A Big Bostik Pre-Season- Part 1: A to Dereham

It’s July, and social media is full of photographs of red-faced footballers complaining about bleep tests. That can mean only one thing; pre-season is again upon us! Many of our clubs play their first pre-season friendlies this week with the rest beginning their programme soon afterwards, so we thought we’d provide all of you who have been suffering from football withdrawal symptoms with an A to Worthing guide of the scheduled action.

This will be published over four parts- two today, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday- and feature all the matches currently published on the websites of our member clubs. You can also find a list of fixtures in date order listed on our fixtures page.

So here we go. And remember, the Bostik League fixtures for the forthcoming season will be announced on 13th July.

AFC Hornchurch: It was a case of so near but still so far for the Urchins last season, with a fourth place finish in the North Division before an agonising play off semi-final defeat at the hands of eventually-promoted Thurrock. They’ve added thirty goal Brad Warner from rivals Bowers & Pitsea, and must be strong favourites to mount another promotion challenge this season. Fixtures: Sat 15 July, Hullbridge Sports (A); Thurs 20 July, Kingstonian (H); Sat 22 July, VCD Ath (A); Tues 25 July, Leyton Orient (H); Sat 29 July, Whitstable Town (A); Tues 8 August, West Ham Utd (H).

AFC Sudbury: Determined to bounce back from relegation last season Sudbury have arranged a tough pre-season schedule, with the highlight undoubtedly the visit of Ipswich Town U23’s to the King’s Marsh Stadium. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Haverhill Rovers (H- 1200) and Thetford Town (H- 1500); Wed 12 July, Ipswich Town U23 (H), Fri 21 July, Brightlingsea Regent (A-1930); Tues 25 July, Cambridge City (H); Sat 29 July Leiston (H); Sat 5 August, Norwich City U18’s (A).

Ashford United: The newly promoted ‘Nuts & Bolts’ ended last season in style with a seven-nil thrashing of Rochester United, but are undoubtedly aware that the forthcoming campaign will pose a much greater challenge. They’ve lined up a challenging and entertaining array of pre-season fixtures which kick off this weekend, when the noisy supporters of Tunbridge Wells arrive at Homelands to advise all and sundry that the Queen likes them, but she doesn’t like the rest of us. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Tunbridge Wells (H); Tues 11 July, Margate (H); Sat 15 July, Kings Hill (A); Tues 18 July, Maidstone Utd (H); Sat 22 July, Eastbourne Town (H); Tues 25 July, Folkestone Invicta (H); Fri 28 July, K Sports (A); Sat 29 July, Sevenoaks Town (H); Tues 1 August, Whitstable Town (H); Tues 8 August, Kennington (H).

Aveley: The Millers are undoubtedly looking forward to football as a rest cure, having worked tirelessly all summer to prepare their beautiful new Parkside Stadium- as well as having to clean up the endeavours of a collection of mindless vandals who decided it would be fun to wreck their former Mill Field ground. Because of the vandalism changes have had to be made to the pre-season schedule, which lines up as follows- Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Waltham Forest (A); Sat 15 July, White Ensign (A); Tues 18 July, Clapton (A); Sat 22 July, Barkingside (A); Tues 25 July, Hullbridge Sports (A); Sat 29 July, Enfield 1893 (A); Wed 2 August, Dulwich Hamlet (H); Sat 5 August, Harlow Town (H).

Barking: Having recently added a couple of Jay’s to their nest- Jay Knight, formerly of Clapton FC, and Jay Leader, who manager Justin Gardner describes as ‘the best centre half in non-league football,’ Barking are looking forward to the Bostik League return with a comprehensive array of pre-season matches. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Corinthian (A); Tues 11 July, Coggleshall Town (A); Sat 15 July, Hoddesdon Town (A); Sat 22 July, West Essex (H); Tues 25 July, Barkingside (A-Met Police Ground, Chigwell); Thurs 27 July, VCD Athletic (H); Sat 29 July, Dagenham & Redbridge XI (H- 2PM); Sat 5 August, Frenford (A).

