Countdown to Kick-Off - Division One Central

The 2020/21 Pitching In Southern Football League Division One Central preview.

As the Pitching In Southern Football League Division One Central campaign gets underway on Saturday, Halesowen Town, who enjoyed such a marvellous 2019/20 before lockdown ruined it, welcome Yaxley to The Grove.

Manager Paul Smith has kept faith with the majority of his squad that served him so well last term, adding just youngster Jack Holmes from Burton Albion after he enjoyed a successful spell on loan with the Yeltz in 2019/20, and forward Richard Gregory

Halesowen were looking good for promotion when the pandemic struck, as were Berkhamsted, who were a point ahead at the top of the table when football was called to a halt.

Yaxley were pushing for play-off spot before lockdown and won`t be an easy target for Yeltz on the opening day.

Berko have since lost manager Lee Bircham and several of their major players from last season, so it will be interesting to see how new boss Chris Devane and his seven or eight new faces gel.

Corby Town were third at the time of lockdown, and whilst the Steelmen would maybe have had to settle for a play-off spot, they were in form.

Corby too start 2020/21 with a new man at the helm but the vastly experienced Gary Mills and his loyal assistant Darron Gee are well versed in promotion pushes and whilst the Northamptonshire outfit possess a youthful squad, they should be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

Wantage Town had accepted the fact they were heading for relegation very early in the campaign and won only once in 28 games before lockdown.

However, with the season being declared null and void, the Alfredians now start afresh with virtually a brand-new squad of players.

It will be fascinating to see how St Neots Town progress under highly rated coach Barry Corr, who has brought in several of his former Cambridge United youngsters either on loan or on `work experience`.

As well as the young U`s lads, Corr has also made two shrewd signings in prolific striking pair Ryan Robbins and Leon Lobjoit.

Thame United are an ambitious outfit and their experienced boss Mark West had made a couple of decent signings to add to an already strong squad.

Main Summer Signings

AFC Dunstable

Alasan Ann Selby T
Jervon Campbell Pitstone & Ivinghoe
Taishan Griffith Biggleswade Town
Jack Harvey-Bailey Dunstable Town
Jamie Head Cambridge City
Sam McClelland Crawley Green
Andrew Ofosu Potton United
Kieran Turner Kings Langley

Aylesbury United

Robbie Carter Buckingham Athletic
Kuda Sangoya Hale Leys Utd to Aylesbury Utd

Barton Rovers

Charlie Black Arlesey Town
Tony Burnett AFC Dunstable
Samuel Oyeniran Welwyn Garden City
Martel Powell AFC Dunstable
Gary Wharton St Neots Town

Bedford Town

Rene Howe Farnborough
Drew Richardson Biggleswade Town
Connor Sansom Colney Heath
Rob Sinclair Hemel Hempstead Town
Matt Sparr Wisbech Town
Ollie Swain Biggleswade Town

Bedworth United

Kyle Barnett Daventry Town
Ishmael Dawson AFC Mansfield
Jorrell John Phnom Penh Crown (Cambodia)
Sam Walton Tamworth

Berkhamsted

Liam Andrews London Colney
Alie Bangura Hemel Hempstead Town (Dual Reg)
Sam Doolan Colney Heath
Romario Hart Chesham United
Kyle Lincoln Stratford Town
Eric Lopes Wealdstone
Ryan Neufville Biggleswade United
James Verney Hitchin Town

Biggleswade FC
George Bailey St Ives Town

Coleshill Town

Taylor Carter-Byrne Heather St Johns
Fraser Doyle Heather St Johns
Daniel Dubidat Nuneaton Borough
Christian Mullings Atherstone Town
Shay Palmer Highgate United
Lewis Rankin Nuneaton Borough
Josh Willis Romulus

Corby Town

Joel Carta Kettering Town
Jordan O`Brien Sheffield Wednesday
Haydn Price Northampton Town

Daventry Town

Joe Coleman Kidlington
Emmanuel Gbejuade Biggleswade FC
Joe Massaro Kettering Town
Joel Nkieta Harpenden Town
Ross Oulton Stratford T to Daventry T
Ben Stokes St Neots Town
Jeff Woodward Rugby Borough

Didcot Town

Sam Barder Thatcham Town
Connor Ferguson Oxford City
Ryan Fry Wantage Town
George Jeacock Thatcham Town
Jordy Mulvany Clanfield

Halesowen Town

Richard Gregory Stratford Town
Jack Holmes Burton Albion

Kempston Rovers

Ayo Akinbobola Dunstable Town
Stefan Bailey Barton Rovers
Bennie Boateng Carlton Town
Aaron Dada Dunstable Town
Ollie Esuruoso Potton United
Ricardo Green Stotfold
Tyriq Hunte Chalfont St Peter
Alvin Magagada Bedford FC
Duewaan McKennon Constant Spring (Jamaica)

Kidlington

Jack Dunmall Easington Sports
Ryan Markham Wantage Town
Jake Pritchard Ardley United
Dan Sadler Wantage Town
Harry Sturgess Launton Sports
Harry Whitehead Banbury United

North Leigh

Ben Barrett Oxford City
Luke Carnell Didcot Town
Scott Isherwood Bristol Rovers
Cameron McNeil Didcot Town
John Mills Thatcham Town
Dave Murphy Didcot Town
George Nash Didcot Town
Elliott Osborne-Ricketts Kidlington

St Neots Town

Jack Battersby Cambridge United (Season`s Loan)
Liam Bennett Cambridge United (Season`s Loan)
Louis Chadwick Cambridge United (Work Exp)
Myles Cowling Cambridge United (Work Exp)
Leon Lobjoit Newport Pagnell Town

Ryan Robbins Corby Town (Left)
Dequayne Wilson-Braithwaite Potton United

Thame United

Callum Harvey Ardley United
Jamar Smith Kidlington
Harry Tucker Staines Town

Wantage Town

Jack Alexander Thatchan Town
Ashley Bayliss Chesham United
Harry Brock Brackley Town Saints
Olly Goddard Brackley Town Saints
Joe Gorman Westfields
Tim Griffiths Bishops Cleeve
Ryan Knight Brackley Town Saints
Kai Mahon Bishops Cleeve
Josh Tooke Kidlington
James Watts Banbury United

Welwyn Garden City

Rob Banks Hoddesdon Town
Robbie Buchanan Stotfold
Harrison Cage Hoddesdon Town
Charlie Cowley Waltham Abbey
Scott Knight Hoddesdon Town
Miguel Lopes De Matos Northwood
Carl Mensah Bedford Town
Malcolm Podier Enfield Town
Sam Ready Codicote
Caleb Steele Waltham Abbey
Joe Takai Wingate & Finchley
Patrick Tshikala Hertford Town

Yaxley

Sam Bennett Cambridge United
Aaron Hart Wisbech Town
Sam Spencer Wisbech Town