by Sam Todd

Created on: May 28, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Whilst one former sleeping giant, Cambridge United, came very close to winning back their Football League status via the play-offs, losing in the final to Exeter City, Oxford United bombed big time. A 9th place finish disguised a season spent in mid-table mediocrity. Former players such as Andy Burgess, who returned to Rushden and Diamonds, criticised the Jim Smith regime, and the "Bald Eagle" behind the rise of Oxford in the 1980s was moved upstairs mid-season. Darren Patterson was left to stabilise the ship rather than push for promotion. A return to league football seems a long way off at present.

Very few would have given Aldershot a chance but, 16 years after going out of business, The Shots returned to league football and look as if they are there to stay, winning the Conference with an impressive 101 points. The Phoenix which emblazes their club badge has well and truly risen from the ashes. Torquay United, who were relegated from the Football League last year, were Aldershot's closest challengers for much of the season, but ended up as the nearly-men of non-league football this year. Defeat in the play-off semi-finals to Exeter, having been 3-1 up on aggregate with 20 minutes remaining, followed by F.A Trophy defeat to Ebbsfleet United, saw the Devon outfit's hopes go up in smoke.

Speaking of Ebbsfleet, the club formerly known as Gravesend and Northfleet hit the headlines after they were bought out by MyFootballClub.co.uk, a venture where 50,000 registered members joined together with the aim of buying a professional club. Initially, following the approval of the purchase of Ebbsfleet, the leadership of MyFootballClub stated that its members would be able to make decisions affecting the club in future, including picking the starting lineup for matches, but a later members' vote resulted in a decision to leave selection issues to manager Liam Daish

Altrincham were reprieved from relegation for the third successive season - they stayed up in 2006 due to Scarborough going into liquidation and Canvey Island taking voluntary relegation, again in 2007 due to Boston United being refused entry into the Conference National, and this time due to Halifax Town's takeover being refused by the Inland Revenue, which culminated in their demotion and possible extinction.

Given the wealth - and greed - of the top flight, it's worth noting that Halifax's debt was 2 million, with 800,000 owed to Her Majesty's and Customs. Considering that Manchester United, for example, have nearly 700 million debt as a result of the Glazer takeover, it's a chilling reminder of the disparity between the top and bottom levels of English football.

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