The full 2022/23 National League North line-up is complete, with an expanded division of 24 teams set to make it the biggest season to date since Moors were promoted to step six in 2017.
Spennymoor will embark on new journeys and meet some familiar foes from August onwards, with five new teams adding to an already hugely competitive pool of teams.
DEPARTURES
Gateshead, Guiseley, York City
Gateshead, promoted as champions in 2021/22, along with York City, who beat Boston United 2-0 in the Play-Off final, will play in the National League next season.
The Heed, led by Mike Williamson and Ian Watson, accumulated 94 points and were one goal shy of a century as they capitalised on Brackley’s late loss of momentum to finish seven points ahead of The Saints.
Brackley were beaten by eventual Play-Off victors York, who, after taking 11 points from final five league fixtures, utilised their momentum to eventually beat Boston.
The Pilgrims have now lost two Play-Off finals in a row after being pipped by Altrincham in 2020.
At the other end of the table, Guiseley’s National League North status slipped away in the final moments of the campaign courtesy of two late Alfreton Town goals.
The Lions were on course to survive and swap positions with Farsley Celtic on a dramatic final day, only for Conor Branson and Yusifu Ceesay to intervene.
ARRIVALS
Banbury United, Buxton, King’s Lynn, Peterborough Sports, Scarborough Athletic
Some new faces will be applying their trade in the National League North for the first time in 2022/23.
King’s Lynn are returning to the division following two years of National League football, having been promoted at the first attempt courtesy of PPG in the 2019/20 season.
The Linnets finished 21st and ended the campaign nine points adrift of Aldershot.
Moors drew 2-2 at The Brewery Field before a 3-0 loss in the reverse fixture when the sides encountered each other for the first time in 2019.
Buxton will be playing at the highest level in their history after claiming the Northern Premier League title, finishing two points ahead of nearest rivals South Shields.
Moors last met Buxton in the promotion winning season of 2016/17, with both games ending in a draw – 2-2 in Derbyshire courtesy of a rare Jamie Chandler brace, followed by a 1-1 stalemate at The Brewery Field.
The Bucks will be led by former Chorley manager Jamie Vermiglio following the resignation of Steve Cunningham after the conclusion of their title winning season.
Having lost relatively short trips to York City and Guiseley, along with North East neighbours Gateshead, the introduction of Scarborough Athletic into the league is a welcome sight for the mileage meter.
Utilising a surge of late season momentum which harnessed three consecutive wins, The Seadogs beat Matlock and Warrington to seal their spot at the next level.
Moors will meet two new opponents for the first time next campaign, with Peterborough Sports and Banbury United dining at step six of the English football pyramid for the first time in their respective history’s.
Both clubs join from the Southern League Central Division, with Banbury running away with the league crown after amassing 102 points, losing just two of 40 games and scoring 92 goals.
Peterborough ended the season in 2nd, albeit 23 points away from the excellent Banbury, navigating past Alvechurch and Coalville in the play-off lottery.
THE NUMBERS
More miles than ever before!
Spennymoor will visit 19 counties and cover more than 7000 miles over the 2022/23 campaign – the highest figure since promotion in 2017/18.
Moors’ shortest journey will be to Blackwell Meadows, home of Darlington, at a mere 28-mile round trip, with both Hereford and Gloucester sharing the accolade of the longest round trip of 492 miles respectively.
A total of 7,010 miles will be clocked up over the season heading to the likes of Norfolk, Cheshire and Warwickshire, as well as potential cup ties.
That mileage will equate to around 135 hours in travel time, or more specifically, 8,118 minutes.
Lincoln Road, home of Peterborough Sports, and the Spencer Stadium, occupied by Banbury United, are the two new ground Moors will be visiting across the country.
