On Saturday, fans of League Two sides will be able to welcome back normality into their lives as they will return to their various hunting grounds to see their teams embark on another year of league football. Although League Two may not be home to the most illustrious of players and Pep Guardiola may not be lining up in the dugouts, it promises to be an exciting season nonetheless.
Accrington Stanley
Advert
Season review: Last season Stanley were arguably the league's surprise package, managing to finish the season in fourth position. They should really have been promoted automatically, having needed only to beat Stevenage on the last day of the season in order to secure a top three finish, but despite hitting the woodwork three times, they were held to a goalless draw.
A subsequent play-off defeat over two legs to the eventual winners, AFC Wimbledon, meant that they were unable to do the impossible and win promotion to League One. Nevertheless, last season has to go down as a success, and they will be looking to build on that this time around.
Advert
Key man: The best player still at the club is probably ex-Northern Ireland under 21 striker, Billy Kee. Last season the 25 year old registered 17 times in the league and found himself becoming a fans' favourite after arriving from Scunthorpe. If Kee can continue his goalscoring form, Stanley will be hoping they can push on from last term.
Season prediction: I think Stanley are set for a sixth placed finish. I don't see them being able to improve on last year's achievement of getting in the play-offs due to losing so many of their key players from last term, but manager, John Coleman, has shown that he is well capable of achieving success with a small budget so, with a bit more luck, they could see themselves getting to Wembley.
Advert
Barnet:
Season Review: Last season, Barnet finished 15th, a solid mid-table position. Their home form, in particular, was one of the best in League Two and they will be looking to maintain that record this season, while improving away from home as well.
Their captain, Andy Yiadom, was a mainstay in the centre of defence and was able to hold their defensive line together, so losing him to Barnsley will be a big blow to their ambitions.
Advert
Key man: John Akinde scored 24 goals for Barnet last season and the 27 year old has just signed a new three year contract with the Bees. He was their top scorer when they gained promotion from the Conference in 2014-15, and proved himself capable of playing in the Football League with his performances last term.
Barnet will hope that he can be their key man again this season as they look to improve on last year's league position.
Advert
Season prediction: Unfortunately, I can't see Barnet enjoying a particularly successful season this year, and think they might find themselves in a relegation dogfight. I think they will stay up by the skin of their teeth, but that would surely go down as a failure for a side who finished 15th last year. I just feel that they have not made enough progress in the transfer market, especially since the departure of captain, Andy Yiadom, so it could be a long season for Bees fans.
Blackpool:
Season review: Blackpool's problems have been well documented, with their owner, Karl Oyston, being one of the most hated chairmen in the country. They have now suffered back-to-back relegations, having been in the Championship in 2014-15, and the Premiership as late as the 2010-11 season.
Last year's 22nd placed finish signalled the end for manager, Neil McDonald, leading to Blackpool appointing Gary Bowyer, their eighth manager in four seasons.
Key man: Jamille Matt is a new signing at Bloomfield Road, having joined from Fleetwood Town in the summer. He proved himself capable of being a threat in League Two in a loan spell with Plymouth Argyle at the back end of last season, in which he helped them to the play-off final, scoring twice against Portsmouth in the semi-final.
The Seasiders will expect him to make a similar impression this season and help to get them out of the rut in which they have been stuck for the past few seasons.
Season prediction: In my view, Blackpool are going to avoid a third successive relegation, but they will not be able to bounce straight back up the divisions. They find themselves in free-fall, and their off the field issues will make it nigh on impossible for them to make any sort of promotion challenge.
A low mid-table finish could be exactly what Blackpool need in order to regain some stability and gear up for their charge back up the leagues.
Cambridge United:
Season review: The U's came ninth last season, missing out on the play-offs by just two positions, so they will be looking to go one better this time around. Shaun Derry has made a big impact since he was appointed as manager, having taken them from being relegation candidates to top half finishers, and will hope to continue the club's progression over the next season.
Key man: Leon Legge is arguable in the top five defenders in League Two. He is a solid, uncompromising player who is not afraid to put in a solid tackle or three, and can also pose a threat from attacking set pieces. Derry will look to use Legge as the backbone for his team relying on him to marshall the defense, using his experience to form the foundations for a successful season.
Season prediction: Cambridge could be in for their most successful year in recent history. With the additions they've made to their squad over the summer such as Medy Elito and Piero Mingoia, and a young, forward-thinking manager to lead them, the team could pose a real threat at the top end of the league table. I expect them to continue where they left off last season and secure a play-off place, possibly even winning promotion at Wembley.
Carlisle United:
Season review: Carlisle did brilliantly last season to secure a top half finish, coming tenth, despite the flooding in the city causing them huge problems during the season. Not only did it mean they had a backlog of fixtures from their games being postponed, but they ended up spending time helping people affected by the floods rather than training.
These must have acted as useful team bonding sessions as they were able to get through a run of rearranged games which meant that they were, at times, playing more than twice per week and still came tenth.
Key man: Nicky Adams has stunned everybody by moving to Carlisle, despite having played a key part in Northampton's successes last season which saw them crowned as champions of the division.
He was offered a contract extension at the Cobblers, but chose to move to pastures new in the form of Carlisle United. He must have been impressed by Keith Curle's vision for the club, and the winger will hope to push his new side towards the top end of the table.
Season prediction: In my book, despite the extent to which the Cumbrians have improved their squad, I just can't see them troubling the other promotion candidates. Another top half finish could be in store for Carlisle, and they will definitely find themselves in the hunt for a play-off place, but I'm simply not sure that they have the required squad depth necessary to gain promotion.
Cheltenham Town:
Season review: Cheltenham enjoyed a fantastic 2015-16 season, winning the Vanarama National League and securing their return to the Football League at the first attempt. They won the league by a staggering 12 points, and will be hoping that they can avoid a relegation battle by continuing their good form.
Key man: Dan Holman finished last season with 30 goals in the National League, ending up as the joint top scorer. The 26 year-old forward originally impressed in a loan spell at Cheltenham, before the move was made permanent in January 2016.
The striker will be hoping to make his mark on the Football League after an unsuccessful spell at Colchester United and a goal-heavy campaign would ensure that he bursts back onto the league scene in style.
Season prediction: Newly promoted teams rarely find themselves going straight back down from League Two, and I think this year will be no different. While the Robins are unlikely to be challenging at the top end of the league, a mid-table finish is very realistic.
Their positive momentum from last year's successes should see them have a comfortable first season back in League Two and allow them to consolidate their position.
Featured Image Credit: