With the big Kick Off in Non-League's premier division just over 7 days away TCE thought it best to do a bit of research on the division and predict who will finish where.
AFC Wimbledon
Terry Brown knows the Premier from his time with Aldershot Town. The Champions of the Blue Square South have prepared well for this season bringing in a number of new players to add to their impressive squad. 6feet 4inch Midfielder Ricky Wellard from Ashford Town (Middlesex) is predicted to have a good season. TCE PREDICTION - EDGE OF THE PLAY OFFS BUT SUPPORTERS WILL BE HAPPY WITH MID-TABLE.
Altrincham
100/1 to win the league with the sponsors. Alty finished nearer the bottom than the top last year and haven't really added to their squad. PREDICTION - RELEGATION OR JUST SCRAPE SURVIVAL
Barrow
Finished just above the relegation zone last year. Have signed Phil Bolland from Cambridge United. PREDICTION - ANOTHER HARD SEASON FOR HOLKER STREET TEAM AND POSSIBLE RELEGATION
Cambridge United
The U's went all out for promotion last year and will suffer from a hang over after their loss at Wembley in the play off final. Loosing influential manager Gary Brabin won't help. New boss Martin Ling will steady the ship but mid-table mediocrity beckons. PREDICTION - MID TABLE
Chester City
Would of finished bottom of League 2 last year had it not been for Luton's -30 deduction. Start the season on -10 following a summer of financial difficulties and problems. PREDICTION - A SEASON OF STRUGGLE, MAY ONLY JUST SURVIVE RELEGATION
Crawley Town
Jefferson Louis has joined from Wrexham, he scored 15 goals last year. Romone McCrae has left to join the many ex non-league players at Peterbrough and reports suggest Jake Wright may be going to Brighton. PREDICTION - MID TABLE RESPECTABLE FINISH
Eastbourne Borough
Chairman Len Smith has made a bold prediction that joint managers Garry Wilson and Nick Greenwood will lead the club into the football league in the 09/10 season. They have taken the club from the Sussex County League and the chairman believes they can take the Priory Lane club further. It would be really good for football to see Boro riding high at the top of the league come May next year.
Blue Square list them at 50/1 for the title. TCE admires the club for looking up to the football league but PREDICTS ANOTHER SEASON IN A MID-TABLE POSITION where the club can build on for coming seasons.
Ebbsfleet United
The loss of Michael Gash for £55,000 to York City will be big. Ebbsfleet finished on 58 points last year. PREDICTION - HARD SEASON IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE TABLE
Forest Green Rovers
Jim Harvey has signed Mike Fowler from Salisbury City. PREDICTION - THE NEW LAWN CLUB WILL HAVE JUST ENOUGH TO STAY IN THE LEAGUE
Gateshead
Blue Square North play off winners are a unknown quantity in the higher league. They spent a few season's in the conference in the 90's with a best finish of 5th. Loosing hitman Lee Novak to Huddersfield will be a big loss. PREDICTION - HOVERING JUST ABOVE THE RELEGATION ZONE WHICH THEIR FANS WILL BE HAPPY WITH
Grays Athletic
Nick McKoy and Marcel McKie have arrived with Steve Browne from Enfield Town. 50/1 for the league title and finished 2 places above the dreaded relegation zone last year. PREDICTION - FIGHTING TO STAY OUT OF THE RELEGATION ZONE
Hayes and Yeading
Winners of the South play off final H&Y are 100/1 outsiders. It would be nice to see a well run club do well but TCE PREDICTS THEM TO BE FIGHTING WITH GRAYS TO STAY UP
Histon
A respectable 8th place finish for a club which TCE admires. Matthew Mitchell-King and Patrick Ada have moved on to a higher standard in the football league. Nathan Bowden-Haase has moved to the Stute's from Hemel Hempstead Town. PREDICTION - ANYTHING BETTER THAN 10th PLACE WILL BE NICE
Kettering Town
8th place finish last year. 20/1 to win the league this year. PREDICTION - MAY PUSH FOR A PLAY OFF PLACE.
Kidderminster Harriers
No major movement in or out of Aggborough in the summer. Kiddy missed out on the play offs by just 2 points last year. PREDICTION - THE CHASING PACK HAS IMPROVED AND THE HARRIERS WILL STRUGGLE TO IMPROVE ON LAST YEAR'S PLACING
Luton Town
11/4 title favourites. The capture of Liam Hatch will improve the Hatter's squad from last year's league campaign. Will be up there at the top of the league but will find non-league's top division just as good standard as League Two. PREDICTION - UP THERE BUT TWO, MAYBE THREE TEAMS WILL FINISH ABOVE THEM. THE DERBY MATCHES WITH STEVENAGE WILL ATTRACT BIG CROWDS. TCE PREDICTS KENILWORTH ROAD WILL BREAK THE CONFERENCE RECORD ATTENDANCE FIGURE THIS YEAR PROBABLY WHEN THEY PLAY OXFORD UNITED OR WIMBLEDON
Mansfield Town
Over 10 new players signed including Jason Bradley from Darlington. David Holdsworth's Stags are 14/1 for the title. PREDICTION - PLAY OFF CHASING
Oxford United
With the arrival of Jack Midson from Histon who scored 23 goals last year and 23 goal James Constable signing permanently from Shrewsbury Town the U's have an impressive front pairing. They only lost twice in the league from the turn of the new year at home to promoted Torquay 0-2 and at home to Northwich Victoria on the last day of season 1-2 in front of 10,298 fans.
Oxford are 7/2 to win the title and TCE PREDICTS IT MAY BE A WINNING YEAR AT THE KASSAM STADIUM
Rushden & Diamonds
Justin Edinburgh has brought in influential Gray's player Jamie Stuart and Cliff Akurang amongst others. 20/1 for title. PREDICTION - MID TABLE
Salisbury City
80/1 for the title. Financial problems are reported at the Raymond McEnhill stadium. PREDICTION - BOTTOM OF THE PACK
Stevenage Borough
Ex Enfield manager Graham Westley has lost Steve Morrsion to Millwall but has acted quickly in bringing in several new players to strengthen his squad who reached the play offs last season. PREDICTION - BORO WILL BE UP THERE WITH LUTON AND OXFORD AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE
Tamworth
Champions of the North division last year. PREDICTION - BOTTOM HALF TO JUST ABOVE RELEGATION ZONE. 50/1 for the title.
Wrexham
Dean Saunders has signed lots of new players at the Racecourse and a good season looks in prospect. Midfielder Nathan Fairhurst turned down a new deal with PNE to sign with the welsh club. PREDICTION - PLAY OFFS.
York City
Runners up in the FA Trophy last year the Kit Kat crescent team have strengthend their sqaud with the signing of Michael Gash from Ebbsfleet for £55,000. City struggled in the league last year. PREDICTION - WILL IMPROVE THIS YEAR BUT NOT ENOUGH TO REACH THE PLAY OFFS.
TCE best bets -
Oxford United for the title @ 7/2
Stevenage Borough to qualify for play offs @ 6/4.
Jack Midson top goalscorer @ 18/1
James Constable top goalscorer @ 8/1
All odds courtesy of http://www.bluesq.com/bet
Opening day fixtures on 8th August 2009
AFC Wimbledon V Luton Town
Altricham V Ebbsfleet
Cambridge United V Barrow
Forest Green Rovers V Kettering Town
Gateshead V Histon
Kidderminster Harriers V H&Y
Mansfield Town V Crawley Town
Oxford United V York City
R&D V Salisbury City
Stevenage Borough V Tamworth
Wrexham V Eastbourne Borough
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