Vanarama National League North Season Review

Back in August, there was no sign of what was in front of us. Little did we know back then how things would play out on and off the pitch in the months ahead.

A newcomer ultimately stole the show in the National League North but there was no evidence of King’s Lynn’s incredible feat on the first day of the season.

They were hammered 3-0 at Guiseley, while York City grabbed the headlines thanks to a highly impressive 3-1 win at dangerous Altrincham.

By matchday two Guiseley had hit eight goals without reply, Aaron Martin was on fire in that first week as his hat-trick downed Bradford Park Avenue who had suffered back-to-back 5-0 defeats.

There were two very early managerial exits. Avenue boss Garry Thompson and Hereford’s Marc Richards both paid the price for slow starts.

By the end of the first month we had a flavour of what was ahead.

York were August’s leaders with Steve Watson’s unbeaten side winning six from eight. King’s Lynn, though, were hot on their heels - just a point behind.

Former Cardiff and Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade was announced as the new manager of Hereford but he wouldn’t see the season out.

Chester really impressed in September and ended the month in second behind York.

But the biggest win belonged to brilliant Brackley - with much credit due to Player of the Month James Armson.

Their 8-0 thumping on Bradford PA saw interim manager Marcus Law leave, with Mark Bower eventually returning to the Horsfall Stadium.

Kettering Town were in need of a new manager as well. The newcomers announced the departure of boss Nicky Eaden after a run of poor form. Paul Cox the man asked to kick-start their season - and what a job he did.

Another new arrival to the division were having a ball.

Farsley Celtic’s superb start saw Adam Lakeland claim the September Manager of the Month accolade.

October was a month to remember for Liam Watson, who celebrated 500 games in charge of Southport with a fourth home win on the bounce. Skipper David Morgan with the decisive strike against Brackley.

"It’s making me feel old," Watson joked. "But Southport have been my club since 2003, my kids have grown up with it.

“At times it’s been classed as a poison chalice or a difficult club to manage so to have so many games in the hot seat is something to be proud of.”

The question already was could anyone stop York City?

At the end of the third month they were sitting pretty, undefeated at eight points clear. There would, of course, be twists to come.

Bradford PA were off the bottom for the first time this season after new boss Bower got his teeth into their survival challenge.

Kettering’s new management saw for themselves the size of the task in hand, going into winter bottom but just one point separated the bottom four.

One club nobody seemed to be talking about at this stage was Altrincham.

They sat just above that cluster of early-season stragglers but Phil Parkinson went on record saying things would get better - and he was true to his word.

People were starting to take notice of Darlington. A flawless October saw the club record four wins from four.

November witnessed the first change of leadership and one striker really started to grab the headlines.

Adam Marriott outscored every other player in England’s top seven leagues by this point - and King’s Lynn sat proudly on top following their promotion.

No fewer than nine goals in November helped his side to wins against Kidderminster Harriers, Bradford, Leamington, Southport and Gateshead after starting the month with a draw against Altrincham.

He was unquestionably the Player of the Month - but wasn’t such a good moment for Kidderminster Harriers.

John Pemberton left his role as manager with the club 17th in the National League North.
He wasn’t the only one to leave his position with Christmas getting closer.

Gloucester City announced James Rowe as the man to replace outgoing boss Mike Cook - with the club heading home next season, they believe it was a forward-thinking appointment.

Boston United came so close to setting up an FA Cup third round tie against Newcastle United - they pushed League One Rochdale all the way but they just missed out on a glamour tie.

“It was a big target of mine to create an FA Cup run,” reflected manager Craig Elliott. “The players deserve all the credit. Now we have to wake up and concentrate on what’s to come.”

December is said to sort the men out from the boys.

It was one of the most experienced around, Leamington boss Paul Holleran, who took a lot of the plaudits - wins over Hereford, Gloucester City and Darlington handed him 2019’s final Manager of the Month award.

Another great month for Darlington saw Alun Armstrong’s team winning four times.

King’s Lynn it was who ended the year top of the tree after a month which saw York City stutter - they recorded one win from five, while Brackley were upwardly mobile.

The Linnets had a four-point cushion as 2020 was welcomed in, despite only managing a draw at Alfreton Town in the last game of a great year for the club.

York fell to a gutsy Guiseley side as former City player Hamza Bencherif gave the Lions the lead before Kaine Felix hit a winner three minutes from time.

Leamington striker Josh March became the first National League player to earn an EFL move in January as he linked up with Forest Green Rovers.

In the middle of the month came the season’s biggest game - it would have such a huge impact on what happened come the end of the campaign.

Leaders King’s Lynn won the huge contest at the top as York City slipped up. Prolific Adam Marriott got the winning goal as an incredible crowd of 4,019 watched the 1st v 2nd game at The Walks.

By the end of the month they had a four-point advantage as things really began to hot up.
The race for the play-offs was just as thrilling. Altrincham’s come-from-nowhere recovery saw them into the top seven, Josh Hancock powered them forward as he picked up the Player of the Month award.

Boston United were now looking like challengers all of a sudden. Gateshead and Spennymoor continued to snap away at the promotion places but at the bottom Bradford PA - still with only 13 points on the board - were looking marooned.

Hereford weren’t playing any part in the play-off chase and manager Russell Slade left Edgar Street.

Lee Clark, the Blyth Spartans manager, was another big name boss out of work a few weeks later.

It took until February 23 for King’s Lynn to be removed from top spot. York reclaimed the leadership for the first time since November when they won against Kidderminster.

Twists and turns were expected but events across the world soon put football firmly in its place.

The Covid-19 outbreak paused the game as sport was put on the backburner, the global pandemic ultimately cutting the National League North season short.

Eventually after a vote by member clubs it was to be decided the season 2019-20 will be concluded with final league tables compiled on an “Unweighted Points Per Game” basis.

That means King’s Lynn were the winners - despite York actually ending the campaign in top spot.

There was more heartache ahead for the Minstermen when the play-offs were played.

Altrincham beat them in the last game at Bootham Crescent, a week after Alty got the better of Chester.

There was no play-off joy for Brackley again, beaten by Gateshead in the Eliminator but the Heed didn’t have quite enough in the tank as Boston United beat them 5-3 in a thrilling semi.

That set up a Promotion Final with Altrincham and it was the Robins who ruled the roost.

Dan Mooney’s goal was enough for Phil Parkinson’s side to book their place in the National League next season, after a howler from Pilgrims keeper Peter Crook.

They were 18th in November and the manager said: “Finals are about fine margins. Dan took his goal superbly, he had done his research and knew their goalkeeper had done something similar in the past.”