In our second installment of previews this week of own opponents next season we take a trip to Kettering Town, Conference North Champions in 2008 who last season enjoyed a successful campaign in the Conference and in the FA Cup under the stewardship of Mark Cooper.

Nickname: The Poppies

Manager: Mark Cooper

Ground: Rockingham Road

Last season: Conference 8th

2008/09 average attendance: 1,615

2009/10 BSP title odds: 20/1

Previous meetings: The Poppies were regular adversaries in the Town's Southern League days in the Victorian and Edwardian times but there have been no compettive meetings since.

The last time the Hatters visited Rockingham Road was for a friendly in 1995 where the hosts ran out 2-1 winners.

Recent history:

After winning the Conference North title in 2007/08 the Poppies started their first since back in the Conference Premier after a five year absence with a storm and landed up finishing in eighth position.

Their heroics in last season's FA Cup led them to the fourth round where they gave Premier League Fulham a scare before losing 4-2 at Rockingham Road. They had seen off Lincoln City and League 2 leaders Wycombe Wanderers in the earlier rounds.

The Poppies faithful have certainly had plenty of ups and downs in recent years, with Paul Gascoigne installed as manager in 2005, play-off heartbreak in 2006/07 before winning the Conference North title at a canter collecting a division record of 97 points.

The club enjoyed several successful seasons in the non-league top flight during the 1980s and 1990s.

However, in the days where only one team was promoted to the Football League, the Rockingham Road faithful were denied promotion, finishing as Conference runners-up on four separate occasions in 1981, 1989, 1994 and 1998.

FACT: Kettering were the first English side to have shirt sponsorship, when in 1976, they were sponsored by Kettering Tyres.

Official website: www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk

Tomorrow: Kidderminster Harriers

Previews so far - click the teams below:

AFC Wimbledon

Altrincham

Barrow

Cambridge United

Chester City

Crawley Town

Eastbourne Borough

Ebbsfleet United

Gateshead

Hayes & Yeading