Grimsby were of course promoted as champions and take their place in the Northern Premier League East Division, seeing them compete at this level for the first time in their history.

Bottom of the table Athersley are relegated to the NCEL Division 1 after a difficult few years which saw them escape the drop twice due to the pandemic. Hopefully the change can bring about an upturn in fortunes at Sheerian Park. Staveley line up alongside them in Division 1 after requesting demotion to step 6 due to what is understood to be financial constraints.

Sherwood and Mansfield have been transferred laterally by the FA to the United Counties League Premier Division North, joining former NCEL names Heanor Town and Skegness Town. An unhappy hunting ground for a number of years, Town finally managed their first victory behind the tall fence and cycle raceway of the Forest Town Arena in April after four straight defeats. February's 2-0 win at the picturesque Debdale Park will remain our only visit there for the time being at least.

Joining the NCEL Premier Division are Yorkshire Amateur, Frickley Athletic, Hallam, North Ferriby and Golcar United.

The 'EL Classico' returns after Yorkshire Amateurs' demotion from the NPL after failing to meet ground grading requirements. Whether last July’s friendly match between the two sides counts as a full derby game is up for debate, but Paul Marshall's side humiliated the newly-promoted Ammas 5-1 on Bracken Edge thanks to goals from Burgess (2), Gorji (2) and Alex Burton. The sides cancelled each other out in the last competitive meetings back in 2019-20 season – The Miners winning out by a single goal at Bracken Edge with our neighbours gaining revenge on Cedar Ridge later that season with a last-gasp winner.

Frickley were relegated after finishing second-bottom of the NPL East Division, and compete in the NCEL for the first time in their history. Town were well-beaten in friendlies at Westfield Lane back in 2014 and 2012; the last competitive meeting coming in November 2011 in the Doodson Cup. Matt Mathers and Dempsey Smith were on target in a 4-2 defeat, also away from home. Earlier that season The Blues won 2-0 in the FA Cup on Cedar Ridge, so on that form a Garforth win is well overdue. Bottom of the NPL East and former NCEL outfit Pickering Town have dropped into the Northern League.

Hallam and North Ferriby are both promoted from Division 1 as champions and play-off winners respectively. Both recorded remarkable four-figure crowds last season, although the Division 1 record of 1380 set by ourselves on 20th November 2004 still stands (you know the one). The last league meetings against Hallam came in 2006-07 season with Town winning both. The most recent game however was in March 2015 in the League Cup, with the Countrymen edging out Graham Nicholas’ young side 1-0. We last met North Ferriby in a behind-closed-doors friendly in April last year with a Charlie Marshall goal giving us the win. We have to go back 22 years to the tail end of Dave Parker's reign as manager for the last league match. The points were shared on Grange Lane back in August 1999, but there was little to cheer in the return fixture in April 2000 which The Villagers won 4-0. Then known as North Ferriby United, their promotion that year saw them embark on a long ascent to the National League, which they reached in 2015, before liquidation four years later brought about the creation of a phoenix club and a new beginning in the NCEL.

Completing the lineup are a club not too far away from LS25, but one we’ve never played before in Huddersfield side Golcar United. After many years competing in the West Riding County Amateur League, they were promoted to the North West Counties League in 2019 and last season won the Division North play-off final. Another club transferred by the FA, they play in the NCEL for the first time, meaning the delights of Stott Hall Farm and Scammonden Reservoir should feature considerably less in their travels this season.

The FA Cup and Vase draws are expected on Friday 8th July. Paul Marshall's side began pre-season training this week, and we hope to bring you news of player ins and outs once the NCEL begin accepting registrations this weekend. The league season will commence on Saturday 30th July, so not too far away for any readers missing their football.

Up the Miners!