With the new season upon us, let's go through the new teams who will join us in the forthcoming 2019/20 National League South.

We are halfway through the off-season period!, with our new season just upon us. Let's go through the new teams who will be joining the Bluebirds in the forthcoming 2019/20 National League South campaign.

Gloucester City have been transferred into the National League North for the new season, Gateshead were demoted to the North due to financial difficulties. Aldershot Town will remain in the Premier Division for this season, despite being relegated in the previous season.

Oxford City will remain in the South Division following their transferal to the North which was reversed.

Braintree Town
2018/19 League Position: 23rd
Manager: Glen Driver

Braintree join us in the NL South following their relegation from the Premier Division. The 2017–18 season saw the Irons finishing sixth in the National League South, qualifying for the play-offs, they defeated Hemel Hempstead Town and Dartford respectively to reach the final, in which they beat Hampton & Richmond Borough 4–3 on penalties to earn promotion back to the National League. They are one of the frontrunners to gain promotion back up to the Premier Division, proving a test for the Bluebirds.

Ones to watch: Tom Richardson

Dorking Wanderers
2018/19 League Position: 1st
Manager: Marc White

Dorking Wanderers won their 2018/19 Isthmian League title with 93 points, gaining automatic promotion to the National League South alongside Tonbridge Angels who join them in our division. Dorking gained promotion to the Isthmian Premier after winning their play-off final against Corinthian-Casuals in which they drew 0-0, winning 5-4 on penalties. Two seasons later, they won automatic promotion to the National League South, it will be the first time that we take on Dorking Wanderers from this season, so it should prove as a exciting few games for Chippenham.

Ones to watch: Jason Prior

Havant & Waterlooville
2018/19 League Position: 22nd
Manager: Paul Doswell

Havant are back in the National League South following their relegation from the Premier Division, the Hawks achieved a lot of success. Winning the 2016/17 Isthmian League title, and then winning the National League South in the 2017/18 season, gaining promotion to the National League Premier, the highest achievement in the clubs history. They finished 22nd in the previous season, being relegated back to the Southern Division. We faced Havant in our inaugural season, drawing 0-0 against them in our first National League season, we were beaten 4-0 in the reverse fixture in December 2017.

Ones to watch: Alfie Rutherford

Maidstone United
2018/19 League Position: 24th
Manager: Hakan Hayrettin

Maidstone finished in last place in the previous campaign, being relegated back to the National League South after their three year tenure in the National League Premier. The Stones achieved a lot of success, qualifying for the first round proper of the FA Cup where they lost 1–0 at home to former League Two side Yeovil Town in front of a record-breaking crowd of 2,811. They took on Chippenham in the fourth qualifying round of the competition where they won 2-0 to qualify for the 1st Round. They will be one of the teams to keep an eye out throughout the season alongside Braintree.

Ones to watch: Blair Turgott

Tonbridge Angels
2018/19 League Position: 4th
Manager: Steve McKimm

Tonbridge gained promotion to the National League South after their victory against Merstham which they won 2–0 at home in front of a crowd of 2,268 in the Isthmian Premier Division Play-off final. Due to a change in the National League structure for the 2018–19 season, this meant that Tonbridge would have to play a further 'Step 3 Super Play-off' final against the winners of the Southern Premier Division South Metropolitan Police. They ended up winning 3–2 after extra time away at Met's ground. This victory gained Tonbridge promotion to the National League South for the 2019–20 season.

Ones to watch: Sonny Miles

Weymouth
2018/19 League Position: 1st
Manager: Mark Molesley

Weymouth gained automatic promotion to the 2019/20 National League South after a nine year absence finishing with 86 points. The Terras spent many seasons in the Southern League alongside Chippenham Town until our promotion in the 2016/17 season, both sides enjoyed a lot of games throughout the past few seasons, most notably their win against Chippenham to qualify for the FA Trophy 2nd Round where they lost to Alfreton Town.

Ones to watch: Ollie Harfield

The 2019/20 Fixtures will be released on Wednesday 3rd July with our first game of the season set to take place on Saturday 3rd August.

Last edited by BlackpoolBluebird (18/6/2019 7:26 PM)