TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris
@steveharris84
MAIDSTONE UNITED
Maidstone were relegated with the Gulls last season and have kept faith with manager George Elokobi, who has looked to have a clear out over the summer.
A number of players have departed the Gallagher Stadium, including Regan Booty and Roarie Deacon, but Elokobi has looked to recruit a number of new faces such as Razzaq Coleman who will hopefully freshen things up for the Stones.
Manager: George Elokobi
Notable former player(s): Warren Barton (Wimbledon, Newcastle United, Derby County, England), Chris Smalling (Fulham, Manchester United, Roma, England)
Notable former manager(s): Keith Peacock (Gillingham)
NLS Odds: 12/1
SLOUGH TOWN
Slough Town will be on the lookout for a new goal scorer after former Gulls’ striker Elliot Benyon announced his departure from the club. The former United player of the year and leading scorer from the 2009-10 season, who enjoyed two spells at Plainmoor, had been a prolific scorer in the National League South for a number of years.
The Rebels are currently managed by former Reading and Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Scott Davies, who is one of only two player-managers in the division.
Manager: Scott Davies
Notable former player(s): Lloyd Owusu (Brentford, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading),
Notable former manager(s): David Kemp (Plymouth Argyle), Brian McDermott (Reading, Leeds United)
NLS Odds: 66/1
ST ALBANS CITY
St Albans were United’s final opponents in their National League South title winning campaign in 2018-19, which saw the Gulls come away from Clarence Park with a 4-0 win. St Albans lost in last season’s NLS play-off final to Oxford City. The Saints are managed by David Noble, who played under Gulls boss Gary Johnson at Bristol City, and will be aiming to reach the play-offs again.
Manager: David Noble
Notable former player(s): Paul Furlong (Coventry City, Watford, Chelsea, Birmingham City)
Notable former manager(s): Frank Soo (Padova, Norway)
NLS Odds: 22/1
TAUNTON TOWN
The Gulls’ meeting with Taunton Town in the FA Trophy was the first competitive meeting between the two sides and they will be going to head to head in the league for the first time ever in 2023-24.
The Gulls have a strong connection with the Peacocks, as their FA Vase winning side of the 2000-01 season, managed by former United player and coach Russell Musker, featured several former United players.
Amongst Taunton summer signings was former Gulls’ keeper Dan Lavercombe, who returns to the South West after spending much of his career in the North West since leaving the Gulls for Wigan Athletic in January 2016.
Manager: Rob Dray
Notable former player(s): Mark Loram (Queens Park Rangers, Torquay United, Stockport County, Exeter City), Chris Myers (Torquay United, Dundee United, Exeter City), Alex Watson (Liverpool, AFC Bournemouth, Torquay United, Exeter City)
Notable former manager(s): Frank Bradshaw (Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal, Everton, England – as a player)
NLS Odds: 80/1
TONBRIDGE ANGELS
Tonbridge Angels achieved their best ever finish in National League South of ninth in the 2022-23 campaign, and are aiming to build on that this time around.
Manager Jay Saunders has drafted in the experienced Stefan Payne, who counts Shrewsbury Town and Chesterfield amongst former clubs, as they aim to achieve that objective.
Manager: Jay Saunders
Notable former player(s): Malcolm MacDonald (Luton Town, Fulham, Newcastle United, Arsenal, England), Roy Hodgson (Malmo, Neuchatel Xamax, Switzerland, Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Finland, Fulham, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion, England, Crystal Palace – as a manager)
Notable former manager(s): Jack Tresarden (Burnley, West Ham United, England)
NLS Odds: 28/1
TRURO CITY
The White Tigers won the Southern League Premier play-offs last season and will be ground sharing at Bolitho Park with Plymouth Parkway, after famously acting as tenants to the Gulls in the 2018-19 season.
Managed by former Plymouth Argyle stalwart Paul Wotton, the Truro side contains a sprinkling of former Argyle players, including Ryan Law, Tyler Harvey and Dan Rooney as well as former United youngster Dan Sullivan.
