National League North: 8 Players you need to know this Summer.

Scouting & Analysis

Hello and welcome to my thoughts and suggestions on some of the most interesting players who have just finished this National League North season. Like my last pieces on the Isthmian Premier and the National League South, I’ve tried to suggest players for clubs in different scenarios. Newly promoted, title chasers, champions and even some EFL clubs who should be casting an eye lower down the pyramid.

The National League North wasn’t quite as exciting as the South, but I don’t want to start the whole North vs South debate, as a proud Southerner, I get enough abuse from my Northern girlfriend. Only 4 clubs duked it out for the title in the final weeks, each having periods at the top. Brackley Town took the title in the end, beating the big hitters of the division. The top four were finally made up of Kidderminster Harriers, Chester and Scunthorpe.

With clubs scrambling to retain and sign players for next season’s campaign, I feel there is no time to lose. So, below are 8 players I feel you guys need to know.

1. Harrison Burke - Chester

Position: CB

Age: 22

Anyone with even a passing interest in English non-league or who is part of a recruitment team at clubs from League 2 down will surely know the name Harrison Burke already. By all accounts, he is already on lots of transfer shortlists this summer. The 22-year-old has been one of Chester’s standout players, locking down their defence whilst being one of only two defenders with goal tallies in double figures (none of his came from the penalty spot).

Chester were unlucky not to go up, they led the way for most of the campaign and were eventually edged out by Scunthorpe in the Play-Off final. Alongside his midfield teammate Declan Weeks, Burke also made it into the team of the season with league stats of 10 goals, 3 assists and 12 cleansheets, whilst only picking up an impressive 3 yellow cards along the way. He is a product of Chester’s youth system, which, coupled with his impressive performances and all-action play style, makes it easy to see why he has thoroughly established himself as a fan favourite.

Burke is only 5’10, which for a Non-League defender is reasonably small, but what is remarkable is his aerial ability. Burke is a formidable aerial defender. He has an excellent leap, both from a standing start and a run, quickly stomping on any issue people might have with his height. He is also hyper-aggressive when challenging opposition forwards and defenders. You can often see him hammering his way through the crowd to win set pieces at the back post. This combination of skills is the main reason he has amassed the goals he has this year. It’s said that goals will get the headlines, but he is also a very reliable defender. He has a ‘stopper’ defensive style, preferring to aggressively jump to the opposition forwards early, giving them little time to control the ball or get set. His tackling is clean and consistent, his size allows him to be more mobile, and he relishes moving out to wider positions to go toe to toe with more technical wide players. It’s this versatility that will have scouts and recruitment teams considering him as a player who could potentially play as both a regular CB, a WCB in a back 3 and also as a defensive RB. His passing is safe but reliable, and his technical skills aren’t neglected. He is happy to attempt big switches or play forward balls into the midfield. If he could improve this further, then I would also potentially posit the idea that he could, in the right side, be a midfield destroyer.

With a year still to run on his contract, Burke is signed up with Chester until next summer. Chester missing out on promotion is a big blow and I’m sure National League clubs will be circling. I’d go as far as to say League 2 clubs will be monitoring the situation, potentially as an initial squad player with a view to testing him at the higher level. Chester will be looking for a good offer to prize away their biggest asset, so a move this summer might not materialise, but if he continues his form next season, then I’d expect him to play his trade at a higher level soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if some clubs might look to test their resolve early and look to move this summer.

2. Callum Roberts - Scunthorpe

Position: RW, CAM, CM

Age: 28

Like Harrison Burke, Callum Roberts should be a name a lot of people will be familiar with. Granted, I’ve started this list with two obvious players, but their form and contributions make them absolute standouts. Scunthorpe have claimed promotion, which is lucky, as if they have any chance of holding on to their talisman, then that was the least they needed to achieve. Roberts has increasingly looked like a fish far too big for the pond, but after a series of average moves, a form and confidence-boosting season looks like just what the footballing doctors ordered. Alongside Burke, he also claimed a position in the team of the season.

