TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris
@steveharris84
AVELEY
One of two clubs in this year’s National League South that the Gulls have never faced before in a competitive fixture, Aveley won promotion from the Isthmian League Premier through the play-offs last season and are embarking on their first ever campaign in the NLS.
Manager: Danny Scopes
Notable former player(s): Micah Hyde (Cambridge United, Watford, Burnley)
Notable former manager(s): Keith Rowland (AFC Bournemouth, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers – as a player)
NLS Odds: 80/1
BATH CITY
A former opponent of the Gulls during their last campaign in the National League South, Bath City reached the play-offs in the division in 2018-19 and 2019-20, but haven’t managed to hit those heights since. However, they will be looking to build on last season’s promising 11th placed finish under long serving manager Jerry Gill.
Manager: Jerry Gill
Notable former player(s): Tony Book (Plymouth Argyle, Manchester City), Stan Mortensen (Blackpool, England), Alan Skirton (Arsenal, Blackpool, Bristol City, Torquay United)
Notable former manager(s): Malcolm Allison (Plymouth Argyle twice, Manchester City (twice), Crystal Palace, Galatasary, Sporting Lisbon)
NLS Odds: 33/1
BRAINTREE TOWN
Braintree Town and the Gulls met several times in the National League between 2014 and 2017, during which time the Iron finished third in the division in 2015-16 under Danny Cowley.
However, fast forward to the present day and under the guidance of Angelo Harrop, the son of former Gulls youth coach Geoff Harrop, Braintree made the play-offs last season and will be aiming to repeat the feat this season.
Manager: Angelo Harrop
Notable former player(s): Roger Osborne (Ipswich Town)
Notable former manager(s): Danny Cowley (Lincoln City, Huddersfield Town, Portsmouth)
NLS Odds: 20/1
CHELMSFORD CITY
Managed by former Exeter City striker Robbie Simpson, Chelmsford City finished fifth in National League South in the 2022-23 campaign.
The Clarets also have former Gulls loanee Jazzi Barnum-Bobb amongst their numbers and will be aiming to be there or thereabouts again.
Manager: Robbie Simpson
Notable former players(s): Len Goulden (West Ham United, Chelsea, England), Jimmy Greaves (Chelsea, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, England), Peter Taylor (Southend United, Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, England)
Notable former managers(s): Billy Walker (Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest)
NLS Odds: 16/1
CHIPPENHAM TOWN
One of the teams that the Gulls faced in the FA Trophy last season and they will lock horns again in the league in the 2023-24 campaign. The Bluebirds caused an upset in the FA Cup last season when they beat League One side Lincoln City in the first round.
Manager: Gary Horgan
Notable former player(s): Tyrone Mings (Ipswich Town, AFC Bournemouth, Aston Villa, England)
Notable former manager(s): Steve White (Bristol Rovers, Luton Town, Swindon Town, Hereford United, Cardiff City – player)
NLS Odds: 80/1
DARTFORD
Dartford finished as runners-up in the National League South last season, but couldn’t successfully navigate the play-offs. The Darts are managed by Alan Dowson, who led Woking to promotion from the division in 2018-19 alongside the Gulls, and he will be targeting a repeat of that achievement with Dartford in 2023-24.
Manager: Alan Dowson
Notable former player(s) Derek Hales (Charlton Athletic, West Ham United, Derby County)
Notable former manager(s) Peter Taylor (Southend United, Gillingham, Leicester City, Brighton and Hove Albion, Hull City, Crystal Palace, Stevenage, Bradford City), John Still (Maidstone United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Peterborough United, Barnet, Luton Town)
NLS Odds: 14/1
DOVER ATHLETIC
The Gulls’ first opponents have faced the Gulls a number of times in the National League and the Lillywhites are facing tough times. After narrowly avoiding relegation at last year, a number of players and coaches agreed to join Dover in the summer before swiftly making a u-turn – including assistant manager Lee Flavin and players Myles Judd, Ade Shokunbi and Ricky Holmes.
