Steve KING
There was, for me, only ever going to be one National League winner this season – and Chesterfield have won the title by some margin.
To be 20 points ahead at this stage of the campaign is amazing. To put it into context, the margin is seven wins more than anyone else so far. Paul Cook deserves so much credit.
It’s hard to come back from a narrow play-off final defeat like they had last season at Wembley to Notts County. Mentally it can either throw you or galvanise you.
I’ve also got to mention one of my ex-players and friend Dean Brennan. He’s doing a fantastic job at Barnet. To have lost out to Boreham Wood in the Eliminator last year and then to be in the top three for the whole of this season, is a great achievement. I hope they do really well in the play-offs and I’ll be watching with real interest.
The same goes for Bromley, who have been so consistent and are fighting for second place – it would be their highest ever finish – and they’re already in the FA Trophy semi-final.
I’ve seen a lot of National League games this season – and some very talented players.
Marcus Dinanga at Gateshead for one. He was with me at Dartford, on loan from Altrincham, a couple of years ago. Honestly, I think they will do well to keep hold of him this summer. He’s got a bit of everything, an eye for goal and, even more importantly, he’s a good person. He could make the step up no problem. As could FC Halifax Town’s Andrew Oluwabori. He’s really stood out when I’ve seen him. So has Tyrese Shade, who is on loan at Solihull Moors from Swindon Town. His Moors’ team-mate, Joe Sbarra and Altrincham’s Chris Conn-Clarke are fantastic players too.
Josh Stokes at Aldershot and Fylde’s Nick Haughton always impress, Callum Stead has hit double figures at Barnet – from out wide – and my former player Noor Husin, at Southend, is a great talent. Then Armando Dobra at Chesterfield – wow!
That’s just to name a few of the players who have shone.
Recruitment is absolutely key in football. I remember my Macclesfield Town team a few years back – I had to totally rebuild it after they fell out of the Football League. We had a great season, making history, reaching the FA Cup fourth round by beating a Premier League-bound Cardiff City and losing 1-0 to Wigan, who went on to win it.
At the end of my year in charge, 15 players went back into the Football League!
That shows if you get the recruitment right, you’ve got half a chance.
Of course, for every successful team pushing for promotion, there are others battling it out at the bottom.
Oxford City found it tough in their first season at the level. B
