WHO'S WHO IN THE SKRILL NORTH

  

Chris Larkin (Cheadle End Punk's very own Mystic Meg) makes his predictions for the new Conference North season

AFC Telford United

Nickname: The Bucks
Stadium: New Bucks Head (6,300)
Last Position: 24th Conference Premier
My Prediction: 2nd
Manager: Liam Watson
One to Watch: Wes Baynes (Defender)

Telford United have spent big this Summer and have former Southport manager Liam Watson as their new boss. With a string of impressive signings and facilities amongst the best in the whole of non-league, the Bucks will certainly be looking to bounce back at the first attempt. Their most impressive signing? Wes Baynes, a defender who has played in Chester's last two promotion campaigns and has experience getting out of this league. They'll be consistently up at the right end of the table all season but will just fall short of the title.

Altrincham

Nickname: The Robins
Stadium: Moss Lane (6,085)
Last Position: 4th Conference North
My Prediction: 1st
Manager: Lee Sinnott
One to Watch: Damien Reeves (Forward)

Altrincham, with the league's top goalscorer last season, will finish top this season. Last term the Robins were unfortunate to lose in the play-off semi-finals and will be looking to reclaim that Conference National berth they lost in 2011. They're sure to be tough opposition for any team this season. Keeping Damien Reeves at the club will be crucial though. If his goals dry up they'll struggle to maintain an upward momentum.

Barrow

Nickname: The Bluebirds
Stadium: Holker Street (5,000)
Last Position: 22nd Conference Premier
My Prediction: 10th
Manager: David Bayliss
One to Watch: Greg Mills (Midfielder)

Barrow, like County and Telford, are in the middle of a rebuilding job. Despite looking dead and buried by Christmas, they did put up a bit of a fight in the 2nd half of the season but in the end it wasn't enough to put the Bluebirds above the dotted line and they too suffered the drop. They'll adjust to life in the division well enough and a solid upper mid-table finish is certainly not out of the question if they can bulk out their squad between now and the first game and make good use of the loan market.

Boston United

Nickname: The Pilgrims
Stadium: York Street (6,643)
Last Position: 16th Conference North
My Prediction: 9th
Manager: Dennis Greene
One to Watch: Carl Piergianni (Defender)

Misfortune hit the Lincolnshire side in 2007 as they suffered a double relegation, being relegated from League 2 on the last day of the season they were then informed they breached Conference rules and were placed in the Conference North for the 2007/08 season. Despite finishing 10th they were demoted to the Northern Premier League, where they spent two years before winning the play-offs and getting back into the Conference North. They will be looking to continue the strengthening of their promotion chances, having recently signed former Hatter, Carl Piergianni.

Brackley Town

Nickname: The Saints
Stadium: St. James' Park (3,500)
Last Position: 3rd Conference North
My Prediction: 5th
Manager: Jon Brady
One to Watch: Gary Mulligan (Forward)

Brackley achieved their highest ever finish in the 2012-13 season, finishing 3rd in the Conference North and losing in the play-off final to FC Halifax Town. The Saints will be hoping to build on their success of last season and will be looking to make the play-offs again but with the right additions a push for the title is expected.

Bradford Park Avenue

Nickname: The Avenue
Stadium: Horsfall Stadium (3,500)
Last Position: 7th Conference North
My Prediction: 8th
Manager: John Deacey
One to Watch: Tim Ryan (Defender)

Bradford Park Avenue have played in all four professional divisions and are also the only team to have done so to have also played below the 5th tier. The Avenue did very well last season finishing 7th despite being tipped for relegation after their play-off promotion from the Northern Premier League. A similar result, in table terms, is expected again this time.

Colwyn Bay

Nickname: The Seagulls
Stadium: Llanellian Road (2,500)
Last Position: 18th Conference North
My Prediction: 19th
Manager: Frank Sinclair
One to Watch: Frank Sinclair (Player Manager/Defender)

Last season the Seagulls did very well to avoid relegation, finishing two places clear of the drop. And another season of struggle is expected this time around for the Welshmen. They have just enough about them to stave off relegation but a few poor results where points are expected could see them suffer the drop.

