NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH PREVIEW | NEW FACES, NEW GROUNDS

Written by Callum Humphrey

The 2026/27 Enterprise National League South season is nearly here, with just over a week to go until the action gets underway. 

There are six additions to the division ahead of the new campaign, with four teams promoted from Step Three and two dropping down from the National League. 

Here, we’ve examined each of them, to give you a taste of what we’ll be facing this year. 

Braintree Town

Where they’ve come from: Relegated from National League

The Gaffer: Steve Pitt

Nickname: The Iron

Last time they played in the National League South: 2023/24 

Head-to-Head Record with the Tudors: Tudor wins: 3; Iron wins: 6; Draws 3

Braintree Town are back at Step Two for the first time in three seasons, after a two-year National League spell came to an end with a second-from-bottom finish last time out. 

It’s been a busy summer, with no less than 12 new faces coming through the door, including the return of former Hemel man Alfie Matthews. 

Matthews made 23 appearances for the Tudors, but is now back at Cressing Road for his second spell with Braintree. 

Other notable incomings include midfielders Alfie Lewis and Reuben Swann, who have spent time at Championship sides West Ham and Portsmouth respectively, although they have lost captain George Langston to National League North Hednesford Town. 

They fell to narrow defeats in pre-season clashes against the Premier League’s Ipswich Town and National League Aldershot, although they did overcome both Cambridge United and Colchester United Under-21s. 

The Tudors host Braintree on Tuesday 24 November, before travelling to Essex for the return fixture on Tuesday 26 January. 

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Truro City

Where they’ve come from: Relegated from National League

The Gaffer: John Askey

Nickname: The Tinners

Last time they played in the National League South: 2024/25 

Head-to-Head Record with the Tudors: Tudor wins: 7; Tinners wins: 5; Draws 3

Truro’s National League stay was a short one, relegated at the first time of asking after their dramatic 2024/25 National League South campaign, snatching the title on the final day on goal difference after a 5-2 win over relegated St Albans City. 

Perhaps not great news for Tudor fans, with the near 600-mile round trip to Cornwall returning to the calendar. 

The Tinners will be hoping to bounce back after finishing at the foot of the table last time out. 

Their early incomings included Wales Under-21 international Tom Tweedy, the attacking midfielder making the long-distance move from Burnley. 

More recent activity has seen them pick up former Plymouth Athletic defenders Jack Matthews and Lewis Colwell, as well as midfielder Jack Nunn, who has spent some time in Italy with the Serie A’s Cagliari. 

Tyler Harvey, who claimed 27 goals in their promotion season of 2024/25, as well as last season’s top-scorer Luke Jephcott, will hope to provide the firepower up top. 

Wins over Exeter City, Exmouth Town, Falmouth Town and Plymouth Parkway, alongside a 1-0 defeat against League One Plymouth Argyle make up their pre-season preparations so far. 

The long trip south for the Tudors comes on Saturday 21 November, before Truro visit The Focus Community Arena on Saturday 30 January. 

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Walton & Hersham

Where they’ve come from: Promoted from Southern League Premier Division South

The Gaffer: Kevin James

Nickname: The Swans

Last time they played in the National League South: NA

Head-to-Head Record with the Tudors: Yet to meet

Newcomers Walton & Hersham will look to make their mark in their first ever National League South appearance this season. 

After topping the Southern League Premier South standings, they’ve appointed a new manager and brought in plenty of new faces as they look to ensure their Step Two bow is one to remember. 

Interim boss Jakub Pietrzak led them to the league title after Billy Rowley departed for Yeovil Town mid-season, but Kevin James will take charge this year, after joining from Charlton Athletic’s academy. 

Polish forward Dawid Rogalski starred with 25 goals last season and remains at the club, while midfielder Johl Powell has joined former boss Rowley at National League Yeovil. 

Their latest of 10 summer signings is 21-year-old striker Junior Dixon, poached from National League Boreham Wood, and they’ve bolstered their ranks with an abundance of Step Two experience. 

