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General Information:
Ground: Hurworth Moor
Manager: Tommy Taylor
Last Season: 15th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 25/1
Southend United vs. Darlington:
Head-to-Head: Southend 11, Darlington 6, Draws 9
Last Season: Home - 1-0 (Match Report), Away - 2-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 5th April, Away - 30th November
Transfers:
In:
Matthew Clarke (Halifax Town) Free
Ryan Valentine (Everton) Free
Ashley Nicolls (Ipswich Town) Free
Out:
Paul Heckingbottom (Norwich City) Free
Preview:
Darlington struggled last year, but have an ambitious chairman who demands that the club succeed and will not suffer fools. Tommy Taylor stepped into the breach midway through last season, and has added to his squad with the highly promising Matt Clarke of Halifax and two unknown youngsters from Premiership clubs. Barry Conlon up front has flattered to decieve, and another year struggling to get into the top half can be expected. A new stadium should give a boost in the early stages of the season, but if everything turns sour expect attendances to dwindle.
Exeter City
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General Information:
Ground: St. James' Park (9,036)
Manager: John Cornforth
Last Season: 16th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 50/1
Southend United vs. Exeter City:
Head-to-Head: Southend 39, Exeter 36, Draws 33
Last Season: Home - 3-1 (Match Report), Away - 1-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 28th September, Away - 3rd May
Transfers:
In:
Gareth Sheldon (Scunthorpe United) Free
Martin Thomas (Oxford United) Free
James Coppinger (Newcastle United) Free
Don Goodman (Walsall) Free
Out:
none
Preview:
The Grecians were another side to struggle last season, but have made some decent signings during the summer. James Coppinger is a good talent, and the goalscoring ability of Don Goodman, especially in the lower divisions, is well known. With Uri Geller now on the board, many supporters will be hoping that he can perform some magic and turn the clubs' fortunes around, but even so, a mid-table finish would be a more than adequate return for a club who have found live difficult in Division Three ever since relegation in 1993/4.
Hartlepool United
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General Information:
Ground: Victoria Park (7,229)
Manager: Chris Turner
Last Season: 7th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 12/1
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Head-to-Head: Southend 16, Hartlepool 8, Draws 8
Last Season: Home - 0-0 (Match Report), Away - 1-5 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 25th October, Away - 15th March
Transfers:
In: none
Out: none
Preview:
Chris Turner's side have missed out on promotion three times in the last three seasons, going down to eventual play-off winners Blackpool in 2000/1 and then again to Cheltenham last year. With no actual transactions concerning players taking place, it is almost an identical line-up to last season, which augers well in a division devoid of much promise on the whole. Gordon Watson will be the man the Monkeyhangers' supporters hope hits the back of the net as often as last year, and if so, automatic promotion could well be on the cards.
Hull City
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General Information:
Ground: Boothferry Park (15,159) although the Tigers will be moving to a new stadium in a ground share with Hull RFC at the end of this year
Manager: Jan Molby
Last Season: 11th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 7/2 favourites
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Head-to-Head: Southend 8, Hull 10, Draws 10
Last Season: Home - 2-0 (Match Report), Away - 0-0 (Match Report)
This Season: Home - 1st February, Away - 10th August
Transfers:
In:
Stuart Green (Newcastle United) Loan
Greg Strong (Motherwell) Free
Richie Appleby (Kidderminster Harriers) Free
Stuart Elliott (Motherwell) £200,000
Shaun Smith (Crewe Alexandra) Free
Out:
David Beresford (Plymouth Argyle) Free
Rob Matthews (Northwich Victoria) Free
Matthew Bloomer (Telford United) Loan
Preview:
Will this finally be the year that the Tigers gain promotion to the Second Division? In 2000/1 they were dumped out of the play-off semi-finals by Leyton Orient and then followed that up with last seasons abject performance, where they ended just one place above the Shrimpers. Jan Molby was given the poisoned chalice towards the end of last season, and he has imposed himself upon the club after being handed virtually a blank cheque by raiding Motherwell for Northern Ireland international Stuart Elliott and then returning to old club Kidderminster to get the highly-rated midfielder Richie Appleby. Both should be able to provide the ammunition for Gary Alexander to fire the Tigers into the promised land, but then don't we say this every year? Blues will catch them at the best time away - first up on Saturday, when Hull could be caught cold.
Kidderminster Harriers
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General Information:
Ground: Aggborough (6,923)
Manager: Ian Britton
Last Season: 10th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 16/1
Southend United vs. Kidderminster Harriers:
Head-to-Head: Southend 1, Kidderminster 2, Draws 1
Last Season: Home - 1-0 (Match Report), Away - 0-2 (Match Report)
This Season: Home - 17th September, Away - 4th March
Transfers:
In:
Sean Parrish (Chesterfield) Free
Sean Flynn (Tranmere Rovers) Free
Out:
Ben Davies (Chesterfield) Free
Richie Appleby (Hull City) Free
Ian Clarkson (Nuneaton Borough) Free
Preview:
Still just two seasons into their League career, Kiddy have lost vast experience in Richie Appleby and Ian Clarkson, both of whom will be sorely missed. The exception to the rule in recent times as a club who were promoted from the Conference but have not challenged for the Division Three title, Harriers look set to have a classic Division Three campaign again this season - a brief look at the top before months of mid-table mediocrity. Bo Henrikson went on a hot streak of scoring last season, and he will have to do so again if the Midlanders are to challenge at all past the winter months. Sean's Parrish and Flynn will add some experience, but Kiddy will still find life hard.
Leyton Orient
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General Information:
Ground: Brisbane Road
Manager: Paul Brush
Last Season: 18th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 20/1
Southend United vs. Leyton Orient:
Head-to-Head: Southend 18, Orient 24, Draws 17
Last Season: Home - 1-2 (Match Report), Away - 1-2 (Match Report)
This Season: Home - 22nd March, Away - 29th October
Transfers:
In:
Ciaran Toner (Tottenham Hotspur) Free
Out:
Jeff Minton (Released)
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Orient underachieved badly last year, a real blip in what should have been another play-off season at least following the disappointment of losing to Blackpool at the Millenium Stadium the year before (not that we were concerned at all!). The East Londoners were only a few points above Halifax at one stage, and it looked as though they could even get into a real scrap to avoid relegation, but Paul Brush, succeeding Tommy Taylor as manager, guided them clear, and will be looking to improve vastly this time around. With Southend-born Matty Lockwood fully fit for the whole season, and Carl Hutchings at his domineering best, Orient could well be dark horses, at least for the play-offs. Lets hope not!
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com