AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Will be hugely disappointed to have lost out on a play-off place on the final day of the campaign. However, they managed to overcome to shock loss of long-serving manager Andy Peaks and his replacement, another former Rushden & Diamonds legend in Andy Burgess, did a decent job in interim charge.
The club though will want to move on now having been at Step 3 level since 2018.
2021/22 Finishing Position: 6th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Ty Deacon
Watch Out For: Will Jones – teenage striker often used effectively as an impact substitute.
Alvechurch
A tremendous late surge to overhaul Diamonds and make the play-offs on the final day. Unfortunately, despite a brave effort, they came up against the force that is Peterborough Sports in the sem-finals!
Manager Ian Long once again proved how good he is working with limited resources and there’s little to suggest they won’t be up there challenging again in 2022/23.
2021/22 Finishing Position: 5th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Danny Waldron
Watch Out For: Zak Brown – 21-year-old attacking midfielder who notched 5 goals in 34 league games.
Banbury United
What can one add to what has already been said – a phenomenal season for Andy Whing’s side to finish well-clear as champions, a massive 23 points above second.
The Puritans posted 102 points and scored 92 goals, conceding only 32 in 40 league matches.
It will be interesting to see how Banbury cope in the Vanarama National League (North or South?).
2021/22 Finishing Position: 1st
FA Cup: First Round
FA Trophy: First Round
Top Scorer: Chris Wreh
Barwell
Flirted with relegation for a good deal of the second half of the season but were severely hampered by having to play all their league games away until November due to their new artificial pitch being laid.
Guy Hadland
Manager Guy Hadland has decided enough is enough and has left the Leicestershire outfit.
Many feel the Canaries are punching above their weight but they have some promising players and will have a new man at the helm before the start of the 2022/23 season.
Finishing Position: 19th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Ben Stephens
Watch Out For: Ben Stephens – if they can keep hold of the 24-year-old – he scored an amazing 24 goals in 33 league games in a struggling team.
Biggleswade Town
Suffered relegation after nine seasons in the Premier Division. Chris Nunn departed, and January saw former Hitchin Town favourite and Stevenage academy boss Robbie O’Keefe take over.
He was left with a very young side and limited resources to strengthen his squad.
A 5-1 win over Needham Market in March offered hope to Waders` supporters but only two points from the remaining eight games condemned them to Step 4 football next season.
Finishing Position: 20th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: First Round
Top Scorer: George Devine
Watch Out For: Midfielder Sam Squire
Bromsgrove Sporting
Expected by many pundits to challenge for at least a play-off spot this season and instead, only just avoided relegation!
November saw Gavin Hurren take the helm on a more permanent basis after doing well as interim manager following the departure of the previously hugely successful Brendan Kelly.
Hurren though has paid the price for the Rouslers` disappointing overall showing but there are bound to be plenty of candidates for the vacancy of a well-supported club.
Finishing Position: 18th
FA Cup: Fourth Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: First Round
Top Scorer: Callum Ebanks
Watch Out For: 19-year-old midfielder Josh Dugmore
Coalville Town
So near, yet so far for the Ravens, who again defied the odds to finish third, only a point behind Peterborough Sports.
After defeating Rushall Olympic in the play-off semi-final, Adam Stevens` side were dashed in the final at the Bee Arena by Jimmy Dean’s men.
But what a fantastic job Stevens has done since returning to the club in 2018, finishing sixth in his first season back and then looking good for promotion the following campaign before Covid struck.
There’s little to suggest another attempt at promotion wouldn’t be possible in 2022/23.
Finishing Position: 3rd
FA Cup: Second Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Tim Berridge
Watch Out For: Defender Jake Eggleton
Hednesford Town
The Pitmen will be disappointed they didn’t really offer a challenge to the top five, despite a decent start to the season.
But Keenen Meakin-Richards` men have been inconsistent which has cost them – a case in point being the final two matches when they lost 3-2 at home to Tamworth and then won 4-3 at Barwell on the final day!
