npower League Two preview
Stevenage are in the football league for the first time in their 34-year history, and they open their campaign at home to Macclesfield Town at Broadhall Way.
Stevenage gained promotion having won the Blue Square Premier last season with two games to spare, finishing 11 points at the top ahead of Luton Town in second. Stevenage have also received strong financial backing from Serverchoice.com and LCN.com, who will sponsor their shirts, to help with their first season in the football league. They have also dropped Borough from their name and will start life in England’s fourth tier as Stevenage FC. No doubt they will rely on their ever-dependable centre-half Mark Roberts, who will be the key to ensuring Stevenage survive.
Joining Stevenage from the non-league are Oxford United, who defeated York City 3-1 in the play-off final. Oxford begin away to Burton Albion. Obviously, all eyes will be on whether the new boys can maintain football league status, especially Stevenage, for whom this is an all new experience.
Bradford City, once a team who graced the Premier League, are the favourites to win League Two and they take on Shrewsbury Town, while Wycombe Wanderers, who were relegated from League One last season, are second-favourites to go straight back up. They have a home game against Morecambe, and the other promotion favourites Rotherham, Chesterfield and Northampton play Lincoln City, Barnet and Torquay United respectively.
Barnet are likely to struggle again, having had one top-10 finish in their last five seasons since winning the Conference league in 2005. Also, Crewe Alexandra play Hereford at their home Alexandra Stadium, while Bury play Port Vale.
As well as Wycombe Wanderers, Gillingham are hoping to bounce back and gain promotion after being relegated in painful fashion by goal difference. They take on Cheltenham at their home Priestfield Stadium, while Southend United, who have endured financial difficulties, play Stockport, who finished bottom of League One last season. Stockport, incidentally, are the favourites to suffer relegation once again.
Southend avoided going into administration after reaching a repayment deal with the HM Revenue and Customs last week, and manager Paul Sturrock is hoping to gain promotion and should have a chance after making 14 new additions to the squad.
Southend have hopes of moving to their new stadium Fossetts Farm in 2011, but surely fighting for the play-offs are the club’s biggest hopes after surviving as a club by the skin of their teeth.
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