NPL Play-off Final Preview

Bury's Anthony Johnson on how it feels to win a title with the team you support

Bury boss Anthony Johnson is the guest on the final episode of the 2025/26 season of the NPL Show. Jonno's esteemed non-league managerial career had another chapter added to it this season, as he joined boyhood club Bury to help them win the NPL West Division and earn promotion into Step 3. With successful stints at Ramsbottom United, Salford City, Chester, Spennymoor Town and Radcliffe before that, there's plenty to uncover. Sam chats with Jonno about which of his seven promotions means the most to him, if the Class of 92 documentary shaped his career in any way, and parting ways with managerial partner Bernard Morley to join Bury in February - a job he feels is the "pinnacle" of his career, among more. A massive thank you to everyone who has come on the NPL Show this season and to those who have tuned in throughout the year, too.

NPL Play-off Final Preview

The NPL play-off finals are upon us, following a hectic end to the season and an even more action-packed semi-final slate. Host Sam Armitage chats with Rylands' Neil Reynolds, Bradford (Park Avenue)'s Craig Elliott, Belper Town's Lee Attenborough, Racing Club Warwick's Chris Knott and Avro's Grant Shenton to get their thoughts ahead of the biggest games of their season this coming weekend.

Alan Morgan on Bootle's final day play-off hopes, managing in the Europa League and assisting Marine in the FA Cup against Tottenham

Bootle boss Alan Morgan joins Sam Armitage to chat all about his time in management, which saw him take charge of Europa League qualifying games in Sweden and assist Neil Young at Marine as they took on Tottenham in that famous FA Cup matchup. Now, at the Berry Street Garage Stadium, his Bootle side can squeeze into the West Division play-offs on the final day, when it looked a far-fetched dream just a couple of weeks ago. Sam previews that final day and also runs down how we got here after a hectic penultimate weekend of action.

Ash Chambers on being Leicester's youngest player and leading Carlton into a Midlands title showdown

Carlton Town striker Ash Chambers joins Sam Armitage to chat all about his career, from making his senior debut aged just 15 at Leicester, a record which still stands today, playing for England in a U17 World Cup and how he almost fell out of football before joining York City in 2011. He also speaks on the title race in the NPL Midlands Division, in which his Carlton side are neck and neck with Anstey Nomads heading into the final two games of the campaign. Sam also chats about yet another entertaining week across the NPL before previewing a big penultimate weekend of action.

Michael Ellison on his return to Runcorn Linnets after winning the West with Widnes

Runcorn Linnets manager Michael Ellison joins Sam Armitage to chat about his managerial journey, which has seen him back at Linnets nearly six years on from his first stint there. In between that, he had stints at City of Liverpool and Widnes, the latter of which he won the NPL West with last year, before their withdrawal from the league. Ellison talks about how that Widnes team was able to get promoted on a modest budget and the frustrations surrounding their situation afterwards. Now, he's back where it all started, looking to secure a personal back-to-back promotion to Step 3 with Runcorn. Sam also looks back on an action-packed Easter weekend, and previews the third-from-final weekend of the campaign.