WITH Vauxhall joining the new Nationwide North division, the Motormen will be tackling several new opponents next season.

Many of the clubs who have joined from outside the UniBond League benefit from attracting considerably bigger crowds and higher profiles.

This has been a particular problem for Vauxhall FC who, because they were formed relatively recently in the 1960s and have had a rapid rise through the ranks in the past few seasons, have been unable to build up a large support base.

On the other hand, the likes of Kettering Town and Worcester City are big fish in small ponds and regularly attract gates of more than 1,000.

These figures are two to three times the amount most UniBond Premier clubs could attract, apart from the geographically-remote Barrow.

So with the Motors now playing in the highest class of football to come to Elles-mere Port, now is the time for football enthusiasts in the town to come down to Rivacre Park and check out the action.

Regular Vauxhall followers will be relieved to know the travelling distances involved in the Nationwide North are virtually the same as in last season's UniBond campaign.

The club has one away game fewer this time out but the average return distance has increased by only five miles per trip.

If either Leigh or Northwich hadn't have been reprieved from relegation, travelling would have been even less, but Vauxhall will benefit from a fairly central location within the new boundaries.

The 292 miles to Kettering and back will be the furthest Owen Brown's side have to go for a league game this term.