News

Vanarama National League 2015-16 – Pt 1

With the new Vanarama National League fixtures released at 1pm on Friday, we take a look at who The Shots will be facing in 2015-16, and remember a few classic encounters from the past…

 

Altrincham

Stadium: J.Davidson Stadium

Address: Moss Lane, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 8AP

Miles: 210

Manager: Lee Sinnott

Last season: 17th in Vanarama Conference, 56 points

Top scorer: Damian Reeves (18)

Website: www.altrinchamfc.co.uk

Twitter: @altrinchamfc

Played for Both: Lewis Chalmers – combative midfielder who made 152 appearances for The Shots between 2007 and 2010, scoring 7 goals

We’ve Met Before: 22 March 2008 – Anthony Charles and Scott Davies helped The Shots come from behind to earn a 2-1 win on their way to the Blue Square Premier title

 

Barrow AFC:

Stadium: Furness Building Society Stadium

Address: Wilkie Road, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA14 5UW

Miles: 308

Manager: Darren Edmondson

Last season: Vanarama Conference North champions, 87 points

Top scorer: Andy Cook (23)

Website: www.barrowafc.com

Twitter: @BarrowAFC

Played for Both: John Grant – talismanic striker who fired The Shots to the Blue Square Premier title, scoring 54 goals in 122 appearances between July 2006 and May 2010.

We’ve Met Before: 3 January 1959 – goals from Robbie Stepney, Dennis Pacey and Arthur Tyrer with two gave The Shots a 4-3 away win

 

Boreham Wood:

Stadium: Meadow Park

Address: Broughinge Road, Boreham Wood, Herts WD6 5AL

Miles: 51

Manager: Ian Allinson

Last season: 2nd in Vanarama Conference South, 75pts, Play-Off Final winners

Top scorer: Lee Angol (23)

Website: www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk

Twitter: @BOREHAM_WOODFC

Played for Both: Leon Townley – imposing defender made 43 appearances and scored just one goal for The Shots between August 2001 and April 2002

We’ve Met Before: 7 November 1998 – Roy Young scores a 12-minute hat-trick and Gary Abbott also nets three as The Shots run riot in a 6-0 home win

 

Braintree Town:

Stadium: Miles Smith Stadium

Address: Clockhouse Way, Braintree, Essex CM7 3RD

Miles: 102

Manager: Danny Cowley

Last season: 14th in Vanarama Conference, 59 points

Top scorer: Jordan Cox (10)

Website: www.braintreetownfc.org.uk

Twitter: @braintreetownfc

Played for Both: Nomadic striker Bertie Brayley, who made 5 appearances for The Shots in August 2005

We’ve Met Before: 1 September 2001 – Holsgrove, Payne, Browne and Forrester help The Shots to a 4-0 Ryman Premier League victory

National League badges 2015-16 part 2 

Bromley:

Stadium: Fortress Stadium

Address: Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF

Miles: 50

Manager: Mark Goldberg

Last season: Vanarama Conference South champions, 77 points

Top scorer: Moses Ademola (15)

Website: www.bromleyfc.tv

Twitter: @bromleyfc

Played for Both: Striker Jamie Slabber, whose five appearances for The Shots can be distilled into one memorable moment – the injury-time header which forced extra-time in the 2005 Play-Off semi-final second leg against Carlisle United

We’ve Met Before: 8 April 1999 – 45 year-old goalkeeper Paul Priddy was forced out of retirement for this Ryman League Cup semi-final second leg as Gary Abbott’s 116th-minute goal finally secured a 4-3 aggregate win

 

Cheltenham Town:

Stadium: Abbey Business Stadium

Address: Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, Glos GL52 5NA

Miles: 99

Manager: Gary Johnson

Last season: relegated from League Two in 23rd place, 41 points

Top scorer: Wes Burns (4)

Website: www.ctfc.com

Twitter: @CTFCofficial

Played for Both: Jermaine McGlashan – quicksilver winger made 75 appearances and scored 5 goals for The Shots between July 2010 and January 2012

We’ve Met Before: 24 April 2010 – Dean Morgan’s brilliant individual late winner sparked bedlam in the away end and catapulted The Shots into the League Two Play-Offs

 

Chester:

Stadium: The Swansway Chester Stadium

Address: Bumpers Lane, Chester CH1 4LT

Miles: 215

Manager: Steve Burr

Last season: 12th in Vanarama Conference, 63 points

Top scorer: John Rooney (11)

Website: www.chesterfc.com

Twitter: @ChesterFC

Played for Both: Chris Blackburn – laid-back and versatile defender made 127 appearances for The Shots from 2008 – 2010

We’ve Met Before: 6 April 2004 – The Blues were well on their way to promotion to the Football League, and The Shots – who had Dean Hooper sent-off and saw Ray Warburton twice hit in the chest by a fiercely-struck free-kick – did well to escape with a 4-2 defeat

 

Dover Athletic:

Stadium: The Crabble Athletic Ground

Address: Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB

Miles: 107

Manager: Chris Kinnear

Last season: 8th in Vanarama Conference, 68 points

Top scorer: Stefan Payne (15)

Website: www.doverathletic.com

Twitter: @DoverAthletic

Played for Both: Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz – Venezuelan goalkeeper made 62 appearances for The Shots in two spells from 2007 – 2010 and February – May 2011

We’ve Met Before: 31 October 2000 – Gary Abbott’s 54th minute goal won this FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie and earned a sell-out first round clash with Brighton and Hove Albion

National League badges 2015-16 part 1