They are a big club though and have a loyal support who will want to see their team challenging next term.
Finishing Position: 9th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Leroy Lita
Top Scorer: Leroy Lita
Watch Out For: 20-year-old midfielder Todd Parker who missed just one league game and contributed 7 goals.
Hitchin Town
It was definitely a nervy campaign for the Hertfordshire Canaries, whose last day win against Bromsgrove Sporting lifted them up to fifth-from-bottom spot.
A well-supported club, they really looked in danger of being relegated out of Step 3 for the first time since 2011.
But a crucial home win against fellow strugglers Lowestoft Town on April 2nd was decisive in the end.
Finishing Position: 17th
FA Cup: Second Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Jake Hutchinson
Watch Out For: Defender Alex Brown
Leiston
The Suffolk club finished fifth in the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2017/18 before being switched across the Pyramid by the FA the following season, and their seventh-place finish in 2021/22 represents their best placing as a Southern League club.
And Darren Eadie, the former Norwich City favourite, has done a marvellous job with a mostly young squad of players, flirting with a top five finish right to the end when they finished the campaign with three wins and two draws, including holding Peterborough Sports to a 0-0 draw on the final day.
Can they emulate that form in 2022/23 or, indeed, even improve on it?
Finishing Position: 7th
FA Cup: Third Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Second Round
Top Scorer: Will Davies
Watch Out For: 21-year-old attacking midfielder Finlay Barnes – 13 goals in 38 league matches.
Lowestoft Town
In contrast to their county neighbours Leiston, the Trawlerboys looked like being relegation candidates from very early on in the season.
Three successive defeats to open up the 2021/22 campaign with didn’t bode well and they finished up with just one win in their final eight games to end in bottom spot.
Like Leiston, Lowestoft have a small player catchment area and have also had to rely on promising youngsters.
It was back in 2008/09 that Jamie Godbold’s side last played at Step 4 level and they will be determined their stay at that level will be a short one.
Finishing Position: 21st
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Jake Reed
Watch Out For: 16-year-old striker Josh Harvey who played 29 games in total in 2021/22 and scored 7 times.
Needham Market
Lost their top finishing Suffolk Southern League side tag to Leiston in 2021/22 after finishing 12th but Kevin Horlock’s side enjoyed a tremendous and memorable campaign overall.
Their league standing probably suffered in the end due to their marvellous Buildbase FA Trophy run which finally came to an end at the quarter-final stage against National League title-chasers Stockport County.
Few would bet against them building a challenging squad for next season.
Finishing Position: 12th
FA Cup: Second Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Quarter-Final
Top Scorer: Luke Ingram
Watch Out For: 21-year-old youth product Noah Collard.
Nuneaton Borough
Another club who were predicted to do much better than they did in the end, only just avoiding relegation with a final day win at AFC Rushden & Diamonds helping them to climb to 16th and end the hosts` top five hopes into the bargain.
Having a point deducted could have proven costly for Jimmy Ginnelly’s side.
Much better will be expected from their loyal fans in 2021/22.
Finishing Position: 16th
FA Cup: Second Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: First Round
Top Scorer: Anthony Dwyer
Watch Out For: 20-year-old defender Camron McWilliams
Peterborough Sports
There’s not much to add to what has already been said about Peterborough Sports` remarkable climb through the non-League Pyramid!
Their play-off final win against Coalville brought a record crowd to the Bee Arena and has lifted Jimmy Dean’s men to Step 2 – just seven seasons after being in Step 6!
Jimmy Dean
We will wait to see whether they have overstretched themselves but there’s little doubt they’ll give it a go!
Finishing Position: 2nd
FA Cup: Fourth Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: First Round
Top Scorer: Josh McCammon
Redditch United
Matt Clarke’s first full season in charge at the Trico Stadium has been reasonably successful.
The Reds’ first aim was to ensure they didn’t flirt with relegation which they achieved.
