National League returns - can it live up to last season's drama?

Rochdale eventually secured the second promotion spot at Wembley in the play-off final after coming from two goals down to equalise in injury time and then beat Boreham Wood on penalties in another drama-filled afternoon.

With the undoubted two best sides having departed, it will leave plenty of others fancying their chances of promotion to the EFL.

In other leagues and other seasons, a total of 95 points would have been enough for Carlisle United to claim promotion.

But against very stiff competition, they came up short in the regular season in finishing third and then in the play-offs with a disappointing home loss to Boreham Wood.

Mark Hughes could not restore them to League Two at the first attempt and so they begin an unprecedented second consecutive term at this level.

The Wales legend departed Brunton Park this summer with Rob Elliot making a journey first made famous by Roman emperor Hadrian in coming across from Gateshead. Elliot is under no illusions about what is expected from Carlisle this season - promotion, preferably of the automatic variety.

Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Elliot has been replaced on Tyneside by ex-Sunderland man Lee Cattermole, who will cut his managerial teeth with the Heed.

As Carlisle try to return to where they believe they belong, Boreham Wood are chasing new territory.

But as Luke Garrard's side showed last term in being seconds away from League Two, they are an excellent footballing side.

Winger Abdul Abdulmalik is being coveted by clubs higher up the pyramid, while in centre-half Chris Bush and forward Matt Rush, they have two more of the stand-out players in the division.

Southend United's past two seasons have both ended at Wembley, with play-off defeat to Oldham Athletic in 2025 and FA Trophy glory over Wealdstone almost three months ago.

They are used to drama in Essex, but club legend Kevin Maher has departed the managerial hot-seat to be replaced by ex-Newcastle and England midfielder Kieron Dyer for his first full-time manager/head coach position.

The fact that the Shrimpers dispensed with Maher only two days after that Wembley success suggests that a sixth-placed finish, albeit 27 points behind champions York, was not good enough for a club averaging a league-best attendance of 8,103, so Dyer will need to hit the ground running.

As Southend begin their sixth season at this level since EFL relegation, it is a fourth for Hartlepool United.

The previous three have been the height of mediocrity in terms of finishes (12th, 11th, ninth), but there is genuine optimism for the new season.

After a long sought-after takeover by American Landon Smith in January, Pools have appointed Lee Clark as manager and have busily brought in proven National League performers as they aim to challenge for the play-off places and higher.

Forest Green Rovers have been play-off losers for the past two seasons and Robbie Savage will again bring his colour to the touchline as he looks to build on a solid first campaign at the club, finishing seventh last season.

Scunthorpe United showed they are going in the right direction again in claiming fifth place after promotion back from National League North. Those two clubs will expect to be in the mix again come April.

Barrow and Harrogate Town were promoted together from the National League in 2020 and, in a remarkable act of symmetry, have each returned after a six-year stay in League Two, during which time neither side ever convinced that they were there for good.

Harrogate go again under manager Simon Weaver, while it has been all change at Barrow after a truly dreadful season in which they went through five bosses and propped up the 92 Premier League and EFL clubs.

Adam Murray was recruited by Barrow after winning promotion with Kidderminster Harriers and tasked with rebuilding and restoring pride at Holker Street. The club has changed colours to mark its 125th anniversary and is keen to bring positivity back after a difficult couple of years.

National League North duo Fylde and Kidderminster are back at this level after one and two seasons away, respectively, but this is completely new territory for Worthing and Hornchurch as they prepare for their first season of fifth-tier football.

They will be new opponents for many and that unknown quantity could take them far. While in Adam Hinshelwood, Worthing have a boss who guided York to second spot and 96 points in April 2025 only to miss out in the National League play-offs.

Worthing and Hornchurch may be newcomers, but at least they have stability. That cannot be said for regulars Woking, who parted company with Jermain Defoe a fortnight ago.

They are still without a permanent boss after a messy saga involving the former England striker, who left after four months and described the experience as "eye-opening". The club later responded.

It may be the fifth tier and away from the spotlight but it does not mean it cannot throw up plenty of its own soap operas and melodramas.