.jpg)
We'll be losing a number of long standing rivalries next season with promotion to League One, but we'll reacquait ourselves with a number of old 'friends'.
Gone are Shrewsbury, Chester, and Accrington. In come Bristol Rovers, Swindon, and ... Brighton. While the Robins and Pirates have been off the radar for only a year, it'll be eleven years to the day next Saturday that the Seagulls condemned the Bulls to Conference football.
Back then, the two sides tussled as the worst teams in the Football League. Next season the Seagulls will be one of the favourites for promotion while the Bulls can be expected to be underdogs yet again in a division where nobody expected them to be in the first place. The Seagulls will still be squatting at Withdean Stadium, a converted athletics ground, with their new ground not expected to be ready until the season after.
The Pirates will be another bunch of squatters, but their 'home' ground for next season is not yet decided. They were due to share Cheltenham's Whaddon Road ground this season until delays moved the redevelopment of the Memorial Ground until August this summer. They may yet be sharing with Swindon, who are another looking for promotion next season.
The Robins have gone off the rails somewhat since Paul Sturrock departed for Plymouth. A mid-table finish under new boss Maurice Malpas has not been well received by fans enthused by the seven figure takeover earlier in the season. They will certainly expect better next season.
Hello, as well, to Yeovil and - possibly - Cheltenham. Both have been at the wrong end of the table this season with the Glovers safe by only a few points while the other Robins need a win next Saturday to secure their status ahead of Gillingham and Bournemouth.
We could yet be seeing Southampton as a League One side rather than a pre-season friendly. Or Leicester. That'll bring back some memories.
