Stockport County and Barnet are two of the many former Football League teams trying to escape the National League. Stockport are attempting a double promotion having won National League North in 2019. Barnet are in their second season at this level following relegation in 2018. Both teams remain just outside the play off positions, following a 1-1 draw in March 2020, in front of a crowd of 5011.

Bradford City 3, Carlisle United 1, 21/09/2019. Valley Parade, EFL League 2. Bradford City take on Carlisle United in a Skybet League 2 fixture at Valley Parade. The home team were looking to bounce back after being relegated during a disastrous 2018-19 season on and off the pitch. Bradford won the match 3-1, watched by a crowd of 14, 217. Photo by Colin McPherson.

Sunderland played Portsmouth 5 times during the 2018-19 season. Twice in the league, twice in the play off semi final, won by Sunderland, and once in the efl trophy final at Wembley, won by Portsmouth on penalties. Early the following season the rivalry was renewed at The Stadium of Light.

Nelson 3 Daisy Hill 6, 12/10/2019. Victoria Park, North West Counties League, First Division North. Founded in 1881, the home club were members of the Football League from 1921-31 and has played at their current ground, known as Little Wembley, since 1971. The visitors won this fixture 6-3, watched by an attendance of 78. Photo by Colin McPherson.

Atherton Collieries 1, Boston United 0, 23/11/19. Alder House, FA Trophy, third qualifying round. Atherton Collieries take on Boston United in the FA Trophy third qualifying round. The home club were formed in 1916 and having secured three promotions in five season played in the Northern Premier League premier division. This was the furthest they had progressed in the FA Trophy and defeated their rivals from the National League North by 1-0, Mike Brewster scoring a late winner watched by a crowd of 303 spectators. Photo by Colin McPherson.

Blyth Spartans are a famous name in non league football, the archetypal giant killers. They reached the FA Cup 5th Round in 1977-78 losing to Wrexham in a replay at St James Park. In 2008-09 the reached the 3rd round, losing to Premier League Blackburn. Under former Huddersfield and Birmingham Manager Lee Clark they are in the relegation places of National League North. A 0-6 home defeat to Brackley Town didn’t help. Brackley is near Northampton, the 500 mile round trip to Blyth is the longest in National League North.

Macclesfield Town 1 Grimsby Town 1, 26/12/2019. Moss Rose, English League 2. Macclesfield Town play Grimsby Town in a SkyBet League 2 fixture at Moss Rose. The home club had suffered problems in the run up to this fixture with the EFL deducting points after they failed to pay staff and they had a game postponed. This match ended in a 1-1 draw, watched by a crowd of 1,991. Photo by Colin McPherson.

Gala Fairydean Rovers 4, Gretna 1, 25/01/2020. Netherdale, Scottish Lowland League. An exterior view of the stadium before Gala Fairydean Rovers host Gretna 2008 in a Scottish Lowland League match at Netherdale, Galashiels. The home club were established in 2013 through a merger of Gala Fairydean, one of Scotland's most successful non-League clubs, and local amateur club Gala Rovers. The visitors were a 'phoenix' club set up in the wake of the collapse of the original club, which had competed for a short time in the 2000s before going bankrupt. The home aside won this encounter 4-1 watched by a crowd of 120. Photo by Colin McPherson.

AFC Fylde 1, Aldershot Town 0, 14/03/2020. Mill Farm, National League. AFC Fylde take on Aldershot Town in a National League game at Mill Farm, Wesham. The fixture was played against the backdrop of the total postponement of all Premier League and EFL football matches due to the the coronavirus outbreak. The home team won the match 1-0 with first-half goal by Danny Philliskirk watched by a crowd of 1668. Photo by Colin McPherson.

Ipswich Town 0, Oxford United 1, 22/02/2020. Portman Road, SkyBet League One. Ipswich Town play Oxford United in a SkyBet League One fixture at Portman Road. Both teams were in contention for promotion as the season entered its final months. The visitors won the match 1-0 through a 44th-minute Matty Taylor goal, watched by a crowd of 19,363. Photo by Colin McPherson.