As preparations begin for the 2025/26 National League season, it’s time to take a look at the new sides that Rovers will face throughout the season.
Six new clubs join the division after title triumphs, play-off success or relegation heartbreak, so here is everything Rovers fans need to know about the new sides we’ll be facing.
CARLISLE UNITED (ESTABLISHED 1904)
Carlislie United suffered a second successive relegation last campaign which saw them exit the Football League after a 20-year stay.
The Cumbria side finished 23rd in League Two last campaign picking up just 10 wins in the league and finished seven points from safety.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rovers have met with the Blues on 12 occasions picking up five wins whilst drawing three and losing out three times.
2022 was the last time we faced Carlisle during our League Two title winning season when Rovers ran out 3-0 winners thanks to an own goal and strikes from Matty Stevens and Jamille Matt.
AWAY DAY
It will be one of our longest away days next season when we make the 514-mile round trip to Brunton Park.
Rovers will make the trip for first time since 2021 when we came away 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Nicky Cadden and Matt.
IN THE DUGOUT
Carlisle do boast some excellent experience in the dugout with former Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City manager Mark Hughes in charge of the Blues.
Hughes managed 18 games last season picking up five wins as he couldn't quite keep the Blues in the EFL.
TOP SCORER LAST SEASON
The Blues top scorer last campaign only managed 16 appearances after joining in February as a free agent.
Striker, Matthew Dennis found the net on six occasions and ended the campaign in fine form netting in each of his last three games of the season, earning him a move to Notts County.
MORECAMBE (ESTABLISHED 1920)
Morecambe joined Carlisle in suffering relegation from League Two as they finished bottom of the league, 13 points from safety.
The Shrimps exited the Football League after an 18-year stint having last played in the fifth tier of English football back in 2007 where they were promoted via the play-offs.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rovers have met with the Shrimps on 12 times with the first meeting coming back in 2000 during an FA Cup tie in which Morecambe ran out 3-0 winners.
We last met with the Shrimps during the 2023/24 League Two season with Morecambe coming away 2-1 winners in Nailsworth before Rovers left Lancashire with a 2-1 victory.
AWAY DAY
Rovers will make the 394-mile round trip to the Mazuma Stadium this season.
On our last visit at the end of the 2023/24 League Two season, Rovers came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Charlie McCann and Kyle McAllister.
IN THE DUGOUT
Manager Derek Adams is enjoying his third stint as Morecambe boss after returning to the club last summer.
Adams has managed over 200 games for the Shrimps since his first taking charge of the side back in 2019.
TOP SCORER LAST SEASON
Right sided midfielder, Ben Tollitt finished the season as joint-top scorer with eight goals, alongside Lee Angol.
Tollitt made 47 appearances in all competitions for the Shrimps last season and also saw him grab three assists alongside his eight goals.
BRACKLEY TOWN (ESTABLISHED 1890)
Brackley Town secured promotion to the National League for the first time in their history after being crowed National League North champions.
It was a wait that had lasted nine years having finished in the play-off positions in eight of the last nine seasons, but the Saints were crowned champions on the final day.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
It will be a first ever competitive meeting between Rovers and the Saints during the 2025/26 National League campaign.
AWAY DAY
Rovers will make the 148-mile round trip, one of the shortest of the season, for our first-ever outing at St. James Park next season.
IN THE DUGOUT
Gavin Cowan was the man who guided the Saints to the fifth tier for the first time after joining the side back in 2023.
Cowan has managed 96 games for the club in what is just his second managerial job after Telford United where he managed 99 games.
TOP SCORER LAST SEASON
Goals weren’t an issue for the Saints last campaign as they went on to net 75 times in the league with striker, Connor Hall, helping himself to 18 of those in 47 appearances.
Alongside his 18 goals, in which he scored in each of his last two games of the season, Hall also manged seven assists taking his goal involvements for the campaign to 25.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED (ESTABLISHED 1899)
Scunthorpe United’s stay in the National League North lasted just two years as they earned promotion back to the National League with a 2-1 victory over Chester in the play-off final.
