TRANMERE NEW SEASON: Meet the opponents

Aldershot Town

• Nickname: The Shots
• Colours: Red shirts, blue shorts and red socks
• Ground: Electrical Services Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 237 miles
• Position last season: 18th

Formed from the ashes of Fourth Division side Aldershot FC, who were the first Football League side to fold since Accrington Stanley in 1962. Started life in the Isthmian League Division Three and worked their way back up into the Football League before relegation and administration struck in May 2013.

Altrincham

• Nickname: Robins, Alty
• Colours: Red and white shirts, black shorts and red socks
• Ground: The J Davidson Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 41.3 miles
• Position last season: 17th

Returned to non-league Step One football last season after winning promotion via the Conference North playoffs.

Barrow

• Nickhame: The Bluebirds
• Colours: White shirts, blue shorts, white socks
• Ground: Furness Building Society Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 107 miles
• Position last season: Conference North Champions

Barrow return to the top tier of non-league football this season as Conference North champions.

The Bluebirds spent 50 years in the Football League from 1921-72 before failing to be re-elected.

They have won the FA Trophy twice and are the only team to do so at both the old and new Wembley Stadium 

Boreham Wood

• Nickname: The Wood
• Colours: White shirts, black shorts and black socks
• Ground: Meadow Park
• Distance from Prenton Park: 203 miles
• Position last season: Second Conference South (promoted via play-offs

The Wood are competing in the National League for the first time after prevailing against Whitehawk in the play-off final after extra time.

Braintree Town

• Nickname: The Iron
• Colours: Orange and white shirts, blue shorts and orange socks
• Ground: Cressing Road Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 239 miles
• Position last season: 14th

Formerly the works team of the works team of Crittall Window Company, the club changed names several times before becoming Braintree Town in 1983. They won promotion to Step One in 2011 after winning the Conference South.

Bromley

• Nickname: The Ravens
• Colours: White shirts, black shorts, black and white socks
• Ground: The Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 257 miles
• Position last season: Conference South Champions

Under the management of former Crystal Palace chairman Mark Goldberg, The Ravens were promoted to the National League last season after being crowned champions of the Conference South.

Cheltenham Town

• Nickname: The Robins
• Colours: Red and white striped shirts, white shorts, white socks
• Ground: Whaddon Road
• Distance from Prenton Park: 148 miles
• Position last season: 23rd League

Two along with Tranmere, Cheltenham were relegated from the Football League at the end of last season. They were Conference champions in 1999 and reached the last 16 of the FA Cup in 2002.

Chester FC

• Nickname: The Blues, The Seals
• Colours: Blue and white shirts, blue shorts, white socks
• Ground: Exacta Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 17.4 miles
• Position last season: 12th

Supporter-owned club formed after the collapse of Chester City. Enjoyed three successive promotions from the off reaching the top tier of non-league football in 2013. Escaped relegation the year after when Hereford United were expelled. Will be relishing new rivalry with Tranmere.

Dover Athletic

• Nickname: The Whites
• Colours: White shirts, black shorts, black socks
• Ground: Crabble Athletic
• Ground Distance from Prenton Park: 297 miles
• Position last season: Eighth

After several close calls, finally reached the Conference Premier in 2014 after defeating Ebbsfleet United in the play-off final.

Eastleigh

• Nickname: The Spitfires
• Colours: Blue shirts, white shorts, blue socks
• Ground: Silverlake Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 239 miles
• Position last season: Fourth

Formerly known as Swaythling Athletic, before becoming Eastleigh in 1980, the club won promotion to the Conference Premier for the first time in 2014 after they were crown Conference South Champions.

FC Halifax Town

• Nickname: The Shaymen
• Colours: Blue shirts, shorts & socks
• Ground: The Shay Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 64.2 miles
• Position last season: Ninth

Another phoenix club that was formed out of the ashes of Halifax Town AFC, who wound up in 2008 with debts of £800,000. Like Chester, the Shaymen quickly worked their way back up the football pyramid and at one point enjoyed a 30 game unbeaten run at home.