However, with only neighbours Bromsgrove Sporting scoring fewer goals than Redditch, it’s clear where Clarke will be looking to strengthen in the summer if they are not to struggle.
Finishing Position: 15th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Dan Sweeney
Watch Out For: Young midfielder Luke Rowe
Royston Town
Steve Castle’s side once again proved their worth at Step 3 level with a solid league showing and winning the League Cup.
Although two seasons were lost to the pandemic of course, one has to give the Crows plenty of plaudits as since winning promotion in 2017, Castle’s side have finished 7th, 10th and now 8th which is a terrific achievement.
Can they push on?
Finishing Position: 8th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: First Round
Top Scorer: Brandon Adams
Watch Out For: Danny Newton
Rushall Olympic
Consistently good, the Pics failed to get past Coalville in the play-off semi-final but their record in both the Northern Premier League and Southern League since 2011 has to be admired.
Manager Liam McDonald will hope he is given the resources now to push on and challenge for the top spot next season.
Finishing Position: 4th
FA Cup: Second Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: First Round
Top Scorer: Danny Glover
Watch Out For: 23-year-old defender Reece Mitchell.
St Ives Town
When the vastly experienced Mike Ford was brought in to help young boss Ricky Marheineke in November, the Saints were in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom of the table.
They suffered defeats such as 7-1 at home to Royston and 5-1 at Banbury and, despite suffering another heavy 7-2 home loss to Peterborough Sports shortly after the arrival of Ford and Anton Sambrook, the new management trio gradually steered the Cambridgeshire side to safety and three wins and a draw in their last five games helped.
They admit to being a small fish in a big pond and will hope to continue to punch above their weight.
Finishing Position: 14th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Nabil Shariff
Watch Out For: Wide midfielder Tyrone Baker.
Stourbridge
The experienced Mark Yates left his post as manager at the War Memorial Athletic Ground in October and shortly afterwards, the club gambled on appointing untried former player favourites Leon Broadhurst and Stuart Pierpoint as joint bosses.
This was after a dreadful start to 2021/22 which saw the Glassboys fail to win their first nine league games and bow out of the FA Cup at the First Qualifying Round stage.
All this after they were expected by many to be challenging for a play-off spot!
Things improved under the rookie managers and they led them to a tremendous run in the Trophy, which finally came to an end in the Fifth Round against National League side Solihull Moors.
Their fanatical support though will be looking for much-improved league showing in 2022/23.
Finishing Position: 11th
FA Cup: First Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Fifth Round
Top Scorer: Reece Styche
Watch Out For: Ethan Moran
Stratford Town
Paul Davis was replaced as manager of the Bards in November by former England goalkeeper Tim Flowers after an indifferent start to the season and results such as a 7-1 hammering at Biggleswade and a 5-3 loss at lower league Cirencester Town in the League Cup.
And although Stratford never really threatened to find themselves in a relegation fight, they didn’t find any consistency and finished the campaign with just one win in their final seven games.
Flowers has now gone, so the new man will have the whole pre-season to build a squad capable of finishing in the top ten at least.
Finishing Position: 13th
FA Cup: First Round
FA Trophy: Third Qualifying Round
Top Scorer: Jack Storer
Watch Out For: Jack Storer
Tamworth
What looked like being a disastrous season for the Lambs ended up being a remarkable one!
When Andy Peaks made the shock decision to quit as the long-serving manager of AFC Rushden & Diamonds, he left a team in the promotion hunt to one in the relegation zone.
Due to the weather, he had to wait 14 days for his first game in charge – but for Lambs` fans, it was worth waiting for as they smashed Barwell 6-0!
Andy Peaks
The remaining twelve games saw Tamworth win five and draw seven to be unbeaten under Peaks` management!
Now fans will be expecting the team to be title challengers in 2022/23!
Finishing Position: 10th
FA Cup: Fourth Qualifying Round
FA Trophy: Second Round
Top Scorer: Dan Creaney
Watch Out For: Henri Wilder
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