in personnel as yet, but the Lions will be determined not to put their fans through the same nervy end to the campaign this time round.

It`s been something of a traumatic summer for Leyton Orient after they suffered the shock of relegation from the Football League.

The O`s will have a new look on and off the pitch, with former hero Martin Ling back in E10 pulling the strings as director of football.

They face a tricky opening test on the 3G surface at Gander Green Lane against last season`s FA Emirates Cup heroes Sutton United. That fixture is the first to be shown live on BT Sport, with an early kick-off at 12.30pm.

U`s boss Paul Doswell has added a pair of strikers in Ross Lafayette and Moses Emmanuel and will be looking to better last season`s twelfth-placed finish.

Another newcomer to the National League `family` are Hartlepool United, who followed Leyton Orient out of League Two.

They have gambled a little by appointing a new manager in Craig Harrison who has not been involved at this level.

Pools, relegated after 96 years in the Football League, had been without a boss since Dave Jones was sacked two games from the end of the season following a disastrous run.

Harrison will be charged with the responsibility of bringing Pools back up at the first attempt.

The former Middlesbrough defender has enjoyed a trophy-laden start to his coaching career in Wales with The New Saints after being forced to quit the game as a player after a horrific leg break while at Crystal Palace.

The 39-year-old led the club to six successive Welsh Premier titles and six cups, and managed them in Champions League qualifiers as well.

Harrison`s tenure at the Victoria Ground begins at home, with Dover Athletic, who finished last season in an agonising sixth place, making the long trek north from Kent.

The three teams who suffered relegation to the National League North, North Ferriby United, Southport and York City, were dealt mixed fortunes on the opening day, with the Villagers having to travel to the Tameside Stadium to take on Curzon Ashton, Port being paired at home to always competitive Boston United and the Minstermen hosting AFC Telford United.

Ferriby have remained reasonably stable during the summer, but it`s been all-change at Southport with their long-standing chairman Charlie Clapham and manager Andy Preece both departing.

York are determined their stay at the lowest level in their history will be a brief one and Gary Mills has made some excellent signings.

Newly-promoted sides Blyth Spartans and Leamington are `old hands` at this level, but it`s a new experience for Spennymoor Town – formed only in 2012.

They start at home to fancied Stockport County, while north-east neighbours Spartans travel to the Impact Arena to take on Alfreton Town.

The Brakes also start away from home at much-changed Gainsborough Trinity, who have a new manager in Dave Frecklington and almost an entirely new squad of players.

Bognor Regis Town return to the National League South with a home game against Bath City, while Southern League champions Chippenham Town go into the unknown, but also start at home to much-fancied Havant & Waterlooville.

Relegated Braintree Town have a new manager at the helm and several new players as they travel to the Sussex coast to take on Eastbourne Borough on the opening Saturday.

Gloucester City, switched from the northern section to accommodate Leamington, face a tough opening fixture at Melbourne Stadium against Chelmsford City.

Non-League Day has become another special day on the football calendar and the 2017/18 season`s is scheduled for October 7th.

And the National League has presented some very interesting games for that occasion.

Tranmere Rovers at home to Chester FC stands out, as does Leyton Orient`s long trek north to take on Barrow AFC.

There is sure to be a decent number of groundhoppers and Premier League and Football League fans wanting their Saturday `fix` of football as Salford City host promoted Leamington at Moor Lane in the National League North and at Princes Park where Dartford take on another of the new boys, Bognor Regis.

Christmas and New Year are obviously extremely important days for all non-League sides.

And Boxing Day sees a plethora of National League derby matches, including the eagerly-awaited north-east derby between Gateshead and Hartlepool at the International Stadium, two Kent derby matches at Crabble between Dover and Maidstone and at Stonebridge Road where Ebbsfleet take on Bromley.

Another big north-east Boxing Day crowd are sure to be at Croft Park as Blyth take on Spennymoor in the National League North, while who knows what the crowd could be as FC United of Manchester take on Salford at Broadhurst Park!

Another Kent derby on the 26th sees Welling United host Dartford in the National League South, but perhaps the biggest crowd in the division could see the Essex derby between Braintree and Chelmsford City.

Most clubs play four games in ten days over the Christmas period and the New Year fixtures are the reverse of Boxing Day`s matches.

Easter is another vital time of the season, and it comes late in 2017, with clubs being given Good Friday matches on March 30th – just a couple of weeks before the official end of the season.

Another exciting season of National League football begins on August 5th.

The full list of fixtures can be found here: http://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/match-info/fixtures