A Big Bostik Pre-Season- Part 3: Kingstonian to Romford

By Ian Townsend

Part 3 of our guide to the Bostik League Pre-Season schedule

We continue with the third part of our guide to the Bostik League Pre-Season schedule, our attempt to provide all of you who have been suffering from football withdrawal symptoms with an A to Worthing guide of the forthcoming action. Part four will be published on Thursday.

This guide features 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 fixture page.
Bostik League fixtures for the forthcoming season will be announced on 13th July.

Kingstonian: The K’s are about to start their first season as tenants at Leatherhead’s Fetcham Grove with the majority of last seasons squad in place, although without inspirational captain Alan Inns and full back George Wells, who have both moved to Slough Town. Perhaps the K’s best signing, however, is manager Craig Edwards, who was the inspiration behind the club’s climb away from the relegation zone at the end of last season and will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with next season. He also has arguably the best moustache in football. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Horsham (A- at Lancing FC); Tues 11 July, Reading XI (A- 1900 but closed to the public); Sat 15 July, VCD Athletic (A); Tues 18 July, Westfield (A)); Thurs 20 July, AFC Hornchurch (A); Sat 22 July, Hastings Utd (A); Sat 29 July, South Park (A); Sat 5 August, 1500- Leatherhead (A…but H…).

Leatherhead: Well the Jimmy Bullard era has surprisingly come to an end, but his replacement, former Leyton Orient midfielder Sammy Moore, has already made the rest of the league sit up and take notice with a number of top quality signings. Perhaps the most notable are Lee Minshull and Jack Midson, but Moore himself will still be pulling on his boots and may yet turn out to be the best of the crop. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Bromley (H); Tues 11 July, Woking (H); Thurs 13 July, Sheppey Utd (A); Sat 15 July, Corinthian FC (A); Fri 21 July, Canterbury (A); Sat 22 July, Glebe (A); Wed 26 July, Godalming (A); Sat 29 July, Hayes & Yeading Utd (A); Wed 2 August, Basingstoke Utd (H); Sat 5 August, Kingstonian (H).

Leiston: The Blues have started the last two campaigns like a runaway train, before running out of fuel just before the end. Their hopes this season may hinge on whether they can hold on to 29 goal Matt Blake, Premier Division top scorer last season, but they have also added Chris Henderson from Lowestoft Town, keeper Marcus Garnham and the returning Christy Finch from Norwich United. Fixtures: Tues 11 July, Brantham Athletic (A); Sat 15 July, Felixstowe & Walton Utd (A); Tues 18 July, Ipswich Wanderers (H); Sat 22 July, Bury Town (A); Sat 29 July, AFC Sudbury (H); Sat 5 August, Norwich Utd (H).

Lewes: Community owned Lewes have kept much of last season’s squad intact, but will be sad to have lost 15-goal Stephen Okoh. The Rooks showed promise last season, challenging for the play-off positions before tailing off as the season reached a climax. Purveyors of the best burgers in the league- unless you know different. Fixtures: Tues 11 July, Hassocks (A-1930); Sat 15 July, Dulwich Hamlet (H) cancelled due to a flood at the Dripping Pan; Tues 18 July, Eastbourne Town (A-1930); Sat 22 July, Chelsea Development Squad (H); Tues 25 July, Worthing (A-1930); Sat 29 July, Eastbourne Borough (H); Tues 1 August, Whitehawk (A-1930); Fri 4 August, Burgess Hill Town (H).

Lowestoft Town: The Trawlerboys have added right back Callum White from Banbury United, Jacek Zielonka from Kings Lynn, and Elvijs Putnins from Great Yarmouth, but have lost Chris Henderson to Leiston. They are particularly excited about this weekends fixture against Norwich City. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Norwich City (H); Sat 15 July, Kirkley & Pakefield (H); Wed 19 July, Southend Utd (H); Tues 25 July, Gorleston (A); Sat 29 July, Braintree Town (H); Sat 5 August, Kings Lynn Town (H).

Maldon & Tiptree: Manager Kevin Horlock has a rebuilding job on his hands after a number of key departures, including defender Billy Roast, who joined National League South Concord Rangers, and full back Kyle Hammond (Leiston). First team coach Steve Southgate has also stepped down, to concentrate on his role with Colchester United. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Colchester Utd (H); Tues 11 July, Stanway Rovers (H); Sat 15 July, East Thurrock Utd (H); Tues 18 July, Coggeshall Town (A); Sat 22 July, Safron Walden Town (A).

Margate: Margate manager Steve Watt has been busy over the summer, adding new talent such as Lenny Pidgeley, Alex Flisher, Tom Mills and Liam Friend to the core of last seasons squad. Highly fancied to do well, they’ll be looking to push favourites Billericay Town all the way. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Deal Town (A-1300); Tues 11 July, Ashford Utd (A); Tues 18 July, Faversham Town (A); Sat 22 July, Concord Rangers (A); Sat 29 July, Dover Athletic (A-1400); Tues 1 August, East Grinstead Town (A-1930); Fri 4 August, Ramsgate (A).

Merstham: The Moatsiders, who this week parted company with assistant manager Mick Sullivan, have had a revolving door summer with a large number of players coming and going. New arrivals include Ben Harrison from AFC Wimbledon, RJ Pingling from Burnley, David Owusu from Rochdale, Malik Onwugbonu from Gillingham and Jeff Kessie from Croydon. Fixtures: Tues 18 July, Whyteleafe (A); Sat 22 July, East Grinstead Town (A); Tues 25 July, AFC Wimbledon XI (H); Sun 30 July, Hampton & Richmond Borough (H- 1500); Tues 1 Aug, South Park (A); Sat 5 August, Cray Wanderers (H); Tues 8 August, Crystal Palace XI (H).

