As we continue to build towards the new 2025/26 National League season, we take a look at the teams we’ll be facing off with in the new campaign.
Today we take a look into the sides that battled Rovers all the way in the promotion race throughout the previous campaign.
YORK CITY (ESTABLISHED 1922)
LEAGUE FINISH - 2nd
York City were one of Rovers closest competitors as we battled for the title and promotion last season with the Minstermen finishing the season as runners-up to Barnet.
The Minstermen ended the campaign on an impressive eight-game unbeaten streak but only made it as far as the play-off semi-finals where they were defeated 3-0 by eventual promotion winners, Oldham Athletic.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rovers went unbeaten against the Minstermen last campaign in two meetings, winning 2-0 at a packed out New Lawn before securing a point up in Yorkshire.
Harvey Bunker and Kyle McAllister netted during the memorable 2-0 victory whilst Harry Cardwell’s header saw Rovers secure a point during a 1-1 draw at the LNER Community Stadium.
IN THE DUGOUT
Adam Hinshelwood took charge of the side at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and guided the Minstermen to safety with a 20th-place finish.
The former Worthing manager then produced an incredible turnaround in just 59 games in charge, guiding the side to a second-placed finish, their highest-ever finish in the National League.
TOP PERFORMER
Ollie Pearce was the standout performer in the league last season running away with the golden boot with 31 goals last campaign.
The striker was signed for his goal threat and proved just that as Pearce recorded 42 goal involvements in 47 appearances in all competitions.
ROCHDALE (ESTABLISHED 1907)
LEAGUE FINISH - 4th
Rochdale enjoyed their highest league finish in 11 years as they secured fourth place in the final weeks of the season.
However, in the play-off eliminator round, Dale were on the wrong end of a spectacular seven-goal thriller which saw Southend United come away 4-3 winners after extra-time.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Across two fixtures between Rovers and the Dale just one goal was scored by Liam Sercombe as Rovers ran out 1-0 winners at The New Lawn following a goalless draw at the Crown Oil Arena.
IN THE DUGOUT
Having been in charge for over two years and taking charge of 94 matches, Jim McNulty helped guide the Dale to play-off football for the first time in 11 years.
McNulty also spent eight-years as a player at the Dale before retiring and taking up a coaching position at the club following 237 appearances.
TOP PERFORMER
Rochdale had a handful of top performers with multiple players striking double figures in goals, but no one came close to top scorer, Devante Rodney.
Rodney managed 19 goals in 36 appearances for the Dale including a brace during their 4-3 play-off defeat to Southend.
FC HALIFAX TOWN (ESTABLISHED 2008)
LEAGUE FINISH - 6th
Since being reborn in 2008 following the collapse of Halifax Town, the Shaymen reached the National League play-offs for the fourth time.
Despite a strong league campaign the Shaymen came unstuck during the play-off eliminator round suffering a 4-0 defeat to eventual promotion winners, Oldham.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rovers failed to defeat the Shaymen across two meetings last campaign after being held to 1-1 draw at The New Lawn before suffering a 2-1 defeat in West Yorkshire.
IN THE DUGOUT
The Shaymen recently appointed Adam Lakeland as manager following the departure of Chris Millington at the end of last season.
Lakeland joins the side from National League North side King’s Lynn where he managed 83 games for the club and guided them to a play-off finish last campaign.
TOP PERFORMER
The goal involvements were shared out between the side, but midfielder Jamie Cooke registered the most involvements with 10.
The midfielder bagged seven goals and three assists across 45 appearances but saw his last goal involvement come back in February as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Boston United.
SOUTHEND UNITED (ESTABLISHED 1906)
LEAGUE FINISH- 7th
Southend United turned up the heat towards the end of the campaign going unbeaten in their last four games of the league season seeing them move into the play-off spots for the first time in the final weeks.
The Shrimpers produced a memorable play-off campaign as well coming from behind to beat Rochdale 4-3, salvaging a 2-2 draw and shootout win over Rovers before suffering an extra time defeat to Oldham in final.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Rovers and the Shrimpers met three times during the past campaign with all fixtures ending in 2-2 draws.
IN THE DUGOUT
Kevin Maher took charge of the side back in 2021 and has since gone onto manage the Shrimpers on 177 occassions.
Maher guided Southend to their highest National League finish and first play-off appearance since their relegation to the fifth tier in 2021.
TOP PERFORMER
Gus Scott-Morriss produced one of the best season’s from a right-back in England’s top five divisions raking up 23 goal involvements including an impressive 17 goals.
GATESHEAD (ESTABLISHED 1977)
LEAGUE FINISH - 8th
After spending the majority of the season in the play-offs, Gateshead fell out of the running in the last two weeks of the season.
The Heed suffered a four-game winless streak to conclude the season and won only two of their final 14 games of the campaign.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
On our 538-mile round trip to the Gateshead International Stadium, Rovers came away with all three points after a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Liam Sercombe and Christian Doidge.
In the reverse fixture at The New Lawn, the Heed survived a late Rovers comeback to leave Nailsworth with a 3-2 victory.
IN THE DUGOUT
The Heed recently appointed Alun Armstrong as manager following the departure of Carl Magnay at the climax of last season.
Armstrong returns to management after two years without a job with his last role being in charge of Darlington where managed 144 games for the side.
TOP PERFORMER
Wideman Luke Hannant had a season to remember for the Heed after picking up 25 goal involvements in 44 appearances in all competitions.
The 31-year-old netted 15 goals whilst chipping in with 10 assists and ended the season picking up four goal involvements in his last six games of the season.
