MICHAEL Welch knows plenty about League Two after spending six seasons there with Macclesfield Town. The defender takes a look at the grounds he has visited and the places he is relishing going to - like Macclesfield, Hartlepool and Notts County.
BARNET
Nickname: The Bees,
Ground: Underhill Stadium
Manager: Paul Fairclough
Actually I have never been there because they came up as I went to Accrington but I am sure the Accrington fans know all about Barnet from their Conference clashes!
BOSTON UNITED
The Pilgrims, York Street Stadium, Steve Evans
It is one of those grounds which is a nightmare to get to because it is all A roads! It is an old type of ground - quite small. I went there the year they were deducted 10 points and they were a physical side and were always a good side at home. I haven't got a great record there as I have never won there - I think I have drawn one and lost three times so I need to put that right.
BRISTOL ROVERS
Pirates, Memorial Stadium, Paul Trollope
It is a good ground and they have a decent support - I think it holds around 12,000. It will be a hard place to go to, especially if they have a good start as they will attract more fans. It is an old style stadium as the stands behind the goal seem to be far away while the ones at the side seem to be really close to the pitch and so it can seem intimidating. They are usually a big side too.
BURY
The Shakers, Gigg Lane, Chris Casper
When I was at Macclesfield, they were always good local derbies. I remember when I have been in the past - whether at the start or the end of the season - the pitch has been poor. It is a good place to go though as it is close to home and usually a decent game.
CHESTER CITY
Blues/City, Saunders Honda Stadium, Mark Wright
A nice new stadium and usually a nice pitch to play on. The grounds in League Two do tend to be a lot tidier than the ones in the Conference. I trained at Chester last pre-season so I am looking forward to going back - and I haven't got long to wait!
DARLINGTON
Quakers, Williamson Motors Stadium, Dave Hodgson
Fantastic stadium which wouldn't look out of place in the Championship or Premiership. I think it is about a 25,000 all-seater stadium so it is strange running out when there are just 2,500 people there. It makes for a strange atmosphere. Last time I played them they had a lot of old pros like Craig Hignett playing for them and they were a good side who liked to get the ball down and play football.
GRIMSBY TOWN
The Mariners, Blundell Park, Graham Rodger
Absolutely miles away - or so it seems - especially from my home in Cheshire! Always smells of fish! It is another old fashioned ground with a big pitch. They have dropped quite a long way in the last few years but if they do well, they can get the support. Can be an intimidating place.
HARTLEPOOL
Pools, Victoria Park, Danny Wilson
I made my league debut there six years ago so it has special memories. It is a nice pitch and a nice little ground. They have had a few up and down years getting into the League One play-offs not so long ago and then getting relegated on the final day of last season with virtually the same team. And they have Sky's Jeff Stelling as their famous fan. It isn't a bad little place to go to and I think they will do well this season.
HEREFORD
The Bulls, Graham Turner, Edgar Street
I think all Accrington fans and players know enough about Hereford. There is rivalry there - especially after last season and what happened with the controversial decisions which ended our winning run. They will think they owe us one after we won the championship but it will be nice to go there and give them a bit of stick!
LINCOLN CITY
The Imps, Sincil Bank, John Schofield
A big stadium with massive stands. It is a similar trip to the Boston one - on all the same A roads which makes you feel sick on the coach. There are a couple of universities down there and the students do watch the football so it does tend to be a young crowd. When I was there last, Keith Alexander was manager - he has gone to Peterborough now - but he tended to have two 6ft 6 centre halves with two 6ft 4 centre forwards and played the long ball game. I don't mind that as I don't mind balls in the air - it's those quick little strikers at my feet which are hard work!
MACCLESFIELD TOWN
The Silkmen, Moss Rose, Brian Horton
The one I can't wait for. I spent six years there and made more than 100 league appearances for them. They gave me my league debut so I have fond memories but I also left with bad memories, which is a shame. It is a nice little ground, similar to Accrington's - a good, small club which I think holds about 6,000. I am really looking forward to going there. I don't know what kind of reception I will get but I hope it is decent as I spent some good years there and me and another player there at the time, probably played more league games than anyone else at the club. I guess I will either get sent off here or score a goal - hopefully the last one!
