Of course, Torquay are the Johnny Big Bollocks in this division and have shown that they are "too big for this division" already by having Plainmoor host everyone twice this season with Truro also playing there. This means a 200 mile round trip for their supporters but a 160 mile shorter round trip for everyone else. We are playing Torquay nice and early a week Tuesday and there is a supporters coach (there be monsters and an alcohol ban) going from 11am so that people can go to the beach. There is something appealing about it in a "Heart Of Darkness" manner and I may recount my trip on here after.
Aside from that, we have a reasonably good squad of contracted players that should get us to the play-off positions or thereabouts. We play two teams defeated in play-offs - Dartford and Hamton & Richmond - and another relegated - Torquay - so a potentially difficult start. We also have the very real prospect of only one home game in October.
As far as the rest of the division is concerned, Torquay and Woking have got to look favourites - unless there has been some financial crashes at either of those that I am not aware of. Although Truro just missed out in the play-offs, I can't see them doing well with this ground share going on. Of interest, of course, is Dulwich Hamlet coming up but I don't think they travel well. Our away game against them is on the 5th January so I may try and make a visit. Chippenham have their usual raft of players that they have got off us over the summer but only one, Jack Compton is a real loss. However, I expect all of them to score against us - probably at Twerton Park if last season's reverse hammerings are anything to go by.Very pleased to see them in the same division as us as we missed out on Hereford United. Billericay are, of course, the massive spenders in the league so they will be near the top.
Here are the bookies predictions. The pessimist in me puts us sneaking in a 7 and Torquay higher but I may have missed something with them. I think that this is before Truro's ground share announcement as, as I say, I think that will hit them hard.
Billericay
Dartford
Woking
Chelmsford
Torquay
Bath City
Hampton and Richmond
Concord Rangers
Hemel Hempstead Town
Welling
St Albans
Wealdstone
Slough
Dulwich
Oxford City
Truro City
Chippenham Town
Weston Super Mare
Eastbourne Borough
East Thurrock United
Gloucester City
Hungerford Town
Aside from that, we have a reasonably good squad of contracted players that should get us to the play-off positions or thereabouts. We play two teams defeated in play-offs - Dartford and Hamton & Richmond - and another relegated - Torquay - so a potentially difficult start. We also have the very real prospect of only one home game in October.
As far as the rest of the division is concerned, Torquay and Woking have got to look favourites - unless there has been some financial crashes at either of those that I am not aware of. Although Truro just missed out in the play-offs, I can't see them doing well with this ground share going on. Of interest, of course, is Dulwich Hamlet coming up but I don't think they travel well. Our away game against them is on the 5th January so I may try and make a visit. Chippenham have their usual raft of players that they have got off us over the summer but only one, Jack Compton is a real loss. However, I expect all of them to score against us - probably at Twerton Park if last season's reverse hammerings are anything to go by.Very pleased to see them in the same division as us as we missed out on Hereford United. Billericay are, of course, the massive spenders in the league so they will be near the top.
Here are the bookies predictions. The pessimist in me puts us sneaking in a 7 and Torquay higher but I may have missed something with them. I think that this is before Truro's ground share announcement as, as I say, I think that will hit them hard.
Billericay
Dartford
Woking
Chelmsford
Torquay
Bath City
Hampton and Richmond
Concord Rangers
Hemel Hempstead Town
Welling
St Albans
Wealdstone
Slough
Dulwich
Oxford City
Truro City
Chippenham Town
Weston Super Mare
Eastbourne Borough
East Thurrock United
Gloucester City
Hungerford Town
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