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Page last updated at 10:54 GMT, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 11:54 UK

Blue Square Bet South Preview
Matt Gerrard
BBC Radio Kent commentator

Captain Paul Lorraine with the play-off cup (Keith Chase EUFC)
Ebbsfleet players celebrate their promotion to Blue Square Bet Premier

Blue Square Bet South will continue to be a league that will intrigue Kent followers for the next nine months.

Five sides look to reach the holy grail of Non-League Football and the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The promotion of Ebbsfleet United last season after just a single season will further convince fans that a Kent side can once again be celebrating come May.

BBC Radio Kent's Matt Gerrard assesses the aspirations of Kent's sides.

Bromley: 2010-2011 - 11th place (57pts)

After a fantastic start to last season with a club record seven consecutive wins, a season of what could have been is the general consensus from the supporters.

Bromley

The Hayes Lane club went through financial worries and managerial turmoil as Mark Goldberg quit citing internal conflicts at the beginning of 2011.

Goldberg has since returned for a third spell in charge and former Gillingham midfielder Neil Smith and Murray Jones both add an experienced backbone on the coaching side.

Transfer dealings have been low key, however highly rated utility man Harrison Dunk has moved to Cambridge United.

Key Man: Tutu Henriques

Dartford: 2010-2011 - 10th (57pts)

Kent's best supported non-league club should be in for a season to remember if past history is anything to go by.

Last season's inaugural campaign in Blue Square Bet South showed remarkable similarities to their first season in Ryman Premier.

They struggled early on, however, as the season progressed, they became much more familiar with their surroundings and a highly respectable 10th place was achieved, after it looked as though a relegation campaign could be on the cards at the beginning of 2011.

Dartford

A memorable FA Trophy scalp of Crawley saw a turn in fortunes as the highly respected Tony Burman managed to get the best out of his talented squad when he needed it the most.

Striker Charlie Sheringham found some fine form and the final home game of the season saw the dismantling of fierce rivals Dover and gave the Darts fans hope that the coming season could see them be a contender, especially when you take into consideration the symmetry with their second season in Ryman Premier league, when they waltzed to the title.

The signing of midfield playmaker Jon Wallis from Dover will add further attacking options and his partnership with skipper Elliot Bradbrook in midfield will be one of the most talented in the league.

Key Man: Charlie Sheringham

Dover Athletic : 2010-2011 - 7th place (74pts)

Chairman Jim Parmenter's aim when previous boss Andy Hessenthaler took the reins at the Crabble based club in May 2007 was to get the club back to the Blue Square Bet Premier within five years.

His successor Martin Hayes will be under pressure to carry out that plan in the final year of his chairman's promotion plan.

Dover Athletic

Much of the pre-season has been taken up by the departure of Adam Birchall, and they will need to move on fast without their talisman. His goals took Dover to the FA Cup 3rd round, before poor form saw them fall outside of the play-offs.

Birchall's boots have been filled by George Purcell who joins from York, while the demise of Rushden and Hayes' close relationship with Justin Edinburgh has seen the Whites snatch highly rated Diamonds trio of Shane Huke, Michael Corcoran and Matt Johnson, who turned down full time offers to move to the coast.

A decent start to the season will be demanded in the face of some tricky fixtures and an improvement in home form where they struggled throughout the campaign if they are to justify the bookmakers' tag of promotion favourites.

Key Man: Shane Huke

Tonbridge Angels: 2010-2011 - 2nd place (Ryman Premier) - Promoted via Play-offs.

A remarkable second half of the season saw Angels clinch promotion from Ryman Premier through the play-offs after a nailbiting victory over Lowestoft.

Tonbridge Angels

They now find themselves at their highest ever level in the football pyramid. Much of their success can be attributed to Tommy Warrilow, whose passion and desire are shown in his side's endeavour to fight for the 90 minutes.

Pre-season started with a demoralising 10-0 home defeat to League One side Brentford, but that has been used as a tool to motivate the squad.

Scoring goals should not be an issue with club legend Jon Main returning after a difficult final season at AFC Wimbledon, while Frannie Collin turned down offers to stay at Longmead and their partnership will be crucial to the Angels hopes.

Key Man: Jon Main

Welling United: 2010-2011 - 6th place (75pts)

Though only 31, Jamie Day has probably seen more in his 18 month reign as Welling manager than some seasoned professionals see in a whole career.

Welling United

Placing into context the off field financial problems and the club's inability to bring in players due to an enforced transfer embargo and the fact that the former Arsenal man is also a key cog in his side's midfield - the job he did last season was nothing short of remarkable.

If it was not for having five points deducted for the aforementioned problems they would have finished in 3rd place on a very healthy 80 points.

Clubs have been circling around a number of players and Day himself, who was linked to the Braintree job in the summer, but he has managed to hold onto them and if he can get the team spirit flowing again and steer clear of injuries in his small squad they are likely to once again be play-off contenders.

Key Man: Jamie Day



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