NPL 2023/24

[cdp]

Congratulations to Warrington Town on gaining promotion by defeating Bamber Bridge with with 90th minute goal earlier today. So, the possible make up of the NPL next season is -

16 teams neither promoted or relegated from this season -

Ashton United
Atherton Collieries
Bamber Bridge
FC United of Manchester
Gainsborough Trinity
Guiseley
Hyde United
Lancaster City
Marine
Marske United
Matlock Town
Morpeth Town
Radcliffe
Stafford Rangers
Warrington Rylands
Whitby Town

Relegated from National League North

Bradford Park Avenue

Promoted from Northern Premier East

Worksop Town

Promoted from Northern Premier West

Macclesfield
Workington

That makes 20 definite teams. Long Eaton United were promoted from NPE and could join NPL but would probably join Southern Premier Midland (SPM). There are rumours that Stafford will move there as well which would leave 19 teams in NPL and mean three moves from Southern Premier Midland which will receive three of the four relegated teams from National League North (Telford, Leamington and Kettering). The three obvious candidates would be Mickleover Sports,, Basford United and Ilkeston Town, two of which were in NPL in 2021/22 season, all are close together and are the most northerly of the SPM teams. All are nearer Guiseley than Stafford.

So watch this space!

CDP

[rallyman]

Its going to be an interesting decision on who the last few places are allocated to Midlands teams. They won't enjoy the long trips to Morpeth & Workington, but so be it. Think Mickleover & Long Eaton are pretty much level geographically so the powers that be may just allocate Long Eaton to NPL for less "shuffling" and Long Eaton are situated next to the M1 for travelling.

At least we have local rivals for the Xmas / New Year double-header.

Will we be all chasing Macclesfield for runners up spot though as they must start as promotion favourites like South Shields this season. And will Worksop continue last seasons unbelievable form into 2023/24 season ?

Rallyman

[Nik]

Yeah the best thing is that we have BPA now. Shame Farsley couldn't get the job done too, but this still looks like a better division for us than last season.

Oh, and you both misspelled "Robbie Savage's Macclesfield".

[adambrid]

It's great to be able to go to Workington again, a classic non league ground so hopefully we don't get that on a Tuesday night in January!

Its been a while since we have crossed paths with Ilkleston too so that would be a good one also.
AB