Countdown to Kick-Off - Premier Division Central

Countdown to the 2021/22 Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central season.

The supporters of AFC Rushden & Diamondswill be wanting promotion this season, having been at this level now for three seasons, albeit two of them being cut short due to the pandemic.

Manager Andy Peaks knows he`s under pressure from the fans and has a big squad at his disposal along with some very promising youngsters.

Look out for: Young striker Will Jones

Key signings:

Ben Diamond (Travelling)
Dean Dummett (Barton Rovers)
Ben Garwood (Notts County)
Dean Snedker (Hemel Hempstead Town)
Nathan Tshikuna (Barton Rovers)
Sam Warburton (Corby Town)

Alvechurchboss Ian Long`s second spell at Lye Meadow has seen him make wholesale changes to his personnel and several have been brought back to the club having followed the management out.

Some very useful close season additions have been made and `Church are sure to be competitive.

Look out for: Tolani Omotola

Key signings:

Charlie Dowd (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Tristan Dunkley (Barwell)
Anthony Dwyer (Hednesford Town)
Josh Ezewele (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Dan Jezeph (Worcester City)
Ethan Mannion (Coleshill Town)
Tolani Omotola (Hyde United)
Ethan Patterson (Throttur Vogum – Iceland)
Danny Waldron (Leamington)
Luke Yates (Halesowen Town)

Andy Whing has steadily rebuilt his Banbury United squad this summer and has made some decent signings.

The Puritans have a loyal following who will want to see their side be up amongst the top end of the table, and pre-season form suggests they might well get their wish.

Look out for: Henry Landers

Key signings:

Ben Acquaye (Kettering Town)
Alex Babos (King`s Lynn Town)
Ethan Johnston (Northampton Town)
Brandon Patterson (Dunlop FC)
Charlie Pattison (AFC Dunstable)
Harry Reilly (Daventry Town)
Morgan Roberts (Northampton Town)
Tom Rowley (MK Dons)
Tom Sharpe (WBA)
Ben Taylor (American International College)
Chris Wreh (AFC Rushden & Diamonds)

Barwell boss Guy Hadland has made some last-minute additions to his squad, including a couple of youngsters on loan.

Yellows` supporters were a little frustrated at watching their side in pre-season with a team sheet containing all `triallists` but names have gradually been leaking out.

Look out for: Osebi Abadaki

Key signings:

Osebi Abadaki (Matlock Town)
Jerry Abbey (AFC Telford United – Loan)
Isaiah Bazeley (Aston Villa)
Harry Bower (AFC Telford United – Loan)
Dominic Brown-Hill (Alvechurch)
Joel Carta (Kettering Town)
Harry Higginson (Coleshill Town)
Harrison James (Tamworth)
Kyron Stabana (Tamworth)
Ben Stephens (Stratford Town)
Sam Walton (Bedworth United)

It`s been a struggle for Biggleswade Town boss Chris Nunn finding experienced replacements for his squad after losing a sizeable number of last season`s squad.

He has brought in quite a few young players and time will tell if they prove to be good enough.

Look out for: David Manu

Key signings:

Jake Alley (Walthamstow)
Luca Cardines (Stotfold)
Wilson Chingoka (Tring Athletic)
Blake D`Arcy (Chalfont St Peter)
Samuel Egole (Billericay Town)
Josh Hill (Bedford Town)
Joe Howe (Hendon)
David Manu (Aylesbury United)
Jemale McKenzie (Winslow United)
Magloire Muyembe (Ampthill Town)
Roke Nchaso (Bowers & Pitsea)
Joe Neal (Cambridge United)
Emmanuