RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) SEASON PREVIEW 2010/11

AFC SUDBURY
Title Odds - 14/1
Manager - Nicky Smith

After two relatively quite seasons in the Zamaretto League (14th place and 12th placed finishes) AFC will be looking to finish in a much higher position now they are back in the Ryman League. Something of an unknown quantity and could be dangerously underrated by some of the teams in the league. The cold end thinks, to give them their fall name 'Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury', will be in the play-off chasing mix up at the end of the season.

Players to look out for -Ex town stopper Dave Walton should start in goal. Midfielder Lee Tonrow has joined form Eastern Counties League Division One side Halstead Town where he was top scorer last season with 15 goals in 29 games. Well travelled winger/forward Alex Rhodes. Forward Steve Wareham who has signed from Essex Senior League Witham Town. Both Wareham and Tonrow have been hitting the back of the net during pre season.

BRENTWOOD TOWN
Title Odds - 20/1
Manager - Les Whitton

After a poor start to the league campaign last season Whitton finally steadied the ship at the Arena with the blues achieving some stand out results after Christmas against East Thurrock United, Northwood and very impressively away at Lowestoft Town. Also ran Town close in the game at Goldsdown Road which they lost 1-2 on the 11th March. A host of impressive signings have been made to strengthen what is already a good squad for the Ryman North level. Expect Brentwood to be pushing for the play offs or maybe more??

Players to look out for - Ex town stopper Andy Hall has signed from Tilbury, speedy winger Joao Carlos who impressed in Aveley 08/09 championship season, Last season's Esssex Senior League top scorer Anton Stephenson has joined from Bethnal Green United, Midfielder Danny Dafter returns to the Arena after helping Dartford to the Ryman Premier title and striker Danny Gabriel who top scored for Waltham Forest last season before moving to and helping Premier Division Aveley to the play offs. Add these players to the experience of centre half Darren Blewitt who apparently turned down offers at a higher level to remain Captain and Whitton has a very strong squad to call upon at the International Arena.

CHESHUNT
Title Odds - 25/1
Manager - Bob Dearie

The 4-2 victory over East Thurrock United in their final home game followed by a 1-0 loss at Ware and then a freak 7-2 at Thamesmead Town summed up The Amber's topsy-turvy 2009/10 season. Will they rely on the goals of Chris Meikle again who top scored with 19 in 39 appearances including a hat-trick in the aforementioned game against East Thurrock United??

Players to look out for - Midfielder Dave Hicks played well against Town in the 3-1 victory at Theobalds Lane last season, Chris Meikle as above, Charles Douse and Billy Haspineall have moved up the A10 form Haringey Borough playing in the Amber's 3-2 pre-season victory at Hatfield Town.

EAST THURROCK UNITED

Title Odds - 9/1
Manager - John Coventry

John Coventry has lost the services of last season's top scorer Sam Higgins but still has a strong squad to call upon. United have qualified for the play-offs twice in a row, there is no doubt in the cold end's mind that a hat-trick will be achieved this season. Face Enfield Town at Rookery Hill in their 2nd game of the season which will be an interesting game.

Players to look out for - Experienced striker Neil Richmond has rejoined from Great Wakering Rovers and should score lots for his new side this season.

ENFIELD TOWN
Title Odds - 7/1 joint favourites
Manager - Steve Newing

Much like East Thurrock people will be asking will we miss the services of our top scorer of last season. Stuart Blackburne was one of the best players I've ever seen pull on a Town shirt but we did play a large segment of last season without him so there is no doubt in my mind Town will be in the fight for the play-offs or possibly higher at the business end of the season.

Players to look out for - For non Enfield Town fans reading this, Adam Wallace up front will look to improve on his brilliant season last year along with influential midfielder Paul Marks and centre-back Mark Kirby starting his first full season for Town.

