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New Clubs For 2023/24 Season – News
Following the weekend’s games, the line-up for next season’s National League has been confirmed.
Hartlepool United (23rd, League Two)
Being promoted via the play-offs in 2021, after beating Torquay in the final, Hartlepool returned to the National League after just two seasons, following a 2-0 defeat to relegation rivals Crawley Town.
They started the season under the leadership of Paul Hartley, before he was replaced by former Latics boss, Keith Curle. However, with the club 22nd in League Two, Curle was sacked in favour of John Askey, who improved results, but ultimately, couldn’t save their Football League status.
Rochdale (24th, League Two)
Rochdale suffered their second relegation in three seasons as they were beaten 1-0 by promotion hopefuls and local rivals, Stockport County.
Robbie Stockdale was dismissed four games into the season, with the Dale bottom of League Two on zero points. Former Morecambe and AFC Fylde gaffer, Jim Bentley was brought in with the goal of keeping Dale in the Football League, but he left Spotland with the club 10 points adrift. Defender Jimmy McNulty took charge until the end of the season, and after three wins from eight games, was handed the job on a permanent basis.
AFC Fylde (1st, National League North)
Returning from the National League North after three seasons away, AFC Fylde will be looking to get their ambition of reaching the Football League back on track next season.
Despite a shaky start, by Christmas, Fylde were up and running, and battled with King’s Lynn Town for the top spot in the division. Four straight wins from Fylde condemned the Norfolk side to the play-offs, and saw the Coasters finish on 95 points.
Kidderminster Harriers (6th, National League North)
The Worcestershire outfit won their first promotion 2000 as they beat Brackley 2-0 in the play-off final.
It was a real up and down season for Kidderminster, they regularly dipped in and out of the play-offs, but six straight wins secured their spot in the top 7, on a crazy final day in the National League North.
Ebbsfleet United (1st, National League South)
After missing out on promotion following a 90+9th minute equaliser in last season’s play-off final, Ebbsfleet rocked to the National League South title this time around, smashing the 100-point mark.
Fleet went top of the league on the opening day thanks to a 3-0 win, and spent the rest of the season at the summit of the table, apart from a four-game spell around Christmas when they lost a handful of games. They recovered, and had the title wrapped up by the start of April following a 3-0 win over Oxford City.
Oxford City (3rd, National League South)
Oxford City will be making their debut in the non-league’s top tier next season, having risen from the lower reaches of the pyramid over the past 15 years.
The campaign really saw Oxford get better as they went on, culminating in a 3rd place finish, five points behind Dartford in 2nd. Going into the play-offs as the league’s form team, victories over Worthing and St Albans City secured their place in the National League.