Forest Green Rovers

• Nickname: Rovers, The Green
• Colours: Green and black shirts, green shorts, green & black socks
• Ground: The New Lawn Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 166 miles
• Position last season: Fifth

‘The little club on the hill’ are the longest serving members of the Conference Premier (now National League). Reached the play-off semi-finals last season.

Gateshead

• Nickname: The Tynesiders, The Heed
• Colours: White shirts, black shorts, black and white socks
• Ground: The International Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 178 miles
• Position last season: 10th

They might not be the biggest team on Tyneside but Gateshead can still pull in a crowd, none more so than when over 8000 crammed in to watch a play-off victory over Grimsby Town in 2014. The Heed eventually lost the Wembley Final to Cambridge.

Grimsby Town

• Nickname: The Mariners
• Colours: Black and white shirts, black shorts, red socks
• Ground: Blundell Park
• Distance from Prenton Park: 148 miles
• Position last season: Third

One of the oldest names in English football. Once managed by the great Bill Shankly, the Mariners can boast a history of top-flight football but play at a more modest level these days following relegation from the Football League in 2010.

Guiseley

• Nickname: The Lions
• Colours: White shirts, blue shorts, blue socks
• Ground: Nethermoor Park
• Distance from Prenton Park: 79.3 miles
• Position last season: Fifth

Conference North West Yorkshire-based Guiseley gained promotion last season. They play their home games in a ground that holds only 3000 people. Welcome to non-league.

Kidderminster Harriers

• Nickname: Kiddy, Harriers
• Colours: Red shirts, white shorts, red socks
• Manager: Gary Whild
• Ground: Aggborough Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 96.3 miles
• Position last season: 16th

Cash-strapped Kiddy reached the Football League under the stewardship of former Liverpool star Jan Molby in 2000.

Lincoln City

• Nickname: The Imps
• Colours: Red and white shirts, black shorts, red & white socks
• Ground: Sincil Bank Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 142 miles
• Position last season: 15th

Lincoln hold the unwanted record of being the club that has been demoted from the Football League the most times – five in total.

Macclesfield Town

• Nickname: The Silkmen
• Colours: Blue shirts, shorts and socks
• Ground: Moss Rose Ground
• Distance from Prenton Park: 50.5 miles
• Position last season: Sixth

A relatively local rival for Tranmere, Macclesfield competed in the fourth tier of English football from 1997-2012.

Southport

• Nickname: The Sandgrounders
• Colours: Yellow and black shirts, yellow shorts, yellow socks
• Ground: Merseyrail Community Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 23.3 miles
• Position last season: 19th

Gary Brabin should be pretty familiar with Southport – he started the year as their manager. Should be an attractive away fixture for Rovers fans this season as you will be able to get there and back using a Merseytravel Saveaway.

Torquay United

• Nickname: The gulls
• Colours: Yellow shirts, shorts and socks
• Ground: Plainmoor
• Distance from Prenton Park: 276 miles
• Position last season: 13th

It might be a nice town to go for a summer holiday, but Torquay has been a pretty miserable place for football in recent times.

Welling United

• Nickname: The Wings
• Colours: Red and white shirts, red shorts, red socks
• Ground: Park View Road
• Distance from Prenton Park: 248 miles
• Position last season: 20th

Perhaps one of London's lesser-known clubs and certainly one of its youngest. Welling have never reached the Football League.

Woking

• Nickname: The Cardinals
• Colours: Red and white shirts, black shorts, white socks
• Ground: Kingfield Stadium
• Distance from Prenton Park: 227 miles
• Position last season: Seventh

Woking will be Tranmere's first opponents in the National League when they visit Prenton Park on Saturday, August 8. They have won the FA Trophy a joint-record three times.

Wrexham

Nickname: The Dragons

Colours: Red and black shirts, black shorts, red socks

Ground: Racecourse Ground

Distance from Prenton park: 30.3 miles

Position last season: 11th

Another local rivalry ignites. Just over the Welsh border, Wrexham are the third oldest professional football club.