32 G/A contributions in 40 games in all competitions is an amazing return. His 20 goals and 12 assists have given him an incredible 42% involvement in all of his side’s goals. Not only did Scunthorpe have Roberts’ menacing opposition defences, they also had the strongest defence, leaking only 30 goals in 46 games.

Roberts brings a practical and versatile flair to this Scunthorpe side. When I say ‘practical flair’, I mean he uses it for a reason and always for an end product in mind. Although he has the talent, he doesn’t beat mean for no reason, or indulge in pointless flicks and tricks. He has very high levels of technical skill. His dribbling and close control are exceptional for the level; he is able to change pace and direction easily and effectively, all whilst not relying on an explosive top speed. He particularly likes sucking defenders into a challenge before nipping beyond or inside them. The wide player has fired in several show-stopping goals this season, his finishing is good and he obviously has an eye for the spectacular. He enjoys whipping balls into the far corner from distance after cutting inside or postage stamp finding free kicks from the edge of the area. I enjoy him bringing this flair to more central areas, he favours the RW but I have watched him play with complete freedom in a CAM role and even a conventional CM. In these roles, he can also bring a nice range of creative passing. Sure, there are some weaknesses to his game; he isn’t the most physical and he is overdependent on his left foot. This could make his dribbling and crossing style a tad predictable if playing in a higher division. He is happy to dribble down the line from time to time, but developing this to become more unpredictable would be a benefit.

Roberts is by far the strongest technical player in the league. He came through Newcastle United’s youth system, had spells in the National League and time north of the border in Scotland’s two top-flight divisions. He moved from Scottish Prem side Aberdeen (not that he was getting any real gametime) to the National League North. That’s quite a drop, and although it’s always hard to compare leagues, some would suggest he could have looked higher. Still, as I mentioned before, a confidence-boosting season isn’t a bad thing and with Scunthorpe’s promotion, he will at least be getting National League game time next season. Given his age (28), form and past experience playing at higher levels, it will be interesting to see if more established promotion-chasing National League sides or newly promoted League 2 sides will be looking to gamble on bringing him in, giving him another chance to cut it at the higher level.

3. Tom Wilson - King’s Lynn

Position: CB

Age: 24

King’s Lynn were the best team at grinding out results this season. Their 6th-place finish gave them a place in the play-offs. The side had only a +6 goal difference, 18 less and 21 fewer goals than any other top 7 side. They knew how to get wins. Between the 22nd of March and the 21st of April, the side played 6 games. They won four of them 1-0, one 3-1 and drew the other 0-0. One goal conceded in the entire month. It was runs of form like this that saw them overachieve and better any pre-season expectations.

The Linnets switched between a back 3 and 4 this season. They even dropped into a defensive 5 when grinding out those 1-0 wins. Tom Wilson played in all these systems and once he nailed down his starting position, he became the side’s Mr Consistent. The ex-Halifax man was at home on the left of their back 3. Unlike the likes of Harrison Burke, Wilson offered little in the way of goal threat, despite his size and aerial presence. He only contributed one 1 goal, although he did grab a couple of assists with long balls downfield.

Wilson is a no-nonsense, physically powerful CB who enjoys the art of defending. He excels in defensive aerial battles; his aggressive play style helps him be dominant when attacking the ball in the air. Pair that with a 6’4 frame, and any striker very rarely bests him. When he isn’t competing for the first ball, he is using good game awareness and positioning to either sweep up loose balls over the top or stepping forward to cut out opposition passes. He has defensive reliability and a level of consistency this season that forced the manager to make him one of the first names on the team sheet. I’ve already mentioned his height, but I especially like the fact that he has no real physical weakness. A lot of players of his size normally have to sacrifice speed or agility. Wilson has no such issue; he has great strength, his top speed is excellent and his large stride allows him to accelerate nicely when attempting to nick the ball before the opposition has it under control.

He does have weaknesses; his passing and forward ambition is limited, he often looks to clear the ball first rather than take it down, and he prefers to offload the ball to others who are better suited to making progressive passes.

