Maidenhead United

22/23 Position: 20th

Founded: 1870

Nickname: The Magpies

Ground: York Road

Key Player: Ashley Nathaniel - George

Opening Fixtures:

Fylde (H)

Dorking (A)

Hartlepool (A)

Dagenham (H)

Oxford City (H)

The Odds:

Title: 100/1

Promotion: 50/1

Top 7: 10/1

Manager: Alan Devonshire

The oldest manager in the league, at 67, and also the most experienced manager in the league too. He has been managing since 1995, and was playing for West Ham as early as 1976; he really has been around the game for a long time. He has a bag of tricks, and each season he seems to pull them out to save part time Maidenhead from the drop.

Key Signing: Craig Ross

Not only do I believe that ANG is Maidenhead's best player, I also feel he is one of the best wingers in the league. At the very least he is one of the most exciting, with ANG ranking 3rd for Dribbles per 90. The 28 year old loves to take on the opposition full back, but there will be even more pressure on ANG to produce goals this season after Emile Acquah departed for the Football League. He only bagged 4 goals last season, so he will need to at least double that tally. But either way, he will be a lot of fun to watch again this year. Maidenhead lost both of their keepers last season, so an experienced and reliable shot stopper was top of the list. In former Woking keeper Ross they have found exactly that, with the 33 year old stopper already having over 390 career league games under his belt. He's well seasoned at the level, and he brings what Devonshire likes, especially in the core of his side; experience. I'd expect him to organise the defence and lead by example.

Last season they were less formidable, but in previous seasons Devonshire has enjoyed taking scalps off of the big teams.

Verdict:

Never bet against Alan Devonshire. Yet I am. I feel foolish doing it even now, but time runs out for every side eventually, and I feel this season might be the one for Maidenhead. Last season it was close; if the season had been a few games longer, I believe Torquay would have caught them. They lost all form at the end of the campaign, and have now lost some key players, not least top scorer Acquah.

Prediction: 22nd

Oldham

22/23 Position: 12th

Founded: 1895

Nickname: The Latics

Ground: Boundary Park

Key Player: Magnus Norman

Norman is one of the finest shot stoppers in the National League, and one who I find to also be one of the most underrated. Norman was an ever present in goal last term, something which earned him an England C call up before he had to pull out with injury. At 26 Norman is entering his prime years, and Oldham fans will be encouraged with the best yet to come. The big stopper had a strong debut campaign, playing 42 times, and he will build on that this term.

Key Signing: Shaun Hobson

Oldham lost their player of the season when Yarney left for Tranmere. But they’ve replaced him well, very well in fact; I believe in Shaun Hobson they might actually have a better player. It’s a move that works for the player, with a return to the North West always on the cards. Sides in EFL were very close to his signature, a sign of the positive place Oldham find themselves in. An athletic, confident defender who is very comfortable bringing the ball out.

Opening Fixtures:

Southend (A)

Aldershot (H)

Halifax (H)

Chesterfield (A)

Boreham Wood (A)

The Odds:

Title: 9/1

Promotion: 5/1

Top 7: 14/19

Manager: David Unsworth

Despite him turning it round and finishing the season extremely strongly, the jury is still out on David Unsworth. The 49 year old arrived with very little non league experience, and honestly it showed to begin with.

However, as he found his feet the results began to follow, and Oldham finished the season in strong form. He’s a highly rated coach, one who impressed at Everton, and he’s used those links to good effect thus far.

Verdict:

I’m sure there will be plenty of Oldham fans who will be disappointed with this one. That in itself is crazy to say when you consider it would be an 8 place improvement on last season. But expectation is high at Boundary Park, with Oldham once again one of the favourites for the title, with this year feeling more of a legitimate title challenge. They’ve got a well balanced side, full of playoff quality. Top 5 for me.

Prediction: 4th

Oxford City

22/23 Position: 3rd (NLS)

Founded: 1882

Nickname: The Hoops

Ground: Marsh Lane

Key Player: Zac McEachran

Part of the McEachran footballing brothers, 27 year old Zac may be playing at the lowest level, but he is arguably the one who is the most important player to his team. McEachran is the heartbeat of this Oxford City side, making everything tick. The former Chelsea youngster has made over 100 appearances for his hometown club, and his dazzling on the ball ability marks him out as a key player. He will be fun to watch this season, and I'd expect higher interest before the end of the season.

Key Signing: Tafari Moore

I've been really impressed with Oxford's recruitment, even if it has only been a few bodies through the door. They've taken advantage of their part time status and location, and have brought in some of the best part time players in non league. One such signing is that of Moore, who had an excellent season, making it into the NLS Team of the Season for his performances at LB for St Albans. What's even more impressive is that he is actually naturally a RB;

Opening Fixtures:

Aldershot (A)

Rochdale (H)

Chesterfield (H)

Halifax (A)

Maidenhead (A)

The Odds:

Title: 200/1

Promotion: 40/1

Top 7: 10/1

Manager: Ross Jenkins

32 year old Jenkins is undoubtedly the youngest manager in the league. He began coaching at 28, with Oxford City, after his career was cut short due to injury. Jenkins took charge on a full time basis in 2022, and in his first full season in charge he led the part time outfit to promotion. It's an incredibly quick rise, and it's certainly an impressive one from the former England youth international. If anyone can keep them up, it's him

Verdict:

It may seem like a bit of a cop out to pick one of the newly promoted sides to go straight back down, but considering the disparity in resources when compared to other sides at the level, it's really hard not to have them to go back down. They've only added a few players, and while they've been quality, I still feel they need more if they are to survive. They will be underdogs for sure, but they go down for me.

Prediction: 23rd

Rochdale

22/23 Position: 24th (L2)

Founded: 1907

Nickname: The Dale

Ground: Spotland Stadium

Key Player: Tyrese Sinclair

Opening Fixtures:

Ebbsfleet (H)

Oxford City (A)

Woking (A)

Eastleigh (H)

Bromley (H)

The Odds:

Title: 14/1

Promotion: 7/1

Top 7: 6/5

Manager: Jimmy McNulty

One of the youngest managers in the league, McNulty was still a player as recently as last season. He's been with the club for 8 years, and has witnessed the club's downfall from League 1 to the National League in that time too. Is he the right man for the job? Well, he knows the club well. I'd have perhaps said a more experienced boss would be the way to go, but since being given the job at the end of last season McNulty has done well, so who knows.

Key Signing: Kairo Mitchell

There were a few players I was optimistic would be massive players for Rochdale this season due to their success at this level last season. One was Toby Mullarkey, but he has departed for Grimsby, and another was Tahvon Campbell, who has been loaned to Wealdstone. The last remaining player who had big success last season was Sinclair. He had a brilliant time with Altrincham, scoring plenty and creating chances too. I was surprised they loaned him out in the first place, and he will come up big. Notts fans will likely laugh at this suggestion, but everywhere else at this level Mitchell has been a success. Last season he went on loan to Eastleigh, where he looked a formidable forward, one who is capable of getting amongst the goals. At his best he is a physical forward, an excellent athlete, and one who works really hard on and off the pitch. I won't sit here and say he will be the most prolific; he will waste chances. But he will score plenty too.

Verdict:

Rochdale fans might be disapointed with this prediction, but I do actually feel I've been slightly generous here. The step down into the National League is always a culture shock, and the quality of the league will really surprise the Dale. They have an inexperienced manager, a thin squad, and while they've made a few decent additions I still don't believe they have the strongest squad. Mid table would be a success.

Prediction: 18th