The Iron ended the season with four straight wins seeing them finish second for back-to-back seasons, missing out on the title by two points to Brackley.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rovers have met the Iron on seven occassions and boast an impressive record against the North Lincolnshire side, winning all of the last four meetings.
We last met the Iron in 2022 when a Dan Sweeney goal was the difference during a 1-0 win at The New Lawn.
AWAY DAY
Rovers will make the 376-mile round trip to the Attis Arena for the first time since 2021 when we make one of many trips north next season.
Two quick-fire second half goals from Jamille Matt and Ebou Adams sealed a 2-0 victory for Rovers on our last visit.
IN THE DUGOUT
Andy Butler ended his first season as a manager with a promotion guiding the Iron back to the National League.
Butler managed over 50 games throughout the season picking up 28 wins along the way to their play-off final triumph.
TOP SCORER LAST SEASON
The Iron were the joint-second highest scorers in the National League North with 76 goals. Wide man Callum Roberts contributed the most across the campaign.
In 45 appearances Roberts picked up 33 goal involvements scoring 21 and assisting 12 including a scoring during his sides 4-2 play-off semi-final win over Chorley.
TRURO CITY (ESTABLISHED 1889)
Truro City became the first ever Cornish side to reach the fifth tier of English Football when they were crowned National League South champions last season.
In what was the closest title race in recent times, the top six separated by only three points. The Tinners came out on top lifting the title on goal difference after finishing level on 89 points with Torquay United.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rovers have met the Tinners just twice before during the 2016 FA Trophy in which Truro forced a replay back at The New Lawn following a 1-1 draw.
In the replay it was Darren Carter goal in extra time that saw Rovers come out 1-0 winners the last time the two sides met.
AWAY DAY
Rovers will make the 396-mile round trip for the first time since 2016 to the Truro Sports Hub next season.
IN THE DUGOUT
Experience in the dugout was essential for the Cornish side as they hired former Shrewsbury Town, Port Vale, York City and Hartlepool United manager, John Askey at the start of last season.
In his 12 years as a manager, Askey has managed 494 games across six clubs in a career that began back in 2013 with Macclesfield.
TOP SCORER LAST SEASON
The Tinners boasted the National League South’s top scorer during the 2024/25 campaign with striker, Tyler Harvey helping himself to 28 goals in 45 appearances.
Harvey enjoyed a flourishing end to the campaign as netted 10 goals in his final 10 games of the season.
BOREHAM WOOD (ESTABLISHED 1948)
Boreham Wood made it an instant return to the National League when they defeated Maidstone United 1-0 in the National League South play-off final.
The Wood finished the season in fifth, just three points off the top, before defeating Dorking Wanderers, Torquay United and Maidstone to gain promotion back to the fifth tier.
HEAD-TO HEAD
Rovers have met the Wood on four previous occasions during National League campaigns, winning three of the meetings and conceding just once.
The last time out in 2017 saw Rovers pick up a 2-0 home victory against the Wood thanks to late strikes from Christian Doidge and Omar Bugiel.
AWAY DAY
Rovers will make the 218-mile round trip for the first time since 2016 to Meadow Park next season.
On the side’s last trip to Hertfordshire it was a narrow defeat for Rovers who suffered a 1-0 loss, our only defeat against the Wood.
IN THE DUGOUT
After a turbulent start to the campaign, Luke Garrard rejoined the club as manager after overseeing 400 games in a previous nine-year stint with the club.
Garrard went on to manage 42 games in all competitions for the Wood, picking up 26 wins as he guided his side straight back to the National League.
TOP SCORER LAST SEASON
The Wood ended the season as the second-highest scorers in the league with 86 goals in which striker, Kwesi Appiah, picked up 24 of them.
The 34-year-old scored just once in his last 10 matches but impressed early on with impressive run of 19 goals in 16 games.