The Swans’ first trip to The Focus Community Arena falls on Saturday 28 November, with the Tudors travelling to Surrey on Saturday 24 April, the final day of the regular season. 

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Farnham Town

Where they’ve come from: Promoted from Southern League Premier Division South

The Gaffer: Paul Johnson

Nickname: The Town

Last time they played in the National League South: NA

Head-to-Head Record with the Tudors: Yet to meet

It’s been some ride for Farnham Town fans of late. 

Last season’s playoff win marked their third promotion in three years, starting with their unbeaten campaign in 2023/24, where they smashed the record books by winning all of their first 25 games. 

They then won the Isthmian South Central Division in 2024/25, before beating Gloucester City in last season’s playoff final, having finished runners up in the Southern League Premier South. 

A busy summer includes the arrival of FA Cup winner Sam Hutchinson from AFC Wimbledon, with the 36-year-old’s CV including spells at Chelsea, where he was part of the cup-winning squad, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday. 

Top-scorer Owen Dean bagged 15 last year, and has been retained by Paul Johnson, while others, such as midfielder and Love Island star Harry Cooksley and striker Ogo Obi, have departed. 

Nonetheless, the Town will hope their transfer business stands them in good stead to give their Step Two debut a good shot. 

Pre-season saw them claim impressive wins against League One Wycombe Wanderers and National League Eastleigh, as well as draws against League Two Rochdale and National League Yeovil Town. 

We host the Town on Saturday 5 September, before travelling to the newly-renovated Memorial Ground in Surrey on Saturday 13 March. 

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Folkestone Invicta

Where they’ve come from: Promoted from Isthmian Football League Premier Division

The Gaffer: Jay Saunders

Nickname: Invicta

Last time they played in the National League South: NA

Head-to-Head Record with the Tudors: Yet to meet

Folkestone Invicta will also feature in the National League South for the first time after storming to the Isthmian Premier Division title last time out. 

Led by Jay Saunders, they amassed 96 points, 12 more than runners-up Aveley, and now face the fresh challenge posed by Step Two football.

A busy off-season saw them retain the core of last season’s squad, while bringing in some fresh faces, none more notable than former EFL striker John Akinde. 

Signed from Braintree Town, the 37-year-old has scored over 180 league goals and reached the heights of the Championship, lacing them up with the likes of Brentford, Bristol City, Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth. 

Other arrivals include Alejandro Machado from Brentwood Town and Reggie Young from Dagenham & Redbridge. 

A whopping five men made the Isthmian Premier Team of the Season for the last campaign - keeper Ted Collins, defenders Ben Mason and Kevin Lokko, and forwards Jake Hutchinson and Joe Pigott - with Hutchinson the only one to depart. 

Pre-season saw them beaten by Aveley, Cray Wanderers, Sholing and Sutton United, although they did defeat a Charlton Athletic XI 2-0. 

The Tudors travel to Kent’s Alcaline Stadium on bank holiday Monday 31 August, before hosting Invicta on Saturday 20 March. 

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Billericay Town

Where they’ve come from: Promoted from Isthmian Football League Premier Division

The Gaffer: Danny Scopes

Nickname: The Blues

Last time they played in the National League South: 2021/22

Head-to-Head Record with the Tudors: Tudor wins: 3; Blues wins: 3; Draws 0

Billericay Town are back in the National League South for the first time since relegation in 2022, the only promoted side with prior Step Two experience. 

It took them four attempts to finally return, finishing as Isthmian Premier runners-up in 2024/25 but losing in the playoff semi-final before triumphing in last season’s post-season competition after a third-place regular season finish. 

Four summer signings include Sydney-born winger Matty Macarthur, a graduate of Championship side Southampton’s academy, and midfielder Odei Martin, who was a large part of Worthing’s National League South-winning squad last year. 

Midfielder Elliot Long and full-back Jay Porter, both named in the Isthmian Premier Team of the Season last time out, are two of those retained. 

The Tudors visit New Lodge on Saturday 31 October, before hosting the Blues on Saturday 13 February.