Football Season Guide

North Ferriby prepare for a dip into the unknown as the team from Humberside look to show what they are made of in a league where they are complete minnows. It is an amazing story that this village team, from a place with a population of just over 3000 people, has somehow reached the top level of non-league football. They will be facing relative giants in Tranmere, Wrexham and York over the next 12 months and it promises to be some journey for the whole club. Ferriby have been doing well in the National League North for the past couple of years and it was thus no huge surprise that the team reached the play-offs last year. They edged a stronger team on paper in Fylde in the final, a 2:1 extra-time win, to seal a dramatic and historic promotion to the National League Premier. But the joy would not continue long as the celebrated and respected manager Billy Heath, the main reason for their success, chose to remain in the National League North and take up the offer of recently-relegated Halifax. It was a huge blow for Ferriby and the fact that the core of the promotion-winning squad, fled to join Heath at his new club, made it an even sourer episode. Tom Denton, Liam King, Daniel Hone and Josh King are all absolutely massive losses and there is no denying that the team looks weaker, instead of stronger, heading into the new season. But new manager Steve Housham will be relishing the chance to play the underdog role and will not be fazed by what is coming. He signed a couple of players from his former club and will hope that former Lincoln man Conner Robinson fulfil his potential, having emerged as the most interesting summer signing. As a whole, the squad looks bare and clearly lacking in quality for the tough season ahead.