However, manager Mitch Brundle has managed to recruit former Gulls winger Iffy Allen as they bid to retain their National League South status again.
Manager: Mitch Brundle
Notable former players: Dave Leworthy (Tottenham Hotspur, Oxford United, Reading), Gerald Dobbs (Wimbledon)
Notable former managers: Peter Taylor (Southend United, Gillingham, Leicester City, Brighton and Hove Albion, Hull City, Crystal Palace, Stevenage, Bradford City, England Under-21s), Neville Southall (Bury, Everton, Stoke City, Torquay United, Wales – player)
NLS Odds: 80/1
EASTBOURNE BOROUGH
After being taken over by local businessman Simon Leslie in the summer, Eastbourne Borough have plenty of big ambitions after appointing Dorking Wanderers head coach Mark Beard as manager as successor to Danny Bloor.
The Sports missed out on the play-offs last season with an 8th placed finish, and will be looking to better that achievement in the 2022-23 campaign.
Manager: Mark Beard
Notable former player(s): Ashley Barnes (Plymouth Argyle, Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Norwich City)
Notable former manager(s): Mark McGhee (Reading, Leicester City, Wolves, Brighton and Hove Albion, Bristol Rovers, Motherwell, Aberdeen)
NLS Odds: 9/1
FARNBOROUGH
Torquay United fans of a certain age will remember Farnborough knocking the Gulls out of the FA Cup in the 1991-92 season 4-3 after a replay, and United will be facing them for the first time since.
Manager Spencer Day has recruited a number of players with National League experience including Joe Partington, Adam Mekki and Ryan Upward as they aim to improve on the 12th placed finish and reach the play-offs.
Manager: Spencer Day
Notable former player(s): Michael Kightly (Southend United, Wolves, Stoke City, Burnley), Paul Parker (Fulham, QPR, Manchester United, Derby County, Sheffield United), Maik Taylor (Barnet, Southampton, Birmingham City, Leeds United, Millwall, Northern Ireland)
Notable former manager(s) Graham Westley (Stevenage, Preston North End, Peterborough United, Newport County)
NLS Odds: 12/1
HAMPTON AND RICHMOND BOROUGH
Known as the Beavers, Hampton and Richmond Borough have the distinction of having a stand named after a sitcom writer in the form of Steptoe and Son co-creator Alan Simpson.
The Gulls needed a replay to see off Hampton and Richmond last season and their return meeting in the league will be eagerly anticipated.
Manager: Mel Gwinnett
Notable former player(s): Jamal Lowe (Portsmouth, Swansea City, Wigan Athletic, AFC Bournemouth)
Notable former manager(s): Alan Devonshire (Braintree Town, Maidenhead United)
NLS Odds: 20/1
HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE
Since they were relegated from the National League in the 2018-19 season, Havant and Waterlooville have flirted with a promotion from National League South a couple of times, but never quite managed to make the jump.
The Hawks are now managed by former defender Jamie Collins, who took charge after Paul Doswell was appointed as Director of Football, a role which Doswell has since stood down from.
Manager: Jamie Collins
Notable former player (s): Brian Stock (AFC Bournemouth, Burnley, Doncaster Rovers), Liam Daish (Cambridge United, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Republic of Ireland)
Notable former manager (s): Lee Bradbury (AFC Bournemouth, Eastleigh), Billy Gilbert (Crystal Palace
NLS Odds: 18/1
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN
The Tudors head into the 2023-24 campaign looking to improve on a 15th place finish from last season. Manager Brad Quinton is embarking on his first full season in charge and has previous experience of winning promotion from this level with Braintree in 2017-18, which should prove to be invaluable.
Manager: Brad Quinton
Notable former player(s): Lloyd Doyley (Watford)
Notable former manager(s): Dean Brennan (Barnet)
NLS Odds: 40/1
COYY – STEVE
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