Countdown to Kick-Off - Division One South

Countdown to the 2021/22 Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South season.

With the last two seasons being cut short due to the global pandemic, it`s a fresh start for every team as they head into what hopefully will be a full new campaign.

However, it`s hard to predict the promotion chances of teams who have only really pre-season friendly games to give their supporters an inkling of what to expect in the league.

AFC Totton have a tricky start as they welcome newly-promoted Plymouth Parkway to The Snows Stadium on the opening day.

Stags boss Glenn Howes has made several good signings to add to an already decent squad, with prolific marksman Ryan Pennery looking to continue where he left off when scoring goals for a now-Wessex League Moneyfields outfit.

Look out for: Ryan Pennery

Key Signings:

George Britton (Bognor Regis Town)
Jack Hoey (Weymouth)
Ben Jefford (Basingstoke Town)
Tom Lycett (Totton & Eling -Dual Reg)
Jordan Ngalo (Weymouth)
Adeoye Olumuyiwa (Weymouth)
Ryan Pennery (Moneyfields)
Jacob Woods (Petersfield Town)

Barnstaple Town have endured a tough pre-season which has not been helped by the decision of young attacking prospect Tor Swann to drop a level to join Western Leaguers Buckland Athletic.

Manager Dean Edwards wasn`t exactly enamoured by the 17-year-old`s decision.

Barum have a young squad with several of Torquay United`s under-18 side being given a chance of first-team football by Edwards.

Look out for: Yohan Rutty-Smith

Key Signings:

Harry Bamforth (Torquay United)
Jacob Evans (Torquay United)
Nat Hawkins (Torquay United)
Alangel Joseph (Newton Abbot Spurs)
Ryan Keates (Stoke Gabriel)
Taylor Scarff (Mount Gould)
*Tor Swann (Torquay United)
Lloyd Tucker (Newton Abbot Spurs)
Tyler Yendle (Dobwalls)
*Subsequently left

Barnstaple`s Devon neighbours Bideford AFC have strengthened well in the summer and pre-season results have been pretty good overall.

Long-serving manager Sean Joyce will be looking to his squad of youth and experience to compete well in a strong division.

Look out for: Craig Duff

Key Signings:

Jack Arthur (Exeter City – 6-Month Loan)
Joe Barker (Ilfracombe Town)
Matt Buchan (Helston Athletic – dual registration)
Callum McGhee (St Blazey)
Jake Miller (St Blazey)
Lewis Wilson (Exeter City)
Rubin Wilson (Plymouth Argyle)

Bristol Manor Farm will be amongst the bookmakers` favourites for promotion and Lee Lashenko`s summer recruiting has done little to quell that idea.

He has a potent-looking strike force in Ben Bament and former Peacock Owen Howe and a good mix of experienced campaigners and youthful enthusiasm.

Look out for: Owen Howe

Key Signings:

Ben Bament (Roman Glass St George)
Jamie Bird (Barry Town United)
Josh Ford (Melksham Town)

Owen Howe (Taunton Town)
Theo Llewellyn (Redditch United)
Luc Noble (Bristol Rovers)
Dean Stamp (Willand Rovers)

Stephen Cleal, manager ofCinderford Town, has relied mostly on the squad he brought in last season.

He has added depth to that and will be looking to push on towards a top ten finish at least.

Look out for: Lewis Bamford

Key Signings:

Ben Brooks (Cadbury Heath)
Camden Duncan (Mangotsfield United)
Harry Emmett (Longlevens)
Miles Ferguson (Slimbridge)
Luke Hitchman (Cheltenham Saracens)
Kieran Hodges (Mangotsfield United)

Like Cleal, Cirencester Town boss John Brough has remained faithful to the players he added last season and has been one of the least active in the transfer market.

But Centurians supporters will be expecting a promotion challenge.

Look out for: Josh Grace-Parsons

Key Signings:

Elliott Keightley (Yate Town)
Jake Lee (Swindon Supermarine0
Nick Peare (Yate Town)

Evesham United are another club whose supporters will be hoping for a challenge at the top end of the table.

Manager Neil Hunt is another who has been relatively quiet in the close season but has brought back popular strikers Sean Brain and Lance Smith.

Look out for: Lance Smith

Key Signings:

Sean Brain (Worcester City)
Lance Smith (Leamington)

Frome Town are another of the bookies` favourites for a promotion challenge.

Danny Greaves` squad have, in the main, had a year or so to bed in and have a settled look to it.

Look out for: Jake Jackson

Key Signings:

George Rigg (Chippenham Town)
Archie Theyer (Forest Green Rovers)

Highworth Town are realistic in their ambitions at the Save on Tyres Stadium but manager Ross Adams could have made a really shrewd acquisition on prolific marksman Felipe Barcelos, who has had a bit of a nomadic spell in recent years.

Look out for: Felipe Barcelos

Key Signings:

Felipe Barcelos (Wantage Town)
Tom Clapp (Forest Green Rovers – Work Exp)
Rhys Wells (Swindon Supermarine)
Mani Roper (Shrivenham)

Larkhall Athletic`s vastly experienced manager, Phil Bater, is a shrewd operator and Plain Ham supporters can expect a hardworking side who will be tough to beat.