Gainsborough Trinity

Nickname: The Holy Blues
Stadium: The Northolme (4,304)
Last Position: 8th Conference North
My Prediction: 6th
Manager: Steve Housham
One to Watch: Dominic Roma (Defender/Midfielder)

A good 8th place finish last season was overshadowed by the club's FA Trophy heroics last time around. They made it all the way to the Semi-Finals only losing to Wrexham on aggregate after losing 3-1 in Wales and upsetting the odds to win 2-1 in Gainsborough.  They couldn't quite get that one goal to take it into extra time. But they'll have another good season this time and will likely just miss out on the playoffs.

Gloucester City

Nickname: The Tigers
Stadium: Whaddon Road (7,066 Owned by Cheltenham Town)
Last Position: 11th Conference North
My Prediction: 20th
Manager: David Mehew
One to Watch: Neil Mustoe (Midfielder)

Despite a solid 11th place finish last season, Gloucester's financial troubles and exile from their home town will see the club struggle and be in a relegation scrap all season. They will suffer the drop in the end, the council money won't last forever and unless they get some investment soon it could quickly become a very sad ending for the Tigers.

Guiseley

Nickname: The Lions
Stadium: Nethermoor Park (3,000)
Last Position: 2nd Conference North
My Prediction: 3rd
Manager: Steve Kittrick
One to Watch: Phil Marsh (Forward)

Guiseley will feel they were desperately unlucky to not be playing Conference Premier football next season, after finishing 2nd in the league. Unfortunately, they lost in the play-offs to FC Halifax Town, who sneaked in through the backdoor and ultimately won promotion via the play-off lottery. Guiseley will again have eyes on promotion and are expected to mount a serious title challenge that will fall just short. They'll make the play-offs though.

Harrogate Town

Nickname: Town
Stadium: Wetherby Road (3,800)
Last Position: 6th
My Prediction: 7th
Manager: Simon Weaver
One to Watch: Matthew Bloomer (Defender)

After a few seasons of struggle, last season saw a complete turnaround for Town after appointing a new club board. The team progressed to the 2nd Round proper of the FA Cup and finished 6th in the league - a huge success given their record in the previous seasons relegation dogfight. With a competent board now in place, Harrogate will again be looking toward a good upper table finish.

Hednesford Town

Nickname: The Pitmen
Stadium: Keys Park (6,500)
Last Position: 2nd Northern Premier League
My Prediction: 22nd
Manager: Rob Smith
One to Watch: Neil Harvey (Forward)

The Pitmen won promotion from the Northern Premier League after beating FC United of Manchester in the final. While promotion was a great achievement it'll be surprising if they don't struggle this coming season. They won't be pushovers but probably don't have quite enough about them to beat the drop,. Their big hope, goalscorer Neil Harvey, could change that if his form is exemplary though.

Histon

Nickname: The Stutes
Stadium: Bridge Road (4,300)
Last Position: 19th Conference North
My Prediction: 21st
Manager: Brian Page
One to Watch: Lewis Taaffe (Forward)

Histon just avoided relegation last season and have been struggling financially for the last few seasons, having finished 16th in 2012 and then 19th in 2013. They'll continue their decline and suffer the drop this time round. It is likely that the ever strengthening league will prove too much for them this time around.

Leamington

Nickname: The Brakes
Stadium: New Windmill Ground (2,300)
Last Position: 1st in Southern Premier Division
My Prediction: 17th
Manager: Paul Holleran
One to Watch: Stefan Moore (Forward)

Leamington romped to the Southern League title by an impressive 12 point margin last season and that momentum will carry on into this season and will help them achieve safety at the very least. Despite being tipped for the drop, the Brakes will finish lower midtable and will cause a few of the 'better' teams a few headaches.

