DIV ONE WEST
IT wasn’t long after the final whistle at Wembley that Warrington Rylands‘ Northern Premier League challenge came into the mind of manager Dave McNabb.
In the post-match press conference, he talked about how pleased he was the up-and-coming club had completed a double of winning the FA Vase at Wembley just a few days after their promotion had been confirmed.
It will be a big test for the club, powered by super agent Paul Stretford and, in McNabb, with a man at the helm determined to keep pushing the club on.
They have lost star striker Elliot Nevitt, who scored a hat-trick in the win over Binfield, to League outfit Tranmere Rovers.
There’s been some changes at clubs who were among the early pacesetters of last year’s curtailed season. Ramsbottom United, second when Covid stopped play, were level on points with Workington.
With boss Danny Grainger moving on, the Reds swooped quickly for Rammy chief Chris Willcock. At Glossop North End, he won the Step 5 title and took his side to Wembley in the Vase. Now he’ll be looking to put his new club in the mix to rediscover former glories.
Clitheroe, fourth when the season was curtailed, have also had a dug-out change with former Chester midfielder Gary Stopforth becoming player-manager alongside Billy Priestley. The pair have just seen Step 5 Macclesfield pay an undisclosed fee for striker Kielen Adams.
They replace David Lynch, who has since signed for Marine under Neil Young. Their FA Cup exploits catapulted them into the national spotlight as they took on Spurs in the third round.
Runcorn Linnets look to have real potential under talented young boss Calum McIntyre in a division that will, along with Rylands, sees 1874 Northwich and Bootle step up from Step 5.