Billericay Town: Fans of Billericay Town must currently be ‘walking in a Tamplin wonderland’ as owner/manager Glenn not only signs a top class squad but invests large amounts of his hard earned cash into transforming the stadium and engaging with the local community. The highlights of the pre-season programme are undoubtedly the visits of Leyton Orient and a West Ham United XI. Fixtures: Sat 15 July, St Albans City (A); Sat 22 July, Bishop’s Stortford (A); Tues 25 July, Heybridge Swifts (A); Sat 29 July, Leyton Orient (H); Sat 5 August, St James’ Swifts (H); Tues 8 August, West Ham Utd XI (H).

Bowers and Pitsea: The Bostik League ‘Community Club of the Year 2016-17’ will hope to improve on their sixth place finish last season. The highlight of their pre-season schedule is undoubtedly a visit from Dagenham & Redbridge on 18th July. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Hullbridge Sports (A); Sat 15 July, Great Wakering Rovers (A), Tues 18 July, Dagenham & Redbridge (H); Sat 22 July, Enfield 1893 (A); Thurs 27 July, East Thurrock (H); Sat 29 July, Frenford Senior (A); Tues 1 August, Brightlingsea Regent (H); Sat 5 August, Hythe Town (A).

Brentwood Town: New manager Craig Shipman will need to replace last seasons leading scorer Lamar Reynolds before the start of the new Bostik League season, although the club are openly delighted that the striker has secured a professional deal at League Two Newport County. The club kick off their pre-season with the visit of highly-fancied National League South side Chelmsford City. Fixtures: Sat 8th July, Chelmsford City (H); Tues 11 July, Saffron Walden Town (H); Wed 19 July, Wadham Lodge (A); Tues 25 July, Brightlingsea Regent (H); Thurs 27 July, West Essex (H); Sat 29 July, Catholic Utd (H); Tues 1 August, Met Police (A); Sat 8 August, Northwood (A).

Brightlingsea Regent: The R’s prepare for their first season in the Bostik Premier Division with a string of friendlies- ten in all. They also welcome a Chelmsford City side who seem to be on a world tour of Essex! Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Little Oakley (A); Tues 11 July, Chelmsford City (H); Fri 14 July, Long Melford (A); Mon 17 July, FC Clacton (A); We 19 July, Brantham Athletic, (A); Fri 21 July, AFC Sudbury (H); Tues 25 July, Brentwood Town (A); Sat 29 July, Bury Town (A); Tues 1 August, Bowers & Pitsea (A); Fri 4 August, Tilbury (A).

Burgess Hill Town: The Hillians have strengthened their squad as they prepare for their third season in the Premier Division, and have lined up a collection of entertaining friendlies including two matches against National League South opposition. Supporters travelling by train are advised to alight at Wivelsfield Station, turn left under the bridge, and then follow signs to the nature reserve! Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Haywards Heath Town (A); Thurs 13 July, Eastbourne Borough (H); Sat 15 July, Horsham (A- Lancing FC); Thurs 20 July, Whitehawk (H); Wed 26 July, Hassocks (A); Sat 29 July, Hastings Utd (A); Fri 4 August, Lewes (A).

Bury Town: Town, from beautiful Bury St Edmunds, include visits from Ipswich Town and Braintree Town amongst their pre-season offerings. Fixtures: Tues 11 July, Hadleigh Utd (A); Sat 15 July, Ipswich Wanderers (A); Tues 18 July, Braintree Town (H); Sat 22 July, Leiston (H); Tues 25 July, Ely City (A); Sat 29 July, Brightlingsea Regent (H); Wed 2 August, Ipswich Town U23 (H-1930); Fri 4 August, Needham Market (H).

