The Railwaymen will have to play all their league and cup games until October away from home because they are having a new 3G pitch laid at Dean Street, and they start that challenge with a trip to Carlisle City on the opening day of the season this afternoon.
Manager Chris Hughes has kept most of last season’s squad and has added defender Gary Brown, who has already had two spells with the club and won the league with Darlington in 2013.
Crook Town are under new managership following the departure of Mattie Thompson after three years in the job. He’s been replaced by Jamie Tunstall, who was his predecessor before leaving for Shildon.
Tunstall, who was last at Heaton Stannington in the NPL East, has signed former Crook players Nathan Stephenson and Lee Hume from Northallerton, as well as several other newcomers.
Town, who finished tenth last season, begin their fixtures with an away game at Northallerton today.
West Auckland are also under new management after Gary Forrest quit at the end of last season, with Gareth Young taking over as manager and Steve Johnson as assistant manager.
They have brought in several new players, most notably experienced defender Alex White and midfielder Ben Trotter, as well as Dec Brown, Matty Wilshaw and Ciaran Jackson.
West finished in 12th place last season, and start their fixtures at home to Penrith this afternoon.
Northallerton were pleased with their performance last season under manager Jason Newall as they finished in 15th place, well away from the relegation zone.
Newall has signed Jonny Haase, who was at Bishop Auckland last season, as well as Kenzie Harker, James Sayer, goalkeeper Preston Leach and Usman Ogidan.
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However, former Darlington full-back Terry Galbraith and Callum Dobson have both left the club
Gone from the First Division are Redcar Athletic and Blyth Town, who have been promoted to the Northern Premier League East – over a third of that league is now made up of former Northern League teams – and Seaham Red Star and Tow Law, who were relegated last season.
New to the top-flight are Horden, who won the Second Division title by a point last season, and Thornaby, who finished fifth in the Second Division and won the play-offs by beating second-placed Yarm and Eaglescliffe and third placed Jarrow, both away from home. No teams were relegated into the First Division or moved across from otehr league.
In the Second Division, Darlington Town are hoping to improve on their 13th position in their first season in the league, and they started their fixtures last night with a home game against Billingham Synthonia.
Tow Law were relegated from the First Division last season for the first time in their history, and are determined to bounce back under Dion Raitt and Gary Innes. They start at home to Redcar Town today.
Esh Winning just missed out on the play-offs by four points last season after being in the top five for nearly all the campaign, and today they go to Grangetown, who were reprieved from relegation.
Chester-le-Street United have changed their name to Park View, and they’ll be wanting to improve on their fourth-place finish under manager Michael Nelson. They start at newcomers AFC Newbiggin.
Chester-le-Street Town have a tough opening home game against Yarm and Eaglescliffe.
There are two new clubs in the Second Division, with Durham United – who will play their games at Maiden Castle – starting today against Boldon CA and AFC Newbiggin coming into the league, while Washington and Bedlington were relegated.