GRAYS ATHLETIC
Title Odds - 8/1
Manager - Julian Dicks

To say it was an eventful summer for the Essex club would be a slight underestimate but with things now finally settling down ground sharing at East Thurrock, Julian Dicks has been busily building a new squad for this campaign. With the West Ham United legend in the dugout they are bound to grab the headlines along the way but some people will say odds of 9/1 for the title maybe a bit optimistic giving the fact the club has had such a dramatic period over the last few months.

Players to look out for - Young midfielder Harlee Dean has turned out for Grays in pre-season after leaving Dagenham and Redbridge. Was reportedly going to sign for League One side Southampton this summer. Another youngster is striker Alex Osborn who impressed for Grays in the Blue Square Premier last season which gained him a three year deal at Dagenham and Redbridge. Osborn has been turning out for Grays in pre season and is likely to start the season on loan from the League One side. Midfielder Tom Harvey is another player to have resigned for Dicks having player in the BSP last season.

GREAT WAKERING ROVERS
Title Odds - 14/1
Managers - Cleve Taylor and Ryan Wilkinson

Dropped down from play-off contenders to the comfort of mid-table obscurity when then manager Iain O'Connell left for Premier Division Margate. Rovers will miss the goals of Neil Richmond who has moved to East Thurrock United but still have a squad capable of winning more games than they lose. Will need to let in less than the 70 league goals they leaked if they want to improve on the 9th place finish achieved last season.

Players to look out for - Midfielder and Captain Dan Trenkel is a good player who is always assured of a warm welcome at Goldsdown Road as he likes to be involved in the banter between that occurs between the fans and players . Along with Nikki Beale and Steve Heffer in defence Rovers have a good experienced squad to call upon.

HARLOW TOWN
Title Odds - 25/1
Manager - Kevin Warren

Warren starts his first full season in charge of the Hawks. Their first game of the season against Grays Athletic could arguably of been an Essex Senior League fixture had things worked out differently. A flurry of players have joined the Barrows Farm club and skybet have trimmed their odds for the title from 50/1 to 33/1 and now 25/1. With the widely reported financial problems of last year now hopefully in the past the cold end can safely say the Hawks will not be the basement dwellers of the division this season.

Players to look out for - Centre Midfielder Ben Bradbury looks to be a key signing from Tilbury. He scored nine times for the Dockers last season. Fromer Southend United Central defender Leo Roget has also joined along with former Towners John Stevenson (defender) and Jeff Hammond (striker) who played for Hitchin Town last season. With a Hammond and a James May in the squad there are reports of a Clarkson signing on for the season so Warren can go into Top Gear and challenge for a play-off place??

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS
Title Odds - 12/1
Manger - Wayne Bond

A great run after Christmas by the Scraley Road team losing only two games in fifteen saw them push up the league and miss out on a play off place by just seven points. The run looks even more impressive as the two defeats were very narrow ones at home to W&F 1-2 and away to Enfield Town 1-0. Lacked the services of a goal-scorer last season with their top scorer finishing on only nine goals. Their final league goals tally was 67 which was their downfall as the play off qualifiers scored 94, 88, 81 and 102. Two strikers have signed for the new season with Chris Thomas joining from Aveley and Chris Bryant from ECL side Halstead Town who Bond will be hoping along with Tom Broadhurst and Steve Bourne will fire the goals to help the Swifts to a promotion push.

Players to look out for - Bryant has scored numerous goals for Halstead in the ECL Division One and will be amongst the goals. Ex Potters Bar Town defender Dapo Abitogun. Goalkeeper Jamie Bowyer.

ILFORD
Title Odds - 33/1
Manager - Colin Walton

Pre-season results have been good with victories at White Ensign, Haringey Borough, Maritius Sports and London APSA. Ex Cheshunt boss Gordon Boateng has moved to Cricklefields as Director of Football for the new season which sees manager Colin Walton start his first full season in charge. Won their first three games last season agianst Heybridge Swifts, Enfield Town and Lowestoft Town and then dropped down the league winning only eight more games. Without those nine valuable points they would of finished 2nd from bottom and not 3rd from bottom in the league.