Canvey Island: contrary to reports Canvey Island is not the coldest place in the universe, it’s in third place after Hartlepool and Lydd. However it should be seasonally tropical during pre-season, so get along and watch the Gulls and leave your fleece-lined anorak at home! By the way, the local fish and chips are superb. Fixtures: Tues 11 July, Great Wakering Rovers (A); Sat 15 July, Chelmsford City (H); Tues 18 July, East Thurrock Utd (H); Fri 21 July, Patro Eisden Maasmechelen (H); Tues 25 July, Concord Rangers (H); Sat 29 July, Gillingham (H); Tues 1 August, Cray Wanderers (H); Sat 5 August, Greenwich Borough (H).

Carshalton Athletic: The Robins have lined up a feast of pre-season football at Colston Avenue, with visits from Charlton Athletic, AFC Wimbledon, QPR and Dulwich Hamlet. Fixtures: Tues 11 July, Charlton Athletic XI (H); Tues 18 July, AFC Wimbledon XI (H); Sat 22 July, QPR XI (H); Sat 29 July, Tooting & Mitcham Utd (A); Sat 5 August, Dulwich Hamlet (H).

Cheshunt: The Ambers look to be building a strong squad for the forthcoming season and will be hoping to improve on their tenth place in the last campaign. Their fixtures include a three team tournament at the club’s Community Fun Day on July 29th. Fixtures: Sat 22 July, Stevenage (H); Tues 25 July, Enfield Town (H); Sat 29 July, v Hertford Town and Harlow Town (H- from 1100); Tues 1 August, Wingate & Finchley (H).

Chipstead: Generally heading away from the High Road, Chipstead start pre-season with five consecutive away friendlies before entertaining the Metropolitan Police on 29th July. With one fixture still to be confirmed, here’s the list. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Broadbridge Heath (A); Sat 15 July, Lingfield (A); Tues 18 July, Redhill (A); Sat 22 July, AFC Croydon Athletic (A); Tues 25 July, Horley (A); Sat 29 July, Met Police (H); Tues 1 August, Tonbridge Angels (H); Sat 5 August TBC.

Corinthian Casuals: Casuals will hope to go one better after the heartbreak of losing the promotion play-off final to Dorking Wanderers on penalties, but they’ll have to do so without the services of hot-shot striker Shaun Okojie, whose exploits last season have earned him a contract with National League Aldershot Town. Manager James Bracken seems confident, however, and Casuals certainly were not a one man team, so will expect to challenge again. They warm up for the new season as follows: Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Haringey Borough (A); Mon 10 July, Sutton Common Rovers (A); Sat 22 July, Croydon FC (A); Tues 25 July, Corinthian (A); Sat 29 July, Beaconsfield (H); Mon 31 July, Bristol Rovers (H); Sat 5 August, Crystal Palace U23 (H).

Cray Wanderers: London’s oldest football club are still sharing with Bromley FC as they continue to try to avoid being tangled in red tape, having re-submitted plans for their proposed new home in Chislehurst. Mind you, they’ve been actual wanderers for forty years, so are undoubtedly and sadly used to it. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Charlton Athletic U23s (1pm, Sparrows Lane- sadly not open to the public); Tues 11 July, Sheppey United (A); Sat 15 July, Fisher (A); Tues 18 July, Corinthian (A); Sat 22 July, Bearsted (A); Tuesday 25 July, Erith & Belvedere (A); Tues 1st Aug, Canvey Island (A); Sat 5 August, Merstham (A).

Dereham Town: Supporters of Dereham Town will be hoping that their side will spend next season rather further up the table than they spent much of the last campaign. Manager Neal Simmons has been busy over the summer, and his new squad will be tested as follows. Fixtures: Fri 7 July, Fakenham Town (A); Fri 14 July, Thetford Town (A); Tues 18 July, Mundford FC (A); Fri 21 July, Gorleston FC (A); Tues 25 July, Spixworth FC (H); Fri 4 August, Matishall (H).

1500 Saturdays and 1945 midweek, unless stated.

Part Two to follow soon.