Here are the 20 teams that make up the Isthmian League North for 2022/23:
1. AFC Sudbury
2. Basildon United
3. Brentwood Town
4. Bury Town
5. Coggeshall Town
6. East Thurrock United
7. Felixstowe & Walton United
8. Gorleston
9. Grays Athletic
10. Great Wakering Rovers
11. Hashtag United
12. Heybridge Swifts
13. Hullbridge Sports
14. Lowestoft Town
15. Maldon & Tiptree
16. New Salamis
17. Stowmarket Town
18. Tilbury
19. Witham Town
20. Wroxham

There are five new teams for next season, with Aveley & Canvey Island promoted and Barking & Romford relegated. Additionally, Dereham Town have been moved to the Northern League Midlands Division, much to their annoyance, a shame for them as Gorleston, Lowestoft, and Wroxham would have given them some good local derbies and stopped them from being isolated in far-flung Norfolk if you can count Norfolk as far-flung!

Joining for 2022/23 are:
• East Thurrock United - relegated from the Isthmian League Premier.
• Gorleston - promoted as Eastern Counties League Premier Champions.
• Lowestoft Town – relegated from the Southern League Premier Central.
• New Salamis – Promoted as Spartans South Midlands Premier League Champions.
• Wroxham - promoted as Eastern Counties League Premier Runners Up.

The new kids on the block:

East Thurrock United
The Rocks were founded in 1969 and play their matches at Rookery Hill in Corringham. They were relegated from The Isthmian Premier League, finishing 21st out of 22 with 35 points, two more than bottom-placed Merstham but one worse than Leatherhead and Cray Wanderers. 9 wins, 8 draws and 25 defeats saw The Rocks drop down a level and join us in the ILN for 22/23.

Gorleston
From far-flung Norfolk, Gorleston were Eastern Counties League Premier Champions for 2021/22 with 84 points from 38 matches, finishing one point better off than also promoted Wroxham. With 26 wins, 6 draws and 6 defeats The Greens took the title and promotion to the ILN for 22/23. Formed in 1887 The Greens play at Emerald Road, Gorleston, and are indeed in far-flung Norfolk and for those who are geographically challenged, It’s near Great Yarmouth, so in Hullbridge terms, it’s far-flung!

Lowestoft Town
Relegated from the Southern League Premier Central, finishing bottom of the table with 33 points from their 40 matches. 9 wins, 6 draws and 25 defeats were enough to leave The Trawler Boys in 21st place, one point behind fellow relegated Biggleswade Town and way behind Barwell who finished on 41 points. The Trawler Boys (a great nickname by the way) were founded in 1887 as Lowestoft FC as a merger between East Suffolk and Kirkley and were renamed Lowestoft Town in 1890. They play at Crown Meadow, Lowestoft in, far-flung Suffolk which is slightly less far-flung than far-flung Norfolk.

New Salamis
Spartans South Midlands League Premier Champions 2021/22, winning the title with 94 points, one more than Risborough Rangers and Hadley. The club was formed in 1971 by fans of Cypriot club Nea Salamis Famagusta. They currently ground share with Harringay Borough at Coles Park, White Hart Lane (sounds familiar, sorry Arsenal fans!). On their way to the title, they won 30, drew 4, and lost 4 of their 38 games with a goal difference of +87.

Wroxham
Wroxham FC were formed in 1892 and play their matches at Trafford Park, Wroxham under the superb nickname of The Yachtsman and join us in the ILN for 22/23 as runner’s up of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division. Finishing one point behind Champions Gorleston with 26 wins, 5 draws, and 7 defeats from their 38 matches. Wroxham is considered the capital of the Norfolk Broads and is 8 miles from Norwich so is, obviously, in far-flung Norfolk!

Old friends:

AFC Sudbury
Formed in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers, AFC play at the MEL Group Stadium, Sudbury, Suffolk. They finished in 7th place in ILN 21/22 with 63 points. Results against The Bridge were 1-1 at Lower Road in November and 2-1 to The Bridge in Suffolk in April, a major part of The Great Escape.

Basildon United
Founded in 1955 as Armada Sports, The Bees play at Gardiners Close, Basildon, and are one of a number of Essex derbies to look forward to in 22/23. The Bees finished in 17th place in ILN 21/22 with 35 points, just above the relegation play-off place occupied by Witham Town. Results against The Bridge were 1-0 at Lower Road in November and 2-0 to The Bridge in March, another big part of The Great Escape.

Brentwood Town
Beaten play-off finalists, only losing out on penalties to Canvey Island, Brentwood finished in 3rd place on 75 points. Results against The Bridge were 3-1 in January and 4-0 in April. The Blues were founded in 1954 and went through a few name changes from Manor Athletic, to Brentwood Athletic, Brentwood, and finally Brentwood Town. They play their home games at Brentwood Centre Arena, unsurprisingly in Brentwood.

Bury Town
Based in Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, The Blues were formed way back in 1872. Playing home games at Ram Meadow, Bury St Edmonds, the Blues finished 21/22 in the ILN in a comfortable midtable 12th place with 44 points. Results against The Bridge were 3-2 in August and 2-2 in January in a match that was played at Aveley with Lower Road out of action.

Coggeshall Town
Excellently known as The Seed Growers, Coggeshall currently reside at West Street, Coggeshall. Another Essex team, they had a mixed 21/22 season and finished in 13th place on 43 points. Results against The Bridge were 4-1 in October and 2-0 to The Bridge in January at Lower Road in a match that was probably the beginning of The Great Escape, with Stokesy getting both the goals.

