Suffolk side Needham Market became the unlikely title winners of the 2023/24 Southern League Premier Central. The village club lost just four in their opening 37 games to clinch the championship, leaving the likes of AFC Telford United, Redditch United and Leamington battling it out in the playoffs. Leamington eventually won that battle after knocking out Redditch in the playoff semis.
Redditch, meanwhile, remain in the seventh tier again next season, having last tasted sixth-tier football in National League North back in 2010/11. The Reds can only look on with envy at neighbouring clubs like Solihull Moors, who came within a whisker of promotion to the Football League last term.
The Moors are one of a handful of clubs hotly tipped to battle for the title in a wide-open National League this term. They’re priced at 12/1 to be crowned champions with bet365, which is one of the UK’s leading bookies for free bets and welcome bonuses. Those thinking about placing pre-season outright bets can see offers on Oddschecker to join bet365 with free bet credits, as well as other reputable, licensed operators like Betfred and BetMGM who also come highly recommended.
How will the Reds fare next season?
Next season’s Southern League Premier Central will feature just two relegated teams from the sixth tier, with Bishop’s Stortford and Banbury United both placed into the Reds’ league. It’ll also feature as many as five newly promoted teams from the eighth tier, namely Lowestoft Town, Biggleswade Town, Bedford Town, Harborough Town and Spalding United. As for Redditch, there’s nothing stopping Tim Flowers’ men from building on last season’s playoff finish by challenging for automatic promotion honours in 2024/25.
The Reds have managed to retain the services of front man Alex Cameron, who signed on the dotted line after bagging 15 goals last term. Cameron knows what it takes to get out of this division, having been part of Rushall Olympic’s promotion-winning squad.
Long-serving figures like Aram Soleman are also happy to remain part of the project at the Valley Stadium, while former Aston Villa youth prospect Brad Burton has also agreed terms to stay in 24/25 based on the ambition of the club and manager. All of which bodes well for United to be in contention for another playoff spot, at the very least.
Redditch’s most likely rivals for a promotion berth
AFC Telford United finished last season very strongly, eventually ending just three points behind champions Needham Market, who tailed off after securing the title. AFC Telford United are almost certain to be the team to beat. They are also likely to have spending power which dwarfs every other club in the Southern League Premier Central.
Earlier this year, an American consortium acquired shares in AFC Telford United. The consortium includes a Shropshire-born film producer, Chris Ball, who enticed another 14 Los Angeles-based entrepreneurs to invest to secure a 21% stake in the club in total. Their investment will not only offer long-term stability to the club, but also enables AFC Telford to spend heavily on their squad for this coming season.
Experienced front man Dior Angus has already opted to make the drop down a division to play for Telford after spending last season with an Altrincham side that finished fourth in the National League. Goalscoring midfielder Jimmy Armson is another savvy pick-up coming from Brackley Town, while former professional Ellis Brown has put pen to paper on a contract for this season.
Aside from AFC Telford United, Bishop’s Stortford are likely to be much more competitive in the coming season, having built a squad of semi-professionals last term who are willing to play in the National League North. Banbury United are the other relegated side to contend with after dropping out of the National League North.
The Puritans have appointed a new first team manager in Simon Hollyhead, who has been assistant manager at Stevenage and even held the same post at Swedish giants Malmo FF between 2010 and 2014. Even the club’s chair, Wayne Farrell, believes Hollyhead is somewhat over-qualified to be coaching at seventh tier level. Nevertheless, he appears to have bought into the project, with Banbury making strong signings of their own in search of an immediate return to National League North.
