There can hardly have been a season where the excitement and anticipation has reached the levels of where we are just days before the kick off to the 2024/25 Southern League Premier South season.
With our still relatively new management team of Steve Tully and Luke Burbidge, a whole host of new and exciting players, the investment to solve the drainage issue, many significant ground improvements and a real togetherness around the club makes this one of the most eagerly awaited seasons for many years.
As we know Chesham United won the league last season with Salisbury earning promotion via the play-offs. This league has lost Didcot Town, Harrow Borough, Hayes & Yeading and Beaconsfield who were all relegated.
Into the league we welcome promoted clubs: Chertsey Town, Frome Town, Marlow and Wimborne Town. Clubs joining us after being relegated from higher leagues are Gloucester City, Havant & Waterlooville and Taunton Town.
We begin our season with the tough trip to Berkshire to face Bracknell Town at The SB Stadium, Bottom Meadow. The Robins have suffered play-off misery for the past two seasons. In 2022/23 they finished runners up to Weston Super Mare but lost to Truro in the play-off final and last season they finished in 5th place and lost to AFC Totton in the play-off semi-final. Top scorers in that campaign were Jordan Espirit on 22 and Joe Grant on 19.
The board have brought in a new management team of Jordan Ive, Scott Rees and Shaun Andrews and have backed them with many new signings who will certainly feel that they can go one better this season.
We took four points from Bracknell last season with a comprehensive 3-1 win at The Black Gold Stadium in early August followed up with a credible 1-1 draw at The Meadow in December. However, we did not fare as well in the cup competitions as we were put out of both the Emirates FA Cup in the 3rd Qualifying Round (3-1 away) and the Isuzu FA Trophy in the First Round Proper (4-1 on penalties after 2-2 AET) by them.
Steve Tully told me today that he has a fully fit squad to select from after some doubts about Josh Staunton (ankle) and Antonio Diaz (back). He went on to say that he is more than delighted with the seventeen players currently on the books but does not rule out signing one or two more, but they must be of the right quality. Having two of the best players in the league, Toby Holmes and Jake McCarthy is bound to give the whole squad every confidence. The squad as it is instils a degree of pressure for places which is always healthy in any sport. He feels that the first 10 games will be particularly challenging but they will provide a true marker of where we are in this league.
Luke Burbidge has played at The Meadow numerous times and has been able to offer some constructive advice to the team. He has a wealth of experience at this level which will prove to be invaluable.
In the first 17 days of the season, we will face home fixtures against, Taunton Town, AFC Totton and local rivals Wimborne Town on August Bank Holiday Monday. Quite a start to the new campaign. The lads will need all the support that we can give them so let’s get behind the team from this Saturday.
Enjoy the game.
Neil Wellington.
