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
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