In the build-up to the 2021/22 campaign, we will profile all teams in the Vanarama National League.
The beginning of the National League season is edging ever closer, and it is now just over a week until sides in the fifth tier take to the field.
We finish our National League opposition previews focusing on the final four clubs, Weymouth, Woking, Wrexham and Yeovil Town.
Weymouth
Founded
1890
Manager
Brian Stock – Stock took the reigns at Weymouth as his first senior managerial role, and despite there being no relegation from the fifth-tier last season, he managed to steer the National League newcomers into a comfortable 18th placed finish.
Stadium
Bob Lucas Stadium – 6,600 (900 seated)
Previous meetings
Southend United 2-2 Weymouth – Friday 12th July – Pre-season friendly
Their last three finishes
2020/21 – 18th in Vanarama National League.
2019/20 – 3rd in National League South (promoted via the play-offs)
2018/19 – 1st in Southern League Premier Division South
Three facts about them
- Former Southend United striker Brandon Goodship and defender Tyler Cordner will line up for the Terras next season, after completing transfers this summer to the part-time club. It will be Goodship’s second stint at the club. In his first, he scored 75 goals in 83 matches before Kevin Bond lured him to Roots Hall.
- Former Southend manager Mark Molesley led Weymouth to the National League before being snapped up by the Blues. He and Tom Prodomo oversaw the Terras double promotions to land them in the National League for the first time in the club’s history.
- Jason Tindall managed Weymouth from 2007-2008, before becoming Eddie Howe’s right-hand man. Tindall and Howe led Bournemouth from League Two to the Premier League whilst in charge, and when the latter moved on in 2020, Tindall took over as manager.
Distance from Roots Hall
187 miles
Highest league finish
2020/21 – 18th in Vanarama National League
Woking
Founded
1887
Manager
Alan Dowson – The 51-year-old has spent the entirety of his managerial career in the non-league scene. He took the reigns in 2018 and in his first season in charge, led his side to a second placed finish; earning promotion via the playoffs to the National League.
Stadium
Laithwaite Community Stadium – 6,000 (2,500 seated)
Previous meetings
Woking 0-2 Southend - 15th November 1997 - FA Cup
Their last three finishes
2020/21 – 20th in Vanarama National League
2019/20 – 10th in Vanarama National League
2018/19 – 2nd in National League South
Three facts about them
- Former Shrimper Jamar Loza lined up 12 times for Dowson’s side last season, scoring twice. The ex-Southend attacker is set for another season with Woking and could face the Blues this season.
- Woking’s best ever FA Cup run came in the 1990/91 season. The Cards beat three non-league sides to reach the third round, in which they were drawn away to West Bromwich Albion. Woking beat the Baggies 4-2 and were eventually knocked out in the fourth round by Everton, as the non-league side lost 1-0 at Goodison Park.
- New Southend striker Sam Dalby was in the Woking ranks in the second half of the 20/21 season. The forward, who was on loan from Watford, scored once for the Cards, before his permanent move to the Blues this summer.
Distance from Roots Hall
75 miles
Highest league finish
2nd in Conference National – 1994/95 and 1995/96
Wrexham
Founded
1864
Manager
Phil Parkinson – Parkinson joined Wrexham this Summer as his first non-league managerial role. The 53-year-old achieved promotions with Colchester United, Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers and joins the Red Dragons with plenty of experience under his belt, having taken charge of over 800 games since starting his managerial career.
Stadium
Racecourse Stadium – 10,500
Previous meetings
Southend 0-2 Wrexham (AET) – Sunday 10th April 2005 – LDV Vans final
Wrexham 3-0 Southend – Saturday 15th February 2003 – League Two
Southend 0-1 Wrexham – Saturday 2nd November 2002 – League Two
Their last three finishes
2020/21 – 8th Vanarama National League
2019/20 – 20th in Vanarama National League
2018/29 – 4th in Vanarama National League
Three facts about them
-It has been an exciting year for Wrexham fans, and this summer has been the first which has seen heavy investment from new owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The new era for the football club has seen several marquee signings made, a huge sponsorship deal with TikTok and over 5,000 season ticket sales.
- The club’s biggest signing of the summer came in the form of last year’s League Two top scorer Paul Mullin. The 26-year-old scored 32 times for Mark Bonner’s Cambridge United last season and will be a prominent figure for Parkinson’s side next season.
- Former Southend defender Harry Lennon will also line up for the Red Dragons next season. The centre-half featured for Blues 34 times in his three seasons with the club.
Distance from Roots Hall
225 miles
Highest league finish
7th in Division Two - 1997/98
Yeovil Town
Founded
1895
Manager
Darren Sarll – The 38-year-old joined Yeovil in 2019 following the club’s relegation to the National League. In his first full season with the club, he achieved a fourth placed finish but were denied a route back into the EFL, as they were eliminated in the playoff quarter finals by Barnet, who narrowly made the top seven on points per game.
Stadium
Huish Park – 9,565 (5,212 seated)
Previous meetings
Yeovil 1-0 Southend – Saturday 4th November 2017 – FA Cup first round
Southend 1-0 Yeovil – Tuesday 6th August 2013 – League Cup first round
Southend 0-0 Yeovil – Saturday 3rd April 2010 – League One
Their last three finishes
2020/21 – 16th in Vanarama National League
2019/20 – 4th in Vanarama National League
2018/19 – 24th in League Two
Three facts about them
- New Blues striker Rhys Murphy signed from Yeovil Town this summer. The former Chelmsford City striker scored 30 goals for the Glovers and was a massively popular figure amongst the supporters. Murphy has already scored twice in Phil Brown’s side’s pre-season matches.
- After reaching the Championship, following a promotion campaign in the 2012/13 season, Yeovil suffered a double relegation to make a swift return to the fourth tier. That’s where they stayed until their relegation to the fifth tier in 2018/19.
- The Glovers’ record attendance is 17,123. This bumper crowd gathered at the Huish Athletic Ground in 1949 as Yeovil faced off against Sunderland in the FA Cup fourth round. At the time a non-league side, Yeovil saw off the visitors 2-1 in a huge cup upset.
Distance from Roots Hall
186 miles
Highest league finish
24th in Championship – 2013/14
