A Big Bostik (Premier) pre-season, part two: Harlow Town to Worthing

Harlow Town

The Hawks will kick off the new season without talisman Alex Read, who has joined Tonbridge Angels, and we still await news of his replacement- and indeed of the makeup of Danny Chapman’s squad for the forthcoming campaign. What we do have news of, however, is an interesting pre-season line up!

• Sat 07 July, 15:00 H Leyton Orient
• Sat 21 July, 15:00 H Chelmsford City
• Tue 24 July, 19:45 A Barking
• Sat 28 July, 15:00 A Cheshunt FC
• Tue 31 July, 19:45 A Brentwood Town FC
• Sat 04 Aug, 15:00 H Hertford Town FC

Kingstonian

The K’s begin their groundshare at Corinthian-Casuals, and given the calibre of their new signings are likely to be amongst the favourites to lift the Premier Division title at the end of the forthcoming season. Leigh Dynan has lined up seven pre-season fixtures for his squad, starting with a trip to the Dorset seaside.

• Sat 14 July, A Weymouth
• Tue 17 July, A Slough Town
• Sat 21 July, A Hastings United
• Tue 24 July, A South Park
• Sat 28 July, A Westfield
• Tue 31 July, A Whyteleafe
• Tue 07 Aug, H Crystal Palace XI

Leatherhead

The Tanners, under new manager Nikki Bull, will enter the new season as something of an unknown quantity given the squad turnover since the departure of former managerial duo Moore and Midson. The pre-season schedule looks rather tough, so perhaps we- and Bull- will have a better idea of what the Tanners might bring to the Bostik table by the time the campaign starts.

• Sat 14 Jul, 3:00pm Aldershot Town Home
• Tue 17 Jul, 7:45pm Whyteleafe Away
• Sat 21 Jul, 3:00pm Eastleigh Home
• Mon 23 Jul, 7:45pm Hampton & Richmond Borough Home
• Sat 28 Jul, 3:00pm Reading U23 Home
• Tue 31 Jul, 7:45pm VCD Athletic Away
• Sat 04 Aug, 3:00pm Farnborough Away

Lewes

The Rooks are back in the big time after a season where every team at the club delivered where it mattered. Their pre-season schedule looks like this:

• Tuesday 10th July, 7:45pm: Lancing (A)
• Saturday 14th July, 3pm: Saltdean (A)
• Tuesday 24th July, 7:45pm: Hastings (A) - this game is all-ticket, see details below
• Friday 27th July, 7:45pm: Eastbourne Borough (H) - Adults £6, Concessions £3, Kids Go Free
• Friday August 3, 7:45pm: East Grinstead (A)

Margate

Margate have delivered big changes on and off the pitch since the end of last season, with a squad reshuffle and a new managerial team. They must be amongst the promotion favourites, and the pre-season schedule will give us the opportunity to assess whether that tag is justified.

• Sat, 07 Jul 2018 A Deal Town
• Tue, 10 Jul 2018 A Sevenoaks Town
• Sat, 14 Jul 2018 H Gillingham FC
• Tue, 24 Jul 2018 A Ashford United
• Tue, 31 Jul 2018 H Great Wakering Rovers (1500)
• Tue, 31 Jul 2018 H Thamesmead Town (1945)
• Sat, 04 Aug 2018 H Ramsgate

Merstham

Merstham blew hot and cold last season, but an eighteenth place finish- twenty points above relegation and twenty-three from the Playoff places- would perhaps satisfy most fans of the Moatsiders, if not their ambitious manager Hayden Bird. Their pre-season programme has a rather local feel about it, which should allow them to generally avoid the nearby M25!

• Saturday July 14th Three Bridges (A)
• Tuesday July 17th Tooting & Mitcham United (A)
• Saturday July 21st Hampton & Richmond (A @ Meadowbank, Dorking)
• Tuesday July 24th Whyteleafe (A)
• Saturday July 28th Crystal Palace XI (H)
• Tuesday July 31st AFC Wimbledon XI (H)
• Saturday August 4th South Park (A)

Potters Bar Town

What a magnificent campaign the Scholars had last time out, overhauling Bowers & Pitsea in the run in to clinch second spot in the North Division- and promotion to the Premier Division for the first time- with only one defeat in their last fifteen matches. Our top division clubs and their supporters will enjoy the delights of the Pakex during the forthcoming season, but the Bar Army will hope they don’t enjoy them all that much!

The highlight of their schedule is undoubtedly the visit of Watford Under 23's.

Sat 7th July - two games

Broadfields (A)
Southall (A)

• Tue 10th July Uxbridge (A)
• Wed 18th July Edgware (A)
• Sat 21st July Harrow Boro (A)
• Tue 24th July Chesham (H)
• Sat 28th July Beaconsfield (H)
• Tues 31st July Watford under 23’s (H)
• Sat 4th August Biggleswade (A)

Tonbridge Angels

Angels have strengthened impressively over the summer, with the additions of Alex Read, James Folkes and Joel Nouble particularly notable- and you can get to know their new signings a little better by watching them in pre-season. The standout match is undoubtedly the visit of Nottingham Forest Under 23’s, but there are a number of attractive fixtures lined up.

• Sat 07 July, H Whyteleafe
• Sat 14 July, H Gillingham
• Tue 17 July, A Sevenoaks Town
• Sat 21 July, H Tunbridge Wells
• Tue 24 July, A Faversham Town
• Sat 28 July, A Gravesham Borough
• Sat 04 Aug, A East Grinstead Town
• Sat 04 Aug, H Nottingham Forest U23

Whitehawk

We welcome the Hawks back to the Bostik Premier Division, but it’s a rather different Hawks returning to those who left, with a new business model that seems to be focusing on youth and local talent rather than signing experienced- and expensive- ex professionals. So far they’ve announced the following fixtures:

• Tuesday 17 July; 19:45 – Whitehawk vs Haywards Heath Town
• Tuesday 24 July; 19:45 – Whitehawk vs Shoreham
• Saturday 28 July; 15:00 – Whitehawk vs Aylesbury United
• Monday 6 August; 19:45 – Hastings United vs Whitehawk

Wingate & Finchley

The Summers Lane side finished a creditable ninth in the Premier Division last season, and celebrated a number of significant victories as well as the official opening of their new training ground. They’ve arranged a comprehensive pre-season programme, including a number of matches at neutral venues- see the club website for more details of locations.

• Saturday 7th July, N Beaconsfield
• Tuesday 10th July, N Kings Langley
• Saturday 14th July, N Welwyn Garden City
• Tuesday 17th July, A Barking
• Saturday 21st July, N Biggleswade Town
• Tuesday 24th July, H St Albans City
• Saturday 28th July, A Hayes & Yeading Utd
• Tuesday 31st July, A Royston Town
• Saturday 4th Aug, A Chesham Utd
• Tuesday 7th Aug, H Enfield Borough

Worthing

The Mackerelmen/Rebels (delete as applicable) had enough tribulation at the start of last season to blight half a dozen campaigns, but following the arrival of Adam Hinshelwood as manager turned their entire world around in a magnificent- if perhaps unexpected- manner. They’ll hope for a little less drama in 2018/19.

• Sun. 8th July South Park (h) 2:00pm
• Tue. 10th July Worthing United (h) 7:45pm (The Malcolm Gamlen Cup)
• Sat. 14th July Selsey (a) 3:00pm
• Tue. 17th July Chichester City (a) 7:45pm
• Tue. 31st July Loxwood (a) 7:45pm
• Wed. 8th August Salford Xl (h) 7:45pm