Tales of Truro: The National League Is Set for a New Look Next Season

There are names familiar to the more casual observer too - Kidderminster, Welling, Altrincham, Halifax, and Chester, to name a few.

Following non-league football, you will often come across the same names in the so-called National League from season to season.

There are names familiar to the more casual observer too - Kidderminster, Welling, Altrincham, Halifax, and Chester, to name a few.

However for next season, a selection of these teams are in serious danger of relegation from the fifth tier of English football - Kidderminster for example need to win all four of their remaining games as they are in a Villa-type situation - and being replaced by names unfamiliar to the top table of the non-league banqueting hall.

It is not just Leicester who are changing the guard in the English game, Solihull Moors are doing just the same.

14 points clear at the top, they will be promoted unless they lose all their remaining games and nearest rivals North Ferriby United win all theirs.

Founded just nine years ago in 2007 by a merger of Solihull Borough and Moor Green, neither of whom had ever come close to promotion to National League before - Moor Green's best being ninth in Conference North in 2006, Solihull Moors seventh in 2011.

For 25 years, Moor Green and later the Moors were ably managed as a model non-league club by Bob Faulkner, who sadly died of cancer in February 2011; since then, the reigns have been held by former Football League defensive jobber Marcus Bignot, who has slowly but surely used his contacts to build one of the most complete squads at that level.

It will be interesting to see how far Solihull go, if they can emulate the likes of Eastleigh and Dover in dominating at tier six before pushing hard for promotion to League Two.

Certainly, the area is used to football success, with Solihull's Damson Park stadium already welcoming the Champions League - Birmingham City women play there.

As for their pre-mentioned nearest rivals North Ferriby, it would be no less of a story should they get to the league formerly known as the conference.

Founded in 1934, the Villagers have spent the majority of their existence playing semi-professionally in competitions such as the East Ridings Amateur League and the Northern Counties East Division.

But since first being promoted into the then-Conference North in 2013, they have been a major force, and have even won he FA Trophy by beating former Football League stalwarts Wrexham on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

It is certain that one, and likely that both, North Ferriby and Solihull will be playing fifth-tier football next year; for a non-league fan this is a monumental occasion.

There is also one big story in the National League South. Automatic promotion will go to a familiar name in either Ebbsfleet or Sutton, but Truro City have a shot at a play-off place - and that is a story.

The highest ranked Cornish club, they were promoted via the play-offs from the Southern League last season. This is their second experience at this level, having previously got there in 2011 via five promotions in six seasons, before a spectacular blow up an administration.

They are back in the saddle however, and the idea of York and Grimsby fans having to muddle their way down to Cornwall is an idea I must say I thoroughly enjoy.

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