Part three of our pre-season guide brings you the first half of the North Division (alphabetically, we’re not making a prediction on their finishing positions!).
AFC Sudbury
Mark Morsley’s side finished last season in twelfth place when perhaps they may have been expected to do rather better. The approach to the new campaign has seen the return of Jordan Blackwell from Stanway Rovers, and the announcement of a comprehensive set of friendly fixtures which will include the visits of East Thurrock United and Braintree Town.
Aldiss Park, home of Dereham Town
Aveley
Manager James Webster seems to have spent the summer building a team to match the Millers beautiful stadium, and to have constructed a pre-season schedule to match. The only concern that fans at Parkside might have is that there are so many friendly matches the team might be exhausted before the important stuff starts!
Brentwood Town
Barking
Barking had a successful first Bostik North season, flirting with the playoffs for much of the campaign before finishing in tenth place. They’ll be hoping for more of the same this time around- and perhaps even a little better. Here’s their pre-season line up:
Basildon United
Aveley FC
Basildon, promoted after a second place finish in the Essex Senior League last season, have not yet published on their website the details of their pre-season programme- we’ll bring it to you when we have it. This will be their first Isthmian League campaign since 1991.
Bowers & Pitsea
Bowers came so close to promotion last season, finishing the campaign in third place after being in the top two for many months before falling in the Playoff Semi-Final. Will this be their year? After finishing sixth the previous season they surely have to be amongst the favourites.
As they are laying a new 3G pitch prior to the new season, ALL OF THESE FRIENDLIES ARE AWAY FROM HOME:
Canvey Island FC
Brentwood Town
There were moments- when outplaying Dartford in the FA Trophy and defeating AFC Hornchurch, for example- when Town looked like world-beaters during the last campaign, but their season was beset by inconsistency. That said, Craig Shipman will be confident that they can do better next time out, and he’s set up an exciting pre-season to help them prepare.
Bury Town
Town finished last season in ninth place, and will have to cope with the loss of prolific forward Cemal Ramadan, but will still be expected to challenge for a Playoff place next time out. The pre-season fixtures against a Leyton Orient XI, Cambridge City and AFC Hornchurch look particularly attractive.
July:
August:
Canvey Island
Canvey have made a number of impressive signings as they approach the new season, and seem determined to do better than their Playoff Final defeat next time out. Danny Heale has lined up the following pre-season fixtures:
Coggeshall Town
Coggeshall are approaching their first ever Isthmian League season with confidence, and after home fan James Partridge sang the praises of the beer and sausage rolls in a recent ‘Taking a Bostik bow’ feature, surely we all want to visit? The highlights of their pre-season package look to be the visits of Leiston, Braintree Town and Ipswich Town Under 23’s.
Dereham Town
The Magpies had a superb 2017/18, their fifth in the Isthmian League, and although they fell away towards the end of the season (ending it in eight place) they spent much of the campaign in the promotion and playoff places. Next season they might find themselves amongst the favourites to compete at the top end of the table.
Their pre-season looks like this:
Look out for Felixstowe to Witham Town shortly!
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