Consistency is such a powerful weapon for a defender; all managers would love to have a player who is going to give them at least a 7 out of 10 every week. They’d also love one who is a natural, no-nonsense defender, who makes minimal individual errors. He only made one National League appearance for Halifax before his move to King’s Lynn, and before that move, he was playing in Step 3 football. Perhaps it’s a bit early to suggest a return to the National League but the top teams in his current division will already be monitoring his situation. Who knows, another season like this one and he might have the chance to aim higher.

4. Luke Griffiths - Curzon Ashton

Position: CM, CDM

Age: 26

Curzon Ashton was my favourite team in the league to watch this season. Their 4-2-3-1 formation allowed them to play an exciting passing style, and the 3 behind the striker enjoyed rotating and playing in quite a fluid manner. The side was very unlucky in missing out on the playoffs. A poor run of form saw them win 1 in their last 5 games, dropping them outside of the required spots by only goal difference. Yes, I might have found them exciting, but the sides’ matches were fairly frugal on the goals front. They built their season around a strong defence, boasting the 3rd best defensive record in the league, only conceding an impressive 41 goals. At the other end, they scored a fairly average 59 goals, their joint top scorers being the experienced James Spencer and the consistently impressive Stefan Mols (A player who could have easily made this list) on 12 goals a piece.

I have watched the side multiple times this year, and I have seen them win, lose and draw. I was most impressed by Luke Griffiths during this time. Playing either in a pair or at the base of the midfield, he has operated mainly as a deep-lying playmaker. He might not catch the eye like his goalscoring teammates, or be high in flair but he has brought a calm, composed assurance on the ball, keeping Curzon ticking whilst also having a creative eye and a defence-splitting pass. 9 G/A contributions is also an impressive figure, especially when you take into account they come from his deep position. Griffiths relies on his impressive technical qualities. He possesses a great first touch, often taking the ball away from his opponent, which also allows him to consistently offer himself as an option to his defenders. His smoothness on the ball is also reflected in his distribution and variation of pass. He moves the ball quickly, loaning the ball to his teammates before receiving it back and delivering passes between the lines. At this level, this is a lesser scene skill; often, midfielders are required to be all-action bruisers. He brings a touch of class and composure to a chaotic game.

Physically, he is tall and mobile, with a big stride that lets him cover large areas of ground well, but he isn’t the strongest and can occasionally struggle against overly physical opponents. Despite this, he isn’t one to shirk a battle. Evidence of this is his poor discipline record; 13 yellows is a large number for someone whose main role isn’t ball-winning. Some were for professional fouls, an occupational hazard for the position, but clearly, there is room for development in the tackling department.

This is the highest level Griffiths has played at; he has also only played 80% of all minutes available to him this season. He is a player for a certain system, or a certain team with a possession-based style. All that being said, I’d love to see a National League side that play the ball on the deck and looks to dominate possession to bring him in as an interesting squad option. At 26, he is expected to hit his prime soon and I’d like to see him tested at a higher level.

5. Jaiden White - Hereford FC

Position: RM, RW

Age: 23

Hereford FC have slipped into the habit of midtable obscurity in recent years. In the last five seasons, they haven’t finished higher than 11th and have been as low as 17th. This season was a bit more exciting for the fans, but the side's 10th-placed position is slightly deceiving; they were actually a lot better than that number suggests and were only 1 point off of a 7th-placed finish and a place in the play-offs. Ultimately, it still amounts to nothing; they face yet another season battling it out in the National League North, but there is an argument that progress is being made. If they can hold onto their important players, the fans will be hopeful they can go one better and secure a play-off spot next year.

Hereford’s surprising wild card was Jaiden White, a player signed in mid-November from Southern League Central Premier Division side Redditch FC (Step 3). The 23-year-old white player seized his opportunity at a higher level with both hands. He showed excellent form in his first month, even grabbing a goal and an assist on his debut. The youngster finished the season with 9 goals and 3 assists in all competitions, an impressive tally considering the jump in division. There were moments of patchy mid-season form, he has the ability to drift through some games whilst totally dominating others, but with more experience, you’d expect (and want) him to be more consistent. Despite this minor quibble, it has been a great debut campaign at Edgar Street.

