Six Memorable National League Opening Day Games

With the curtain raiser just over four weeks away, we’ve taken a look at some memorable opening day clashes we’ve seen across the three divisions.

5 August 2023 - Chesterfield 4-3 Dorking Wanderers
Would-be champions Chesterfield had a tough start to the new campaign as Paul Cook looked to banish their Promotion Final demons of the previous season.

Big-name additions like Will Grigg and Tom Naylor were on show for the home side but the late winner came courtesy of substitute Joe Quigley as the Spireites came from behind to claim all three points against a stubborn Dorking Wanderers side.

Ryan Colclough opened the scoring before Jason Prior notched either side of half-time to have Dorking ahead. Liam Mandeville notched a double of his own to regain the lead for the Spireites – cue chaos in the dying moments. Seb Bowerman plundered a late leveller, but Quigley had the last laugh as he glanced home an Ollie Banks cross to hand Chesterfield a hard-fought win.

The last-gasp winner sparked a run of 25 games without defeat at home for Paul Cook’s side as they went on to win the National League title with five games to spare.

10 August 2013 - Forest Green Rovers 8-0 Hyde
Forest Green Rovers – back in the National League this season for the first time since 2017 – were dominant as they thrashed ten-man Hyde.

Goals from Danny Wright, James Norwood and a brace from Marcus Kelly – making his debut after signing from Tamworth - had Rovers four goals to the good at the break. Matty Taylor got a goal either side of a Matthew Barnes-Homer strike before Kelly wrapped up his treble with 15 minutes to spare from close-range.

It was a welcome relief for boss Dave Hockaday who said he’d ‘never won a game on the first day of the season’ as Rovers went on to lose just once at home in the opening two months of the season.

6 August 2022 - Boston United 3-5 Southport
Beaten Promotion Finalists Boston United – title favourites for the new campaign – started the new season in the worst possible fashion at the hands of rampant Southport.

Jordan Archer hit twice after Connor Woods got the rout underway to give the Port a commanding three-goal lead at the break. Goals from Dylan Vassallo and Jack Doyle had them five clear before a late resurgence saw Boston claw back some pride with a double from debutant Jordan Crawford and Lebrun Mbeka in stoppage time.

Three points from their opening seven games would see Pigrims boss Paul Cox sacked a month later with the club bottom of the Vanarama National League North.

6 August 2016 - Curzon Ashton 1-6 Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers blew away their hosts in a game that saw them plunder five without reply in the first-half of the opener to the new season.

Goals from Elton Ngwatala, Mani Dieseruvwe and Ash Carter started the rout before Arthur Gnahoua notched a double before the break. Liam Truslove added the gloss after 69 minutes – Joseph Guest grabbed a consolation four minutes later for the hapless home side.

John Eustace’s side started as they meant to go on as they finishing as runners-up to eventual champions AFC Fylde. Chorley would be the ones to end their promotion hopes in the play-offs.

8 August - Hayes & Yeading United 3-4 Whitehawk
A seven-goal thriller saw five goals on the board before the break as beaten Promotion Finalists Whitehawk edged a breathless encounter.

Goals from Elliot Benyon and Ishmael Ehui saw the home side take a two-goal lead before Jake Robinson pulled one back for the Hawks. Sergio Torres levelled things up before the break with a Danny Mills two-minute brace after the interval edged it for Whitehawk.

Whitehawk went on to book a second straight play-off berth before losing to Ebbsfleet United at the semi-final stage. Hayes & Yeading suffered relegation to the Southern League after finishing just a single point from safety.

6 August 2022 - Cheshunt 3-2 v Hampton & Richmond Borough
After winning the Isthmian League play-off final the previous season, Cheshunt reaffirmed their credentials for life in the National League South in dramatic fashion.

Goals either side of the break from Tommy Wood and Brandon Barzey looked to have secured an opening day win for the Beavers but the hosts had other ideas. Dayshonne Golding got one back five minutes after Barzey stretched the gap. Rowan Liburd got the leveller nine minutes from time before Reece Beckles-Richard completed an incredible turnaround in the dying minutes.

Cheshunt’s form nosedived after their impressive opening day display – Craig Edwards’ side failed to record a second National League South win until late October as they eventually slid back to Step 3. Hampton & Richmond replaced long-term boss Gary McCann after Christmas with the club level on points with the bottom four.