Preview: 2024/25 National League North

The 2024/25 National League North season will begin on Saturday 10 August.

Warrington Town begin their second season in the division away at King’s Lynn Town as Mark Beesley’s side look to build on their 12th-placed finish last term.

The Yellows will compete against 23 other teams for a place in the National League in 2025/26. Below, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about the other sides in the division this season. 

Alfreton Town

• Nickname: The Reds 
• Stadium: Impact Arena
• Capacity: 3,600 (1,500 seated)
• Last season’s league position: 5th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 83 miles
• Last season’s results: Drew 1-1 (A), Drew 2-2 (H)
• When we meet this season: 09/11/24 (H), 01/03/25 (A)

The Derbyshire-based side secured back-to-back 5th-placed finishes in the National League North in 2023/24. Last season, they were defeated on penalties in the play-offs to eventual winners Boston United.

The club continued to progress under manager Elliot Heath, reaching the FA Cup second round last season. Expect the Reds to be in the play-off picture for the third season running.

Brackley Town

• Nickname: The Saints
• Stadium: St James Park
• Capacity: 3,500 (300 seated)
• Last season’s league position: 3rd
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 132 miles
• Last season’s results: Lost 2-0 (A), Drew 2-2 (H)
• When we meet this season: 05/11/24 (A), 12/04/25 (H)

Brackley Town has been one of the better sides in the National League North for several seasons, appearing in the last six play-off campaigns. Last season, they were defeated in the play-off final for the second season in a row, this time to Boston.

The Saints went 11 games unbeaten at the end of last season, and after another season of play-off heartbreak, they’ll be eager to achieve automatic promotion this time around.

Buxton

• Nickname: The Bucks
• Stadium: Silverlands
• Capacity: 4,000 (490 seated)
• Last season’s league position: 14th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 37 miles
• Last season’s results: Won 1-0 (H), Won 6-0 (A)
• When we meet this season: 21/12/24 (H), 26/04/25 (A)

The Bucks’ second season in the National League North saw them drop three places from their debut campaign. However, they remained incredibly entertaining, scoring the seventh-most goals in the division with 70.

With Joe McGrath at the helm following Craig Elliot’s decision to step down at the end of last season, Bucks fans will be hoping that he can continue the trend of solidifying their position as Step 2 regulars.

Chester

• Nickname: The Seals
• Stadium: Deva Stadium
• Capacity: 6,500
• Last season’s league position: 10th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 25 miles
• Last season’s results: Lost 2-0 (A), Won 1-0 (H)
• When we meet this season: 30/11/24 (H), 11/03/25 (A)

Chester were unable to replace the goals of Kurt Willoughby last season, with midfielder George Glendon’s 12 leading the side as they failed to achieve back-to-back play-off finishes.

The Seals were still only six points behind Curzon Ashton in seventh and still look like a promising outfit under the guidance of young manager Callum McIntyre.

They have bolstered their squad with experienced National League players, such as versatile midfielder Mitch Hancox from last season’s play-off semi-finalists Altrincham. Add into the mix the return of key forward Willoughby on loan, and the club look to be heading in the right direction. 

Chorley

• Nickname: The Magpies
• Stadium: Victory Park
• Capacity: 4,300 (975 seated)
• Last season’s league position: 4th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 29 miles
• Last season’s results: Won 1-0 (A), Won 2-1 (H)
• When we meet this season: 05/10/24 (A), 22/02/25 (H)

Despite the Yellows doing the double over Chorley, the Magpies had an incredible season, scoring 81 goals and winning 10 of their last 13 league games to reach the play-off semi-finals, losing to Brackley Town.

This summer, however, has seen Carlton Ubaezuonu, Justin Johnson, and Jack Hazleshurst all depart. The trio each scored over 10 goals in the National League North last season, netting 39 between them.

Andy Preece has been working hard to replace his goalscorers, with Jack Rice and former Rylands man Mo Touray amongst their arrivals.

Curzon Ashton

• Nickname: The Nash
• Stadium: Tameside Stadium
• Capacity: 3,000
• Last season’s league position: 7th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 27 miles
• Last season’s results: Lost 4-1 (H), Lost 3-2 (H – FA Cup), Won 3-0 (A)
• When we meet this season: 02/11/24 (H), 05/04/25 (A)

Curzon Ashton recorded the best finish in their history last season, reaching the play-offs for the first time  at Step 2, before losing out on penalties to Chorley. 

The core of their squad has remained under player-manager Craig Mahon, and with additions such as last season’s top-scorer at the Cal.Delivery Stadium, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, they’ll be aiming to make it back-to-back top seven finishes.

