Newcastle Town would have approached this season with hope whilst also wondering what lay in store after winning promotion by 32 points last season.
Town had managed to keep hold of their star man, ex-Manchester City winger Jordan Johnson, and manager Greg Clowes to keep expectations high and they started the season firiing on all cylinders, winning their first four games and also remaining unbeaten until a 5-0 defeat at FC United in mid October saw them dumped out of the FA Trophy. Cup defeats away to Kidsgrove and Vauxhall Motors followed but Town didn't taste defeat in the league until 22nd January, but quickly followed that with another defeat a week later.
'Castle were fighting it out in a two horse race for the one automatic promotion place alongside Barwell and the stutter in their form continued with defeats against Belper, Brigg, Leek and Grantham to see them drop away from pole position but a 4-1 demolition of the league leaders gave them hope but, despite ending the season with five successive victories, Barwell finished the season four points clear and condemned Town to the play offs.
With more points than any of the play off four, more goals scored than anyone in the league and the third best defence in the league Town entered the play offs as favourites to gain promotion but were undone when they were defeated 3-0 by Grantham Town at the Lyme valley Stadium.
Worrying times lie ahead for the club after manager Clowes, who has masterminded the past two seasons on a shoestring budget, left during the close season for Stafford Rangers and gave an open invitation for all members of the squad to join him at Marston Road.
League record: P42 W27 D9 L6 F104 A48 PTS90 (2nd)
Top scorers: 25-Jordan Johnson 20-Alan Budrys 16-Neville Thompson, Alan Naggington
Vodcat League Cup: 4th Round
FA Cup: 4th Qualifying Round
President Cup: Semi Finals
FA Trophy: 1st Qualifying Round
Staffs Senior Cup: Quarter Finals