Football Season Guide

Guiseley prepare for their second season in the top flight of non-league football but must be still pinching themselves at how they actually did it. The Yorkshire side had a very long slump in the second half of the season and seemed to be heading to relegation at full speed. But a dramatic win over Torquay on the last day of the season and a surprise loss of points by Halifax meant that Mark Bower’s side finished above the bottom four, even if they started the last day of the season inside it. It was very much a fortuitous escape and Bower will look to make the most of it and make the team a stronger one in the coming season. Yet signings have been generally underwhelming, as expected for a side with a smallish budget, and little change is expected from the Lions. They have a new main striker in Michael Rankine and while he is a proven scorer, his style is very much as a big lump up front who needs the ball to be crossed to him. While Adam Smith is certainly a decent winger, there just does not seem to be much quality assist-makers in the side to make that system a success. The defence is bolstered by the signing of Ashley Palmer from newly-promoted North Ferriby. But there are still some serious gaps there and the lack of a new goalkeeper signed up to take up the mantle from Steven Drench is another serious problem. Oliver Norburn will be a loss in midfield too while players like Gavin Rothery and Ryan Toulson, who both offered reliability and consistency, are nowhere around too. The squad looks weaker at the moment and it takes quite an optimist to believe that Guiseley will have an easier time this season.