White is a very raw talent; he has a playground playing style and looks to get the ball forward as fast as possible. First, let’s outline some weaknesses. Sometimes this play style can result him in rushing his touch or passes, but his ideas and confidence to attempt high-risk/high-reward passes outweigh this. Given time and more experience at the level, you’d expect his decision-making and technique to become more reliable. He is also very one-footed; he always cuts back in his favoured left and this makes his crosses and dribbles very predictable. I’ve watched him five times this year, and I’ve never seen him go on the outside or attempt a cross with his right. If he wishes to improve and potentially look to move up the divisions, then these are quite major flaws he must fix.

All that sounds like I’m digging him out, I’m not, most scouts at any level will agree, but let’s look at the positives. What Smith does have is the ability to make things happen; he’ll find you a goal, he’ll find you an assist, he’ll draw a foul or beat a man. He has a positive energy and confidence to give the ball away in the pursuit of better positions on the pitch (playground style). Good things happen for Hereford when he’s on the ball and although he might drift through a game, he is always a danger. He also doesn’t just act as a winger standing out wide, he is happy to roam from position with fine bursts of pace and produce some nice playmaking from deeper wide positions. He has a good eye for a pass and the technique to find the forwards. His shooting has a nice level of variety, he’s popped up with important goals this season and scored with a selection of different finishes. He’s clinically found the net from 1 v 1’s, bent shots in from his favoured inside right channel and also improvised smart finishes from loose balls in the box.

A new contract has been offered and it looks increasingly likely that he’ll be with Hereford for a full season next year. More experience and development are essential; he needs to add more strings and unpredictability to his game. If he can do this, whilst continuing to regularly contribute G/A’s at the same rate as his first foray in the Step 2 level, then I expect National League North promotion chasers’ interest will grow.

6. Paul Blackett - South Shields

Position: ST

Age: 27

South Shields either won or lost; they only drew 6 of the 46-game campaign. They always looked to win and unfortunately, that often resulted in them losing. A 17th-place finish was the best they could muster, but they were a good 20 points safe of relegation. The 2023-2024 season saw them miss out on the play-offs by a single point. Fans will be disappointed that they were not able to progress this year and were in fact nearer the bottom than they were the top. The sides Mr Reliable performed well in both campaigns. Paul Blackett fired 52 league goals over both years, 2024-2025 saw him hit 22, making him the 2nd top scorer of the division. This is exceptionally impressive when considering his side’s position in the table.

Blackett is a tried and tested National League North striker; he has amassed 78 goals in 156 appearances, exactly a goal every other game. Standing at only 171cm, he doesn’t have the build of your conventional target striker. Despite this, his touch and hold up play is one of his biggest attributes. His first touch is assured, and he is comfortable having the ball fired into him at pace, often taking first-time touches into space for a shot, or clever round-the-corner balls for an on-rushing wide player. He is very much South Shields’ focal point, leading the line with clever movement and devastating finishing. All whilst bringing others into play with a clever range of short passes and occupying defenders with his back to goal. For me, he is the best natural finisher in the league, often spotting keepers off their line for lobs from distance (see his goals against Farsley and Alfreton) or first-time predatory penalty box strikes.

Physically, he is short and agile. Quick off the mark and in possession of a stocky powerful build which allows him to excel in the hold up play I’ve described. He isn’t going to burn defenders for pace or race in behind defences, but just means he has refined his clever movement.

Any team in the league playing with a lone striker should be looking at Blackett; his goal-scoring record is excellent and he could make the difference for any promotion or title chasers. South Shields will be hoping for another attempt at the league with him in the side. He has been retained for the 2025-2026 season but at the prime age of 28, you’d expect him to be tempted if a more reliable promotion chaser came calling. I’d also expect any bottom-half National League side in need of goals to be making tentative enquires. I’d like to see him tested again at a higher level after years of good form at Step 2 level.

