Rarely has the new season been more eagerly anticipated at Tatnam as we prepare to kick off the 2025/26 campaign on Saturday afternoon at home to Hanwell Town.
We have lost Merthyr and AFC Totton, who were both promoted, as well as Winchester City, Swindon Supermarine, Frome Town and Marlow who were all relegated. This means that we welcome the following teams to the Southern League South Premier Division;
Farnham Town – Isthmian League South Central Champions
Uxbridge – Isthmian League South Central Runners Up (Play-off winners)
Yate Town – Southern League South Div One Champions
Evesham United – Southern League South Div One Runners Up (Play-off winners)
Berkhamsted – Southern League Central Division Runners Up (Play-off winners)
Weymouth – Relegated from National League South
Pat & Joe, with the help of Andy Rossiter and the board, moved very early in the close season to bring in the players that they feel will give us every opportunity to have a successful season. They have brought in some very high-profile players who, between them, have a great deal of experience of playing at this level and above. We have seen some competitive pre-season friendlies against some very good sides, cumulating in the excellent 2-2 draw with Salisbury last Saturday.
Speaking in mid-week, Joe said how disappointed he is at losing skipper Jamie Whisken for a few more weeks, but apart from one or two knocks and bruises we should have a full squad to select from. He stressed how important it is to get off to a positive start as the games will come thick and fast, playing Saturday and Tuesday in many weeks in the early part of the campaign.
We know from last season that Hanwell Town will be a very well organised and physical team. We lost the home fixture 2-1 last November and drew 3-3 away in March.
The Geordies are managed by Chris Moore who has a wealth of experience in league and non-league football, he began his playing career at Uxbridge before moving onto Northwood. He then made a name for himself when he signed for Dagenham & Redbridge. He had a brief spell with Brentford before returning to the Daggers and helping them win promotion to the Football League. Chris took sole charge of the Club for the 2022/23 season. In his first season in sole charge, and Hanwell’s first at Step 3, he guided the club to 50 points, 13 points clear of the bottom four, and a 14th placed finish. In their second season in the Southern League, they picked up 48 points, which was enough to survive on goal difference in 17th place.
Last season saw a great improvement with the club finishing in 8th place on 58points. They won 8 games on the road taking 28 points away from the Oliver Connell & Sons Community Stadium.
The club captain is goalkeeper Sam Beasant who joined the club from Beaconsfield in October 2023. He won the Supporters’ Player of the Year and the Southern League Goalkeeper of the Season in the 2023/24 season. His father, Dave, famously was the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in an FA Cup final, lifting the famous trophy with Wimbledon FC in 1988 and won two England caps in 1989.
There has been a lot of work going on at the ground since the end of the season so come along early to have a look at what has been achieved. Let’s get behind the lads from the first whistle and get the season off to a great start.
Enjoy the game.
Neil Wellington.
