Now the 2015-16 Vanarama National League is done and dusted, I will now
undertake the difficult task of naming my team of the season – based on the
matches that I witnessed over the course of the campaign covering Torquay
United for the Non League Paper.
Formation: (4-3-3)
James McKeown (Grimsby Town): In goal I have plumped for
Grimsby Town goalkeeper James McKeown. A strong shot stopper who commands his
area well, it is unlikely that McKeown will look out of place in League Two
next season – after he helped the Mariners to end their six-year exile from the
Football League.
Lee Vaughan (Tranmere Rovers): If there are 72 better
right-backs in the Football League than Tranmere’s Lee Vaughan then I’d be very
surprised. Strong defensively and dangerous on the overlap - the latter
emphasised by the crucial role he played in setting up Michael Higdon for
Tranmere’s winner against Torquay in April – Vaughan looks set to be a key
figure in Rovers’ renewed bid for a Football League return next season.
Aaron Downes (Cheltenham Town): With a brand new squad built
from scratch, it was important that Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson filled his
team with strong characters and Australian defender Aaron Downes was one such
player. After being handed the captain’s armband, Downes played a key role in
helping the Robins make a strong start and proved to be a threat in both boxes -
chipping in with a number of headed goals from set pieces before he was struck
down by injury. However, he continued to be a key figure off the field as
Johnson’s men broke the 100 point barrier.
Nathan Smith (Torquay United (Port Vale): Perhaps former Gulls’
manager Paul Cox’s shrewdest signing during his brief tenure in charge of
Torquay, Smith originally joined the Gulls on loan under Cox, an agreement
which was later extended under Cox’s predecessor Kevin Nicholson. He played a key role in the Gulls’ great escape, narrowly edging out centre back
partner and captain Angus MacDonald from this team. Despite being short in
stature for a centre back, Smith stands at five foot ten inches, his reading of
the game and his mobility made up for his lack of height, as he scored three
goals in a struggling team and won the club’s player of the year award. Don’t
be surprised if he manages to break into the Port Vale first team, or turns up
on loan at a League Two club next season.
Sean Newton (Wrexham): With a frame that stands well over six
feet, it wouldn’t be a huge shock if Sean Newton ended up as a centre back
later in his career. However, in the present he delivers a good dead ball from
free-kicks and corners, which has provided his side with a number of assists –
including the winner in the Red Dragons’ visit to the Launa Windows Stadium in
December. He also contributed seven goals himself to Wrexham’s goal tally. Having
agreed a new one-year deal to stay at the Racecourse Stadium for next season,
he looks set to be an important for the Red Dragons as manager Gary Mills bids to end Wrexham’s eight-year exile in the National
League.
Nortei Nortey (Welling United): Welling United won’t be playing
in the National League next season, but Chelsea youngster Nortei Nortey
deserves to be. Apart from having possibly the best name in football, he also
possesses an eye for a pass and in a team challenging at the end of the table,
he could surely shine brightly given the opportunity.
Kyle Storer
(Cheltenham Town): An experienced head to play alongside two younger, more
attack minded players in this side. Storer took over the Cheltenham Town
captain’s armband after Aaron Downes succumbed to injury, and the former
Kidderminster Harriers and Wrexham man helped the Robins to achieve their dream
of an instant return to League Two following last season’s relegation.
Nicky Deverdics (Dover Athletic): Whilst
Barnsley bound Stefan Payne took a lot of the headlines for Chris Kinnear’s Dover,
Nicky Deverdics was pulling the strings for Dover in midfield – creating the chances
for Payne and fellow striker Ricky Miller to feed off. It wouldn’t be a major
shock to see Deverdics following in the footsteps of Payne in making the step
up to the Football League in the near future.
Lewis Emmanuel (Bromley): One of the
bright spots of Bromley’s first season in the National League, after winning
promotion from the Conference South in the 2014-15 campaign, was the displays of striker Lewis
Emmanuel. He marked his first season in the top-flight of
non-league football by netting over 20 goals, including a first half hat-trick
at the Launa Windows Stadium in September, as the Ravens achieved a respectable mid-table
finish in their maiden National League campaign.
Matt Rhead (Lincoln City): Aesthetically Matt Rhead doesn’t
look like a professional athlete, let alone a footballer. But what he lacks in
pace, he more than makes up for in know-how and a telepathic understanding with
strike partner Liam Hearn makes them one of the most feared strike partnership
in the National League. He already has one promotion under his belt, after
helping Mansfield to win promotion in 2013, and there is always a chance that he
could achieve another one next under the management of former Braintree boss
Danny Cowley.
Simeon Akinola (Braintree Town): With plenty of pace and
trickery, Simeon Akinola has been a key figure in helping the Iron emerge as
one of the surprise packages in the National League under the management of the
now departed Danny Cowley. He has already been linked with several league clubs
during the course of the season just gone; it would not be a surprise to see
him make the step up to League Two, or even League One, but I wouldn’t rule out
the possibility of him following Cowley to Sincil Bank in a move that would see
him become a team-mate of Matt Rhead for real. 