7. Luke Brennan - Buxton

Position: LW, LM, RW, RM

Age: 23

Buxton’s squad average age this season was 24.8, the second youngest in the league. The side supplemented itself with a series of loans, most of which came from Premier League 2 sides such as Norwich, Man City, Norwich, and several EFL clubs. The upper echelons of the football pyramid are clearly happy to let their youth products get senior experience in John McGrath’s team. That good faith was rewarded with a side that competed consistently over the course of the year and even landed itself an exciting play-off spot on the final weekend.

Luke Brennan was one of those young signings, the 22-year-old signed on a permanent free transfer from National League side FC Fylde after spells in Wigan and Blackburn’s youth setups. Joining Buxton in late November, Brennan went on to make 28 league appearances, scoring 11 and assisting 9. 20 G/A contributions in 28 appearances when joining the side a few months into the season is a great return. He showed good maturity and showed an ability to hit the ground running, scoring 8 goals in his first 10 games. Sure, the goals dried up as the season progressed, 3 in his final 18 games, but he was always positive and turned his hand to creating for others, picking up 8 of his 9 assists.

Brennan is a pacy wide player who has attacked opposition defences from both flanks. He favours cutting inside from his preferred left flank but has been occasionally utilised on the right side, where he attempts to hit the byline and deliver crosses. That’s fairly unusual for wingers these days, most have one flank and one flank only, it’s refreshing to see a player be comfortable on both sides whilst also changing his game up to suit. He mixes great balance, pace and a powerful direct dribbling style to dangerous effect, driving in from the flank in search of a shooting opportunity. His dribbling style is direct; he knocks the ball beyond his opponents and chases it down from a standing start. When a strike on goal isn’t possible, he has normally committed several defenders, thus making space for him to offload dangerous passes to teammates. Brennan also has a talent for shooting from a distance; he has excellent technique when striking the ball whilst moving at pace. His goal against Farsley is a great example of this. I encourage you to look up the highlights; it is a thing of beauty.

Prior to his move to Buxton, he had a few unspectacular games in the National League with Fylde. Following his good season with Buxton and the evidence of what he can do with increased confidence and game time, it would be unsurprising if sides start giving him s route back to Step 1. Given his age and ability to deal damage from both flanks, he would certainly be worth the risk.

8. Luca Colville - Scarborough

Position: CAM, RW

Age: 26

Scarborough had a fairly uneventful season, finishing in 13th. Fans of the Seagulls did have a few players putting in some exciting performances. The pick of the bunch was probably attacking midfielder Luca Colville. He’s been part of their set-up since the 2022-2023 season and has been very reliable in his 3 full seasons at the club, registering over 100 league appearances. Despite the clubs average final league position, Colville has had his personal best season. He finished the season with 39 league appearances, 5 goals and 10 assists. His form peaked with a productive streak in the new year, contributing 7 G/A in 8 games. He turned 26 back in February, so he is entering his prime years. He is fairly experienced and has played at higher levels. He turned out for Bradford in League 1, making 11 appearances, and also had two years in the Scottish Championship with Morton.

A versatile, tall attacking midfield player, he favours a role as a CAM but has been used as a RW, LW and a conventional CM in his time with Scarborough. He is an elegant playmaker whose main skills are his playmaking and ball control. In addition to these talents, he also times his runs to great effect. The majority of his goals this season have come from first-time strikes or headers, arriving late into the box to finish moves. Good set-piece delivery is another string to his bow, despite being one of the side’s taller players and a good headerer of the ball, Coleville is often called upon to take corners and wide set-pieces.

Scarborough has retained the midfielder for next season, so expect him in a red shirt again. He’s been a reliable presence for three seasons now. If he can make it a 4 and Scarborough aren’t challenging at the top end of the table, then I’d like to see him on the move. He won’t be operating in the divisions he has before, but a newly promoted National League side might be interested.

All pictures sourced from the club’s websites and social media. Links below

https://www.brackleytownfc.com/teams/260189/match-centre/1-15575545/report

https://www.scarboroughathletic.com/

https://chesterfc.com/

https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/

https://www.kltown.co.uk/

https://www.buxtonfc.co.uk/

https://herefordfc.co.uk/

https://curzon-ashton.co.uk/

https://www.southshieldsfc.co.uk/