Darlington

• Nickname: The Quakers
• Stadium: Blackwell Meadows
• Capacity: 3,300
• Last season’s league position: 16th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 129 miles
• Last season’s results: Drew 1-1 (A), Lost 3-1 (H)
• When we meet this season: 26/10/24 (A), 29/03/25 (H)

A poor run at the start of the season, which saw Darlo win just one of their opening 15 league games, meant that they wouldn’t be aiming to build on a 202/23 season which saw them finish a point outside the play-offs.

Under Steve Watson, Darlington won 12 games during the second half of the season, finishing six points clear of the bottom four.

With Watson signing a two-year extension and plenty of defensive experience being added during the summer, with Scott Barrow and Peter Jameson returning to the club, they’ll look to pick up where they left off last season.

Farsley Celtic

• Nickname: The Celt Army
• Stadium: The Citadel
• Capacity: 4,000 (300 seated)
• Last season’s league position: 20th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 61 miles
• Last season’s results: Drew 1-1 (H), Won 2-0 (A)
• When we meet this season: 26/08/24 (A), 25/01/25 (H)

For the second season in a row, Farsley Celtic finished one place above relegation. They won two of their last three games to secure survival, including a final-day win over Buxton that lifted them out of the drop zone.

Player-coach Clayton Donaldson has bolstered the squad with the likes of Spennymoor Town midfield duo Danny Greenfield and Sam Fielding, as he aims to guide his team to a more straightforward survival this season.

Hereford

• Nickname: The Bulls
• Stadium: Edgar Street
• Capacity: 5,250
• Last season’s league position: 11th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 115 miles
• Last season’s results: Lost 2-1 (H), Lost 2-1 (A)
• When we meet this season: 22/10/24 (H), 11/01/25 (A)

Hereford found themselves back in the top half of the National League North table last season, finishing six points off of the play-offs in Paul Caddis’ first season in management.

Onto this year, and striker Montel Gibson arrives from Telford having netted 17 in 34 in the Southern League Premier Division last season.

Many will be looking at him to provide the goals to send the Bulls into play-off contention in the National League North for the first time.

Kidderminster Harriers

• Nickname: The Carpetmen
• Stadium: Aggborough
• Capacity: 6,444
• Last season’s league position: 22nd (National League)
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 89 miles
• Last season’s results: N/A
• When we meet this season: 24/08/24 (H), 18/01/25 (A)

Kidderminster were relegated from the National League last season, despite conceding only 59 goals – the fifth-best defence in the division, and six goals less than runaway champions Chesterfield.

Evidently, the Harriers’ attack is their main issue, scoring only 40 goals last season. Even in their promotion season from the National League North in 2022/23, they scored only 49 goals – the joint-fifth lowest in the division.

Kidderminster ended up in the play-offs in each of their last three seasons in the National League North, so expect them to look to bounce back to the National League at the first attempt.

King’s Lynn Town

• Nickname: The Linnets
• Stadium: The Walks
• Capacity: 8,200 (1,200 seated)
• Last season’s league position: 18th
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 165 miles
• Last season’s results: Won 1-0 (H), Drew 0-0 (A)
• When we meet this season: 10/08/24 (A), 04/01/25 (H)

Despite finishing runners-up two seasons ago, a slow start under Mark Hughes immediately condemned the Linnets to a drop-off season, finishing only five points above the relegation places.

However, they’ve recruited well this summer, bringing in solid National League North midfielders Josh Hnami and Josh McCammon, as well as making Greg Taylor’s loan deal from Woking permanent.

They showed glimpses of their 2022/23 selves, going on a 12-game unbeaten run between February and April to consolidate their place in the division this season, but then failed to win their following final six league games.

Manager Adam Lakeland will have hoped to iron out the inconsistencies ahead of the opening game against Mark Beesley’s Yellows on August 10.

Leamington

• Nickname: The Brakes
• Stadium: New Windmill Ground
• Capacity: 2,300 (294 seated)
• Last season’s league position: 3rd (Southern Premier League Central)
• Distance to the Cal.Delivery Stadium: 112 miles
• Last season’s result: N/A
• When we meet this season: 03/09/24 (H), 11/02/25 (A)

Leamington secured an immediate return to the National League North last season after defeating Telford in the Southern Premier Division play-off final.

The resignation of Coalville Town from the Southern Premier League allowed Leamington to upgrade their side too, bringing in midfielder Joe Doyle-Charles and striker Tim Berridge, who scored over 100 goals in six seasons for the Ravens.