The National League returns this weekend with 24 clubs chasing the two automatic routes back into the EFL, following last season's success stories of York City and Rochdale.
According to BBC News, both clubs secured promotion in 2024-25, giving hope to this term's hopefuls that a similar leap is possible. The division remains notoriously competitive and unpredictable, often producing surprise promotion candidates alongside the traditional big spenders.
As the new campaign kicks off on Saturday, attention turns to which sides can replicate that rise up the pyramid. The report doesn't name specific favourites, but frames the question of who might follow York and Rochdale's example as central to the season ahead.
With promotion offering not just prize money but a return to League Two status, the stakes for the National League's chasing pack remain high — and, per BBC News, the race to find the next breakout club starts now.