MANSFIELD TOWN
The Stags, Field Mill, Peter Shirtliff
Three new stands around this ground and one old one. They have been up and down recently but had a really good team under Keith Curle with a lot of their young players coming through and some going on to play at a higher level. They were struggling to stay up last year but they are usually a strong team and it is a good place to go with a pitch you would want to go and play on.
MK DONS
The Dons, National Hockey Stadium, Martin Allen
Never played at the National Hockey Stadium but it looks nice and I am looking forward to it.
NOTTS COUNTY
Magpies, Meadow Lane, Steve Thompson
I have played there once and won 5-0 and I scored with a header so I certainly have good memories of Notts County. It is a nice ground - an old-fashioned one which has been renovated - and it is a big pitch. Always a decent side.
PETERBOROUGH
Posh, London Road, Keith Alexander
Not played there but I know their manager Keith Alexander from his Lincoln days so, as I said before, I expect them to be a big side all over the pitch who like to play the long ball game. They will be a difficult side to play against.
ROCHDALE
The Dale, Spotland, Steve Parkin
Another local derby and I have a few mates there. It is a compact ground. They have had problems with their pitch over the last few seasons with quite a few games called off but I think they have solved that for this season. They tend to have good young players and like to pass the ball around. I used to play with their striker Ricky Lambert at Macclesfield. It is usually a good local derby atmosphere.
SHREWSBURY
Town/Shrews, Gay Meadow, Gary Peters
I played against them just after the floods and the pitch was shocking! It can be quite an intimidating place as it is a big old ground with two open ends without rooves. Is a tough place to win at.
STOCKPORT
County/Hatters, Edgeley Park, Jim Gannon
Really looking forward to that one. I know quite a few of their players as I live seven miles from their training pitch and it is probably my closest ground to home. I also trained with them in the last pre-season. They have had a drop down the leagues as, around 10 years ago, they were in the play-offs for the Premier League and came close to dropping into the Conference last season. They are capable of getting big support if things are going well. I do not know their manager Jim Gannon but have heard he is a good man and is looking to get them back up the leagues. A nice big old-fashioned ground and it is one I am looking forward to.
SWINDON Town
Robins, County Ground, Dennis Wise
They have always been in the higher league but I remember going to watch them play Liverpool years ago. They have Gus Poyet and Dennis Wise there and it is a nice ground so I think it is one of them the players will enjoy going to.
TORQUAY United
The Gulls, Plainmoor, Ian Atkins
I must admit I did want them to drop into the Conference just because of the travelling! What a trek - a definite overnighter, I hope. I remember going down there one season with Macclesfield and it was called off on the Saturday morning and we had to return on a Tuesday. Nightmare. Compact ground which holds about 10,000 fans. The pitch wasn't the greatest when I was there and it is a difficult place because of the travel and because of the home support.
WALSALL
The Saddlers, Bescot Stadium,
Richard Money
Probably the biggest team in the league. A ground we always see off the M6 when we are travelling and it looks a nice big ground and will be one everyone wants to play at. Will be a tough one, though. One of my friends John Whitney is their physio. He was at Winsford with my dad and lives near me.
WREXHAM
Dragons, Racecourse Ground, Denis Smith
I remember playing against Dibbs (Andy Dibble) for Macclesfield against Wrexham and we won 3-1. I didn't score but Dibs messed up for one of the goals and I like winding him up about it! They have changed a few players since I last played there but I don't mind this trip.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Chairboys/The Blues, Adams Park
Paul Lambert
I played against them when they were on the way up and they are usually a big side with strong defenders, big midfielders and tall centre forwards. They are usually a physical side but it is a nice ground in a decent area.