North Ferriby United

Nickname: The Villagers
Stadium: Grange Lane (2,700)
Last Position: 1st Northern Premier League
My Prediction: 18th
Manager: Billy Heath
One to Watch: Ryan Kendall (Forward)

North Ferriby won the Northern Premier League title on the last game of the season, finishing on the same points as Hednesford United. The Villagers are better prepared for the coming season though and have the impressive Ryan Kendall, who notched an astounding 36 goals in 35 games last season, as their secret weapon. They've also signed Nathan Jarman, one of Chester's promotion winning squad last season. They should finish safely above the dotted line.

Oxford City

Nickname: The Hoops
Stadium: Court Place Farm (2,000)
Last Position: 10th Conference North
My Prediction: 15th
Manager: Mike Ford
One to Watch: Jamie Cook (Forward)

Last season was Oxford's first ever term at Conference North level and they had a very good season finishing in 10th place, without ever really troubling the play-offs or the relegation battle. This season will be another one of consolidation for the Hoops, a standard mid-table finish should be on the cards for them.

Solihull Moors

Nickname: The Moors
Stadium: Autotech Stadium (3,050)
Last Position: 9th Conference North
My Prediction: 16th
Manager: Marcus Bignot
One to Watch: Gary Birch (Forward)

Last season saw Solihull finish in the upper reaches of the table, 9th place in the end. This time around it is unlikely they'll finish quite so high. It'll be a semi-comfortable lower mid-table finish, though I'm sure the players will be looking for a repeat performance of last year's good run.

Stalybridge Celtic

Nickname: The Celts
Stadium: Bower Fold (6,500)
Last Position: 13th Conference North
My Prediction: 11th
Manager: Jim Harvey
One to Watch: Adam Pepper (Midfielder)

The Celts are no strangers to County fans, being based just up the road and having been obliging victims last year in County's 5-3 FA Cup qualifier victory. The 2011-12 season was a promising one with them going toe-to-toe with Hyde for the title until the last stretch of the season when they fell away and just missed out on the play-offs. They were disappointed with a tame mid-table finish last season but, once again, they've made no real significant squad additions, so it is likely to be another mid-table finish for them.

Stockport County

Nickname: The Hatters
Stadium: Edgeley Park (10,841)
Last Position: 21st Conference Premier
My Prediction: 4th
Manager: Ian Bogie
One to Watch: Rhys Turner (Forward)

County will be contenders this season. It'll take a month or two to really hit top gear but, when they do, expect a real battle for promotion. In the end I think the Hatters will miss out on the title but will make the play-offs. With a new, exciting strike force, a developing midfield and defence, the team should enjoy its best season in a few years.

Vauxhall Motors

Nickname: The Motormen
Stadium: Rivacre Park (3,300)
Last Position: 12th Conference North
My Prediction: 13th
Manager: Carl Macauley
One to Watch: Louis Moss (Midfielder)

Vauxhall had a solid season last year finishing 12th. It will be more of the same this year for the Ellesmere Port based side. While they have had close calls with relegation in the past, they have remained in the Conference North and will be looking to build on the solid season they have just enjoyed.

Worcester City

Nickname: The Dragons
Stadium: Aggborough (6,250)
Last Position: 15th Conference North
My Prediction: 14th
Manager: Carl Heeley
One to Watch: Stuart Whitehead (Defender)

The Dragons had a reasonable season last year, finishing 15th. Having sold their ground to raise crucial funds for a new stadium, they will lodge with Kidderminster Harriers next season. Worcester will be looking for another solid season on the pitch while they continue to sort out a more permanent home off it.

Workington

Nickname: The Reds
Stadium: Borough Park (3,101)
Last Position: 14th
My Prediction: 12th
Manager: Darren Edmondson
One to Watch: Paul Johnson (Defender)

A once proud Football League side, Workington, like County, will be looking up at the Football League with teary-eyed regret. They will be hoping that a promotion to the Conference Premier isn't too far away but, for now, it will once again be a case of consolidating their place in the Conference North.