Players to look out for - Club Captain Anton Trice, Romanian born central defender Cosmin Costache was spotted playing for Middlesex County Division One (Central/East) side Sporting Hackney and moved to Cricklefields for the final few months of last season. Cosmin's brother Cloah (a midfielder) has also moved from Hackney to Cricklefields. Pacey forward Tom Nyama has travelled the short distance from Eton Manor and has been among the goals in pre-season.

LEYTON
Title Odds - 40/1
Manager - Wilson Frimpong

Frimpong starts his first full season in charge at Lea Bridge Road. Can only improve on last season's 2nd from bottom showing where a barren spell of no wins between 24th October and the 3rd April was followed by a season's finish of a much celebrated away win at Potters Bar Town and five draws. Frimpong was successful in charge of Ashford Town (Middx) reserves prior to moving to East London so his new look side may cause a few upsets along the way in 2010/11.

Players to look out for - James and Charlie Hamsher were amongst the goals at the end of last season and will score in the league this season. Sol Patterson and Stefan Cox have hit the back of the net in pre-season. Mo Habu is a big and strong impossing centre-back who stood out for the cold end when I witnessed Leyton's 0-1 win at Potters Bar last season

MALDON AND TIPTREE
Title odds - 25/1
Managers - Brad King and Glenn Knight

A 'new' club of sorts for the league and have gained something of a reputation of big spenders with some impressive signings over the summer months as the management duo look to build a squad capable of challenging at the top of the league. Both former shot stoppers King and Knight have signed experienced goalkeeper Tony Tucker who helped Boreham Wood to promotion from the Ryman Premier last season, Jack Haverson (centre-back) from Welling United, Martyn Guest (Midfielder), Joe Sweeney (Striker), Ronnie Jones (centre-back), ex tonwer Michael Deane (midfielder), Kris Lee (striker) who scored goals for Brentwood Town last season), Craig Wilkins (defender), Danny Smith (defender), Lee Blackburn (midfielder), Lee Perry (midfielder) and Dean Standen (midfielder) have all signed up for the 2010/11 campaign.

Players to look out for - All of the above. King and Knight have built an squad with lots of Ryman League (and higher level) experience. It all depends of how the new squad blend together. If they do, the 25/1 odds maybe a great looking value each way bet.

NEEDHAM MARKET
Title Odds - 10/1
Manager - Danny Laws

The dark horses in the league as nobody knows much about them. Will they do a Lowestoft and take the league by storm?? One things for sure any team who wins the ECL title has to be a good one and the fact they only lost one league game at home last season (which was a narrow 1-2 defeat to Leiston) indicates Market will be strong on their own patch. Their excellent home record will be tested by Thamesmead Town, Maldon & Tiptree and Wingate & Finchley who are the first teams to visit Bloomfields at the beginning of the season.

Players to look out for - Central Midfielder Craig Parker scored an
impressive 24 goals last season and has already been amongst the goals in pre-season. Left midfielder Danny Thrower is a dead ball specialist with bags of pace who scores and sets up many goals. Ex Harwich and Parkstone forward Darren Bethell has aslo been amongst the goals in pre season. Goalkeeper Danny Gay has played for Chelmsford City, Braintree Town, Heybridge Swifts and Bishops Stortford amongst other clubs.

POTTERS BAR TOWN
Title Odds - 25/1
Manager - Adam Lee

Not much news has come from the South Mimms Travel stadium over the summer. Only Harlow Town and Leyton beat the Scholars to less home wins last season. Lee will want to record more than 4 home wins this season. Will miss the services of Captain Joe O'Brien who has left to join his former club Wingate and Finchley along with last season's top scorer Ellis Remy who has played in a friendly for Brentwood Town this pre-season.

Players to look out for - Ex Towner Gaz Dauti is a skilful and influential midfielder.