Look out for: Lewis Powell

Key Signings:

Alfie Clarke (Bristol Rovers)
Sam Crumb (Cadbury Heath)
Tom Fry (Hednesford Town)
Chris Humphries (Bristol Manor Farm)
Harry Simons (Mangotsfield United)

Lymington Town will be an unknown quantity after being promoted from the Wessex League this summer.

Dave Lewis` side have had a mixed pre-season but he has made some decent-looking signings to add to a squad that have performed consistently over the past couple of years.

Look out for: Ollie Dennett

Key Signings:

Marcus Beauchamp (Salisbury – Loan)
Ben Satterley (Christchurch)
Sam Shearer (Brockenhurst)
Arshia Sheibatzadeh (Bemerton Heath Harlequins)
Dom Thelen (Oxford University)

Mangotsfield United boss Ray Johnston will be relying on a very young squad, many of whom have come through the club`s own ranks.

Only midfielder Dion Chambers and new keeper Ben Carter are over the age of 25.

Look out for: Joe Beardwell

Key Signings:

Ben Carter (Oldland Abbotonians)

Supporters atMelksham Town will be expecting a title challenge from Rich Fey`s team this term.

There have been some good signings added to the squad at the InfiLED Arena at Oakfield, including the Weston-super-Mare pair of Sam Hendy and Greg Tindle.

Look out for: Phil Ormrod

Key Signings:

Jamie Bremner (Gloucester City)
Josh Bright (Calne Town)
Ralph Graham (Hungerford Town)
Sam Hendy (Weston-super-Mare)
Connor Johns (Highworth Town)
Jay Malshanskyj (Slimbridge)
Ryan Morgan (Highworth Town)

Greg Tindle (Weston-super-Mare)

John Rendell`sPaulton Rovers side are always competitive and have enjoyed a decent pre-season.

However, the Winterfield Road crowd are realistic and but will be expecting a challenge at the top end of the table.

Look out for: Braeden Symes

Key Signings:

Nathan Brown (Chipping Sodbury Town)
Ed Butcher (Tiverton Town – Loan)
Adam Kelly (Melksham Town)
Toby Rennie (Cadbury Heath)
Jack Scrivens Radstock Town)
Leighton Thomas (Dorchester Town)

There will be a great deal of interest in how Plymouth Parkway get on in their first season at Step 4 level.

Supporters at Bolitho Park are used to success in both league and cup competitions, but Lee Hobbs` side may need time to adjust to the new level and the extra travelling.

Look out for: Levi Landricombe

Key Signings:

Matt Andrew (Camelford)
Tom Bath (Dorchester Town)
Aaron Bentley (Taunton Town)
Tyler Coombes (Plymouth Argyle)
Jordan Copp (Taunton Town)
Jack Crago (Tavistock)
Callum Rose (Buckland Athletic)

Sholing are another ambitious club who will be expecting to challenge for at least a play-off spot this season.

Dave Diaper has maintained a good deal of stability within his squad, many of whom have been Boatmen for some time.

Look out for: Dan Mason

Key Signings:

Mitchell Byrne (AFC Totton)
Jake Cope (Bognor Regis Town)

Slimbridge fans are happy that their Swans have managed to compete well in the division since finishing third-from-bottom in 2018/19.

Although neither of the two seasons that followed were completed, Lee Driver-Dickerson`s side were much-improved.

Look out for: Will Hawes

Key Signings:

Jordan Annear (Bideford AFC)
Will Davidson (Evesham United)
Nathan Dennis (Frampton United)
*Jack Holmes (Cinderford Town)
Toby Lawrence (Cheltenham Town)
Ben McLean (Alvechurch)
Isaac Thurston (Brimscombe & Thrupp)
*Subsequently left

Russell Jee has been one of the busier managers at Willand Rovers this close season.

They look to have a decent mix of youth and experience now and in Will Harvey, possess a highly rated young forward.

Look out for: Will Harvey

Key Signings:

Kieran Bailey (Shepton Mallet)
George Burton (Torquay United)
Will Harvey (Weston-super-Mare)
Kieran Ireland (Bristol Manor Farm)
Louis Jagger-Cain (Tiverton Town)
Mitch McCann (Paignton Saints)
Matt Wood (Buckland Athletic)

Winchester City boss Craig Davis knows he will have to have his team in or around the top end of the table tom satisfy Citizens` supporters.

Some decent new signings have headed into the Simplyhealth City Ground this summer to add to a healthy number retained from last season.

Look out for: Simba Mlambo

Key Signings:

Oli Bailey (Gresley Rovers)
Conall Bark (Thatcham Town)
Adam Grange (Poole Town)
Alex Haynes (AFC Totton)
Greg Peel (Bemerton Heath Harlequins)
Brad Snelling (AFC Portchester)

Opening Day Fixtures:

AFC Totton v Plymouth Parkway
Barnstaple Town v Lymington Town
Cinderford Town v Paulton Rovers
Cirencester Town v Bristol Manor Farm
Frome Town v Highworth Town
Larkhall Athletic v Slimbridge
Mangotsfield United v Sholing
Willand Rovers v Melksham Town
Winchester City v Bideford AFC