Quakers to face old Football League rivals Hereford and Chester in the new 2018-19 season.

The FA’s Leagues Committee met earlier in the week to formulate the leagues next season, and decided that Hereford, who have won three successive promotions since they were reformed, will play in National League North next season.

Quakers and Hereford played each other 40 times in the Football League, Quakers winning 14 and Hereford 12, but Quakers’ two most important wins were in the 1996 play off semi finals.

You can watch Quakers' win at Hereford here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjEljS_OKVM

Hereford include former Darlo player Rob Purdie in their squad. Rob stood by us in the second administration, and played in several positions in the closing months of the 2008-09 season.

Coming down from the National League are another of our old rivals, Chester.

The last time we played Chester was on the last day of season 2008-09 when we won 2-1 at the Deva Stadium. Chester have had their adventures since then – they were already relegated on the day we played them, and halfway through the following season they were wound up. They restarted life in the EvoStik First Division North in 2010-11, and gained three successive promotions.

The two clubs have played each other 110 times over the years, with Darlo winning 42 and Chester 41.

Guiseley, whom we played in a pre season friendly last year, are also coming down. We have never played them in a league game before.

Coming up from the EvoStik League are Altrincham and Ashton United. We played Altrincham in season 2016-17, drawing 2-2 on the opening day of the season away from home, and then beating them 3-1 at Blackwell Meadows. Altrincham won the Evostik League.

Ashton United, whom we played in the EvoStik Premier season beating them 2-1 away and drawing 1-1 at home, came up through the play offs.

On the way out of our league are Salford as champions and the winners of Sunday’s play off final between Harrogate Town and Brackley, while at the other end Gainsborough, Tamworth and North Ferriby have all been relegated.

National League North will therefore look like this:

AFC Telford United

Alfreton

Altrincham

Ashton United

Blyth Spartans

Boston United

Brackley

Bradford PA

Chester

Chorley

Curzon Ashton

Darlington

FC United of Manchester

Guiseley

Hereford

Kidderminster Harriers

Leamington

Nuneaton Borough

Southport

Spennymoor Town

Stockport County

York City