REDBRIDGE
Title Odds - 25/1
Managers - Dave Ross and Kris Taylor

The Motormen will want to put last season's problematic pitch at Oakside behind them and look forward to a better campaign this season. Results have been good in pre-season with a 3-1 win away at SSML side Stotfold a result that stands out. Only won 2 games away from Oakside last season - If they want to improve they will have to start picking up points away from home.

Players to look out for - Experiened left sided defender Donovan Wilson who joined from Brentwood Town last season, Club Captian and ex Enfield FC central defender Simon Peddie, Midfielder Anton Agdomar who has spent time at Dagenham and Redbridge and Clapton, Stiker Alex Read broke into the first team last season and will look to improve for 2010/11.

ROMFORD
Title Odds - 25/1
Manager - Paul Martin

Boro finished 13th on their first season back after winning promotion from the ESL. Picked up some impressive wins last season in particular at home to Concord Rangers, East Thurrock United and Heybridge Swifts. Results in pre season have been a mixed bag with loses to Aveley (0-4) and Canvey Island (1-3) along with an 8-0 victory over Basildon United and a 3-3 draw away against the Ryman South Met Police team. The season starts with a home game versus Cheshunt which Boro fans will see as winnable followed by a tough midweek trip to Wingate and Finchley.

Players to look out for - Midfielder Andy Edmunds and striker Toran Senghore

THAMESMEAD TOWN
Title Odds - 12/1
Manager -Keith McMahon

Were play-off contenders until dropping down the league in the final months of last season. With VCD Athletic now back in the Kent League The Mead are now the only club South of the River Thames in the Ryman North Division. McMahon has added to his squad with the signings of ex Arsenal player Ashley Probets who has also played for Chatham Town, Welling United, VCD Athletic, Barnet and Rochdale previously. The front pairing for Constable and Cable scored 34 goals last season and with the addition of forward Alex Tiesse and ex Harlow Town striker Adriano Lawson the South Londoners will always be amongst the goals.

Players to look out for - Andy Constable will score 20+ goals this season and alongside Cable, Tiesse and Lawson the Mead posses a team capable of scoring lots of goals.

TILBURY
Title Odds - 25/1
Manager - Paul Vaughan

New manager Vaughan has rebuilt over the summer months and his new look team has a youthful look to it. Centre Back Ben Turner has joined from ESL side Barking, He gained many good reviews for his performances last season at Mayesbrook Park. Pacey striker Ben Boyce has also joined to play at Chadfields along with goalkeeper James Marrable who has played for Aveley.

Players to look out for - Turner was in most Essex Senior League fan's team of the year last season so it'll be interesting to see how he get's on in the Ryman North. Seventeen year old winger Harry Cook has been at West Ham United and Southend United prior to spells at Thurrock and East Thurrock United. 21 year old left sided midfielder Tom Cruz spent time as a youth team player for Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient.


WALTHAM ABBEY
Title Odds - 9/1
Manager - Paul Wickenden

Spent one horrible season in the Premier Division which resulted in relegation to rejoin the Ryman Division One. Wickenden has been given the job of steadying the ship at Capershotts following Glen Alzapiedi's exit at the end of last season, he has made a number of signings for the new season including Emmanuel Osei from Harlow Town. The cold end predicts a mid-table finish this season for Town's near neighbours.

Players to look out for - Experienced defender Andy Keepence, Striker Xaniel Doku and young stiker/midfielder Luke Power who spend most of last season on the sidelines injured.

WALTHAM FOREST
Title Odds - 20/1
Manager - Tony Mercer

The Stags will be glad to get back to Wadham Lodge which is scheduled in October and looked impressive going forward in the friendly game I saw them play at Southill Alexander last week. Finished 16th last season, The cold end predicts a comfortable mid-table finishing position for Forest this season. There odds of 20/1 for the league title are a bit on the skinny side considering the fact Wigan Athletic, who finished 16th (same place at WF in the Ryman) in the FA Premier League last season are 5,000/1 to win the title.