Felixstowe & Walton United
Founded in 2000 when Felixstowe Port & Town and Walton United merged, The Seasiders play home matches at Dellwood Avenue, Felixstowe, Suffolk. Results against The Bridge in 21/22 were 4-1 in September and 2-1 in January at Lower Road. The six points helped towards a total of 72 points and a 5th place finish that earned The Seasiders a play-off place at Canvey Island. Unfortunately for The Seasiders, they didn’t enjoy being by the seaside in Canvey and they were defeated 3-1 in front of an attendance of 1,059 and take their place again in the ILN for 22/23.

Grays Athletic
Whilst their landlords Aveley celebrated a Championship season, Grays just missed out on the play-offs finishing 6th with 68 points and will contest the ILN again in 22/23. Home for Grays these days is Parkside, Aveley where they share with their hosts since the sale of their ground in Grays and despite attempts to find them a new home in Thurrock. Known as The Gravelmen, The Ath or The Blues, I guess they could also be The Nomads. Anyway, results against The Bridge in 21/22 were 1-0 in October and a controversial 1-0 in March at Lower Road where for the linesman it wasn’t so much Lower Road as lower flag!

Great Wakering Rovers
Founded in 1919, Rovers play home games at Burroughs Park, Great Wakering, Southend. Essex Senior League Champions in 2017/18, Rovers have maintained their ILN status since and did so for another season with a 15th place finish and a total of 40 points, one more than The Bridge who they moved above on the final day of the season. Results against The Bridge were 1-0 in October and 1-1 at Lower Road in February.

Hashtag United
Formed in March 2016 by Spencer Owen Carmichael-Brown, a football YouTuber (ask the kids!), The Tags have moved around a bit but now reside at the Len Salmon Stadium, home of Bowers & Pitsea. 2021/22 was The Tags first season in the ILN and they finished a respectable 8th with 62 points. Results against The Bridge were 1-1 at Lower Road in November and 3-1 in March, a result that looked like it had put The Great Escape in jeopardy but ultimately for Hullbridge, come May, it was #success.

Heybridge Swifts
Founded in 1880 as Heybridge FC, I’m not sure when they became swift, but they did, and they are. Currently based at Scraley Road, Heybridge near Maldon, The Swifts finished the ILN season 21/22 in 11th place with 53 points. Results against The Bridge were 7-1 (ouch) in December and the boys gained some revenge with a 2-0 win at Lower Road in March as The Great Escape continued apace. If anyone knows how, when, and why they became swifts you can let me know…or not. Moving swiftly on….

Maldon & Tiptree
Yes, it is only one team and not two, but they were two until 2010 when ground sharers Maldon Town and Tiptree United became Maldon & Tiptree. Maldon Town were formed in 1946 and taken over by Tiptree United chairman Ed Garty in 2009 and, as The Spice Girls once said “2 become 1” in 2010 as Maldon & Tiptree. Playing at Park Drive, Maldon, The Jammers, so known in reference to the famous Tiptree jam, finished ILN 21/22 in 9th with 60 points. Results against The Bridge were 3-0 in January and The Bridge took the points in the amazing Great Escape game at Lower Road in April with a 3-2 victory amidst mad celebrations and mass jumping up and down (cheers George!).

Stowmarket Town
The Old Gold & Blacks were founded in 1883 as Stowmarket Association FC. In the summer of 1947, they became Stowmarket Corinthians and then finally Stowmarket Town FC after legal advice (very mysterious!). Residing at Greens Meadow, Stowmarket, Suffolk they finished 21/22 in a play-off qualifying 4th place with 73 points. This earned them a trip to Brentwood Town in the play-off semi-final which ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat and a further season in the ILN for 22/23. Results against The Bridge in 21/22 were 4-1 at Lower Road in October in a match that included a George Bugg hat-trick and a vital 0-0 draw and a vital point for The Bridge in February.

Tilbury
Established in 1889 by workers at Tilbury Docks, for obvious reasons they earned the nickname The Dockers. Playing home games at Chadfields, Tilbury, it was an ultimately disappointing season for The Dockers who finished in 14th place with 41 points (just 2 ahead of The Bridge). ILN 21/22 results against The Bridge were 3-0 at Chadfields in November and 4-0 at Lower Road in March and The Bridge will look forward to the encounters in 22/23 and will hope to gain a measure of revenge for that goal difference damaging double.

Witham Town
ILN 21/22’s other great escapers, Witham saved their season with a 3-0 win over Essex Senior League runners-up Saffron Walden Town in the relegation/promotion play-off match. The Town were formed in 1876 and play out of the Simarco Stadium, Spa Road, Witham, Essex. Finishing in 18th place with 33 points and below the dotted play-off line, The Town saved themselves and will fight on in the ILN for 22/23. Results against The Bridge were 1-0 at Lower Road back in August and a vital 1-0 to The Bridge in December that was part of…. well, you know what!

Saving the best until last:

Hullbridge Sports
Formed in 1947 and celebrating 75 years in 2022/23, not only the best club in Hullbridge but the best club in Essex (biased, who me?) will grace the ILN next season after that now-infamous turnaround in fortunes that we all know and love as The Great Escape. Consequently, we get to witness The Bridge take on all of the above in what promises to be another exciting season at Lower Road and beyond…
So, for what we are about to receive…you know the rest…COYB!