Basingstoke Saturday League President and Press Officer Peter Raynbird Previews the season ahead ( 2015/2016)

With the decision made to suspend The Premier Division for a season, there will be nine clubs competing in Division One and eleven clubs competing in Division Two of The Basingstoke & District Saturday Football League this season.

Division Two looks to be very competitive, as it was last season.

Tron FC make a return to the Saturday League after a three year absence, when they went into the Sunday League. Darren Hutchins who led the side when they won Division One will be the manager this season and he has drafted in Richard McCoubrie as his new assistant. The squad will consist of a mix of older experienced players and a handful of promising youngsters. The pick of his new signings is Ben Nicholls, the free scoring striker, he has also signed Gordon Birch and Lorne Howard, all whom were with the now defunct Rising Sun DC last season. The club wishes to thank both The Spice Restaurant in Pack Lane and Ductclean UK LTD for donating the new home and away kits. The team will play their home games this season at Newfound instead of Berrydown which did not have room to accommodate them.

Winklebury Wizards FC has a change of Manager with the former Basingstoke Town FC Centre Half ‘Tommy Clegg’ stepping down after moving away from the town. Harry Grainger, who takes over, has been with club for some years. “Tommy is a big loss to the whole club and we wish him well in the future” said Harry. The club will continue to maintain their youth policy with the average age of their squad being just 18 years. “We are looking for a top three finish this season” said Harry. He has signed a couple of new faces from outside the club, Danny Costen from Overton United FC Reserves and Dom Stevens who was with Tadley Calleva FC. The club thanks The Academy Snooker Centre for their supply of refreshments after each game.

Basingstoke United FC Manager Jimmy Sallows has lost Ryan Bennett to Basingstoke Athletic FC, but he has acquired winger Brandon Wheeler and centre back Conner Craig from Oakley Youth FC. Charlie Smith and Lewis Clayton have also joined and the manager is determined that they will win something this season. The friendlies have gone well; their best a 6-2 win against Basingstoke Labour Club FC.

Herriard Sports FC. Winning the Basingstoke Junior ‘B’ Cup last season, beating Basingstoke Athletic FC in the Final 2-0 was a great achievement for the club, who have graced the league since 1947. Manager Craig Lewington, along with club stalwart Martin Bishop, are both hopeful of more honors this season. The two big acquisitions to their squad are Sam Cato, the striker who was with Bramley United FC last season and Chris Dobbie, the prolific goal scorer who was with Hampshire Irons FC. They have also retained Sam Weber, their main striker from last season and also added new faces in Matt Goodman from AFC Berg and Dave Purt from Sherborne St John FC. There will be a fight for places in the team with 25 players signed and their manager is hopeful of another repeat of another Cup Final appearance.

T.D.I. Group FC. Although his team, under the name of Welly Old Boys FC, finished bottom of the Premier Division without a point and conceded 182 goals last season, manager Graham Jenkins has broken away from the Welly connection and his new look team is sponsored by a local company ‘Home Cinema Product’ who has provided them with a new kit. Again it will be a very young team of 16 to 20 year’s old lads who will make up his squad, being introduced to adult football. Graham is more optimistic than last season and has played five pre-season matches, a draw against Hampshire Irons FC the best result.

Basingstoke Athletic FC Reserves will certainly be competitive. With Dave Trevellion as Player/Manager and with the new players coming to play in the first team there will be plenty of competition for places. Two players returning to the club are Anthony Russell and Craig Harman who returns from a spell with Andover New Street FC.

AFC Aldermaston ‘A’. Ben Jones takes over as manager of the third string at AFC Aldermaston, although the former man in charge Gary Bone will still be around to assist. There will be four new faces coming into the squad this season, with most of the regulars still with the club.

Bounty United FC Manager Jordon Willis is excited with their prospects with well attended training sessions at Castle Field. There will be a few new players coming in, with most of last season’s players already signed up. Another Cricketer Lawrence Benze will also be playing this winter. Jordon is also hoping to sign Basingstoke Royals FC striker Nick Willcock in time for their opening game against TDI Group FC this Saturday, but will be without Mitchell Stokes, Steve Bucksey and Mike Gilham who are all on holiday.

Hook FC Reserves. Last season at times they had difficulty in getting a side together, but it is hoped there will be no problem this season, as close by North Warnborough FC are no longer running. A new manager has been appointed in Charlie Page. First team calls are always a problem.

AFC Berg Manager Dave Brickwood is hoping for an improvement on last season’s lowly finish. Assistant Manager Dean Bridges has been busy over the close season getting in several new faces to strengthen their squad, the picks being Kenton West and Dave Henwood who have both rejoined the club. Brickwood has fought off interest from Hampshire Irons FC to keep reliable scorer Kieron Alleyne at the club and is hopeful to get transfers for Nathan Boyle and Austin Kelly from Winklebury Wizards FC.

Overton United B makes up the eleven teams in this division. (no team news was received from either of these clubs at the time of print).