United will be facing the White Tigers home and away over the festive period on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day respectively.
Manager: Paul Wotton
Notable former player(s): Barry Hayles (Stevenage, Bristol Rovers, Fulham, Millwall, Plymouth Argyle, Leicester City, Jamaica)
Notable former manager(s): Alex Govan (Plymouth Argyle, Birmingham City Portsmouth – as a player)
NLS Odds: 50/1
WELLING UNITED
The close season saw Warren Feeney leave his post as manager to take over the managerial reins of Northern Irish side Glentoran and former Eastbourne boss Danny Bloor was appointed as his successor. Bloor will be looking improve on what was disappointing 16th place finish in the league.
Manager: Danny Bloor
Notable former player(s): Danny Dichio (Queens Park Rangers, Sampdoria, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion), Brian Statham (Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Gillingham), Terry Skiverton (Chelsea, Wycombe Wanderers, Yeovil Town)
Notable former manager(s): Kevin Hales (Chelsea, Leyton Orient – as a player)
NLS Odds: 40/1
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
The Seagulls returned to National League South as champions of the Southern League Premier South, and will be looking to do more than just make up the numbers.
Former Forest Green Rovers attacker Dayle Grubb, who is currently in his second spell with Weston, and former Gulls, Yeovil Town, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City striker Reuben Reid are amongst their players to watch.
Manager: Scott Bartlett
Notable former player(s): Ollie Watkins (Exeter City, Brentford, Aston Villa)
Notable former manager(s): Tommy Rudkin (Arsenal, Southampton, Bristol City)
NLS Odds: 50/1
WEYMOUTH
After completing a ‘great escape’ to avoid relegation last season, Weymouth will be aiming to kick on in the 2023-24 campaign.
The Terras have moved to replace Plainmoor bound Brad Ash, who netted 18 times for them in all competitions, with Brandon Goodship who returns to the Bob Lucas Stadium for a second spell.
Manager: Bobby Wilkinson
Notable former player(s): Steve Claridge (Aldershot, Cambridge United, Luton Town, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Millwall, Portsmouth), Andy Townsend (Norwich City, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Republic of Ireland)
Notable former manager(s) Frank O’Farrell (Torquay United three times, Leicester City, Manchester United, Cardiff City, Iran)
NLS Odds: 50/1
WORTHING
Sussex side Worthing will be the first side to visit Plainmoor when they line-up against the Gulls on August 12.
The Mackerel men are managed by Adam Hinshelwood, who has a number of family connections with the Gulls, as his cousin, Danny Hinshelwood, joined the Gulls on loan from Portsmouth in the 1996-97 season and his brother, Paul Hinshelwood, played for United during the 2007-08 campaign.
Manager: Adam Hinshelwood
Notable former player(s): Gerry Armstrong (Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, Real Mallorca, West Bromwich Albion)
Notable former manager(s): Barry Lloyd (Brighton and Hove Albion)
NLS Odds: 18/1
YEOVIL TOWN
Having previously Yeovil Town in the Football League, the National League, the FA Cup and the EFL Trophy, the Gulls are more familiar with the Glovers than any other side that they will be lining up against this season.
Following their summer takeover by local businessman Martin Hellier, Yeovil are targeting an immediate return to the National League and manager Mark Cooper has brought in a number of new faces, including Jake Hyde, Rhys Murphy and former Gulls striker Frank Nouble.
Should Cooper lead the Glovers back to the National League, he will become the first manager to win promotion from both National League North and South after winning promotion from National League North with Kettering Town in 2007-08.
Manager: Mark Cooper
Notable former player(s): John McGinley (Millwall, Bolton Wanderers), Gavin Williams (West Ham United, Ipswich Town, Bristol City), Marcus Stewart (Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town, Sunderland), Luke Ayling (Bristol City, Leeds United)
Notable former manager(s): Alec Stock (Leyton Orient, Queens Park Rangers, Luton Town, Fulham, Roma), Gary Johnson (Bristol City, Peterborough United, Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town, Torquay United)
NLS Odds: 7/2
COYY – STEVE
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