Football Season Guide

AFC Telford spent just an year in the lower division and are back in the Conference Premier after ending up as winners in the North section. The Bucks endured an absolute nightmare in their last campaign in the top-flight of non-league football and are now determined to stay on for longer and consolidate in the division. Liam Watson once again showed his great prowess as a manager at the Conference level and guided the team to the title which was not an easy task. The team started slowly but gathered momentum as the campaign went on and eventually held off the challenge of Hednesford and ended up as champions. It was not in the most convincing of styles but Watson has been always more about results rather than substance and will seek to maximise the potential of his players in the new division as well. It will be naturally a tough challenge to stay up and the Bucks do not look too convincing in terms of squad size and quality at the moment. Ryan Young, a very capable and much-liked keeper, has left the club whole Matty McGinn is another important summer departure. The new signings have not really caught the eye even though some of them are useful and efficient players. Steve Akrigg is a very good defender when fit, which is not too often, while Rod McDonald has also displayed good form at troubled Hereford last season. Godfrey Poku is reunited with Watson after the two worked very well at Southport a couple of years ago and he will offer muscle and thrust from midfield too. Yet, there is too little genuine width with Shaun Whalley back at his parent club and there will be too much pressure on Adam Farrell to deliver goals in abundance once again. He did that last season but has never really played at Conference Premier level and this is an areas where Telford need some strengthening. Overall, there is more to be done with regards to the squad and they Bucks may find it too hard to escape the drop.