Metropolitan Police: Manager Jim Cooper is still to finalise his squad for the forthcoming season, but the summer has seen the departure of Rob Bartley, Mekhail McLaughlin, Ola Sogbanmu and Roman Michael-Percil. A number of replacements are expected before the big kick off. Fixtures: Tues 18 July, Eastbourne Borough (H); Sat 22 July, Slough Town (A- 1300); Tues 25 July, Northwood (A); Thurs 27 July, Hampton & Richmond Borough (H); Sat 29 July, Chipstead (A); Tues 1 August, Brentwood Town (H); Sat 5th August, Molesey (H).

Mildenhall Town: Newly promoted and with the majority of last seasons squad intact, and with the addition of keeper Jake Jessup from Lowestoft Town, manager Dean Greygoose hopes to be ‘pushing for the top half.’ Fixtures: Sat 15 July, St Neots (H- 1300); Tues 18 July, Newmarket Town (A); Sat 22 July, Cambridge United (H); Tues 25 July, Needham Market (H); Sat 29 July, Eynesbury Rovers (A); Sat 5 August, Peterborough Sports (A)

Molesey: Molesey will be hoping to do better than last seasons 19th place finish, and will warm up with seven pre-season games, including one at near-neighbours Metropolitan Police. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, AJ Academy (at Walton Xcel- 1300); Sat 15 July, Fleet (at Walton Xcel, 1300); Sat 22 July, Woking XI, (at Walton Xcel); Sat 29 July, Bedfont Sports (A); Tues 1 August, Northwood (H); Sat 5 August, Met Police (A); Tues 8 August, Farnborough (H).

Needham Market: Market, who are looking forward to the visit of Colchester United next week, have made a number of recent signings including striker Jamie Griffiths, midfielder Gareth Heath (from Leiston), and centre half Dan Morphew from Dereham Town. Finishing last season only three points outside the play-off positions, Market must be hoping to go even closer this campaign. Fixtures: Tues 11 July, Colchester Utd (H- 1900); Fri 14 July, Brantham Athletic (A); Tues 18 July, Colchester Utd U23’s (H); Sat 22 July, Ipswich Wanderers (A); Tues 25 July, Mildenhall Town (A); Sat 29 July, Little Oakley (A); Fri 4 August, Bury Town (A).

Norwich Utd: Plantation Park has lost the services of Matt Brown to Gorleston due to work commitments, and on 8 August says goodbye to long serving Steve Shipley. Shipley, who has played 562 times for the club, will end his playing career with a testimonial against Cambridge City, the proceeds from which will be donated to East Anglia Children’s Hospices. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Aylsham (A); Tues 11 July, Harleston Town (A); Sat 15 July, Fakenham Town (A); Tues 25 July, Thetford Town (A); Sat 29 July, Felixstowe and Walton Utd (A); Sat 5 August, Leiston (A); Tues 8 August, Cambridge City (H).

Phoenix Sports: Sports, who switch from the North to South Division for this campaign, have recently strengthened their squad, signing defender Terry Murray from Corinthian Casuals, Lee Flavin from Grays Athletic and Danny Young from Greenwich Borough. Fixtures: Sat 8 July, Meridian Sports (A); Tues 11 July, Welling Utd (H); Sat 15 July, Dartford (H); Sat 22 July, Tonbridge Angels (H); Tues 25 July, Romford (H); Fri 28 July, Cray Valley (H); Sat 29 July, Erith Town (A); Tues 1 August, Erith & Belvedere (A); Sat 5 August, Dorking Wanderers (A).

Potters Bar Town: The Scholars have a beer festival coming up on 15th July, and fans can rush back form their pre-season fixture at Leverstock Green to attend- luckily it kicks off at 1300 to leave lots of drinking time! Fixtures: Tues 11 July, Wingate & Finchley (A); Sat 15 July, Leverstock Green (A-1300); Tues 18 July, North Greenford (A); Sat 22 July, Harpenden Town (A); Tues 25 July, Chesham (H); Sat 29 July, Edgware Town (A); Tues 1 August, Hendon (H); Sat 5 August, Chalfont St Peter (A); Tues 8 August, Royston Town (A).

Ramsgate: Ramsgate have had a rather quiet pre-season so far, with two players in and two out, but currently require an Assistant Manager after Tom Hickman left suddenly due to changing work commitments. They’ll be hoping to improve on last season’s 12th place. Fixtures: Sat 15 July, Whitstable Bay (A); Tues 18 July, Balham (H- 2000); Sat 22 July, Whitstable Town (A); Tues 25 July, Deal Town (H); Sat 29 July, Three Bridges (H); Fri 4 August, Margate (H).

Romford: Manager Paul Martin has managed to balance incomings and outgoings so far this summer, signings including Tom Vickers, who at six feet four inches is also the ideal height to help erect the goal nets, Jonathan Nzenga formerly of Cheshunt and Ware, 17 year old left back Sam Muemba and 18 year old trialist Craig Jeakins. Fixtures: Thurs 6 July, Barking Abbey (H-1900); Sat 8 July Wembley (H-1400); Wed 12 July, Hollands & Blair (A); Sat 15 July, West Essex (A); Tues 18 July, Ilford (H-1930); Thurs 20 July, Catholic Utd (H-1930); Sat 22 July, Stowmarket Town (A-1400); Tues 25 July, Phoenix Sports (A); Sat 29 July, Thurrock (H).

Weekend fixtures 1500, weekday fixtures 1945, unless stated. Fixtures taken from the websites of our member clubs.

Where next?

A Big Bostik Pre-Season- Part 4: Shoreham to Worthing The final part of our guide to the Bostik League Pre-Season fixtures
Moatsiders & Mick part company... Merstham legend- and Assistant Manager- Mick Sullivan leaves by mutual consent

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