Players to look out for - Forward Danny Francis has resigned for the stags for the new season. Captain and central defender Spencer Harrison. Experienced Des Thomas can play in a number of positions.

WARE
Title Odds - 25/1
Manager - Tony Faulkner

Faulkner arrived at Wodson Park in November and helped the club move away from the relegation zone by winning a few and then losing a few matches. Will improve on their 19th placed finish last season.

Players to look for - In Ryan Wade Faulkner possess one of the best strikers in the league who scored 15 times in 22 matches last season. Wade will be up amongst the top scorers in the league this season. Another player to follow Faulkner for Broxbourne Borough this summer is Obey Murefu who is a very talented goalkeeper. Ex Town forward Billy Healy has featured in some of the pre-season games at Wodson Park.

WINGATE AND FINCHLEY
Title Odds - 7/1 joint favourites
Manager - Dave Norman

Norman already had a strong squad to call upon at W&F but has strengthened his side over the Summer. Arguably the best side in the division after Christmas losing just one game in the process. The additions of Sam Sloma, James Bent and Joe O'Brien will reinforce Norman's quality squad. The cold end would rate W&F as closer to 4/1 or 5/1 for the title so the 7/1 on offer could be a value bet. Will be right up fighting for the Championship at the end of the season. The pitch at the Harry Abrahams Stadium is one of the best in the Ryman League if not in the whole of London including the football league sides

Players to look for - Striker Leon Smith is one of the best forwards in the division - expect him to be up and about the goals. Experienced goalkeeper Gavin King and midfielder Ahmet Rifat who scored on numerous occasions for the North London side last season. Chris Chase is likely to partner Smith up front.

Summary -

It's shaping up to be a really exciting season for Ryman Division One (North) fans with a number of sides capable of challenging for the title and play-offs.

The usual suspects of W&F, Enfield Town, East Thurrock United will be there along with the unknown quantity of Needham Market with Grays Athletic. Heybridge Swifts, Brentwood Town, AFC Sudbury and Thamesmead Town capable of pushing for the play-offs and further. Maldon and Tiptree have signed some quality players so they will be right up the top of league as well, At 25/1 for the title a each way punt is good value outside bet. Waltham Abbey who are 9/1 for the title have a much changed side following their change of manager so they may settle for a mid-table place alongside all the other teams. Who will be the surprise team of the season like Thamesmead Town in 2009/10??

The cold end can't wait until next Saturday and the start of the Ryman season. Like I said with the FA Cup it's proper football at just a fraction of the price.


Key fixtures in the opening weeks -

Saturday 21st August
Grays Athletic V Harlow Town - Will the league newcomers announce their arrival with a win over a much changed Hawks side??

Tuesday 24th August
East Thurrock United V Enfield Town - Early season encounter between two of the sides expected to challenge for the play-offs
Leyton V Waltham Forest - A local derby game between two new look sides.
Waltham Abbey V Heybridge Swifts - How good will Abbey be this season?? A tough test at home to Swifts.

Wednesday 25th August
Ilford V Redbridge - Another interesting East London derby game

Monday 30th August
Needham Market V Maldon and Tiptree - This bank holiday trip to Suffolk will be a good indication on how the new club are doing as I suspect Market will be very strong at home.
Grays Athletic V Tilbury - Local derby match is bound to attract a good crowd.

Saturday 4th September - NON LEAGUE DAY
Wingate and Finchley V Heybridge Swifts - W&F should win this home game but Swifts will be a tough test for them

Tuesday 7th September
Great Wakering Rovers V AFC Sudbury
Needham Market V Wingate and Finchley - tough midweek trip for The Blues.

Saturday 21st September
Enfield Town V Grays Athletic

All odds are correct as of Saturday 14th August 2010 and can be found on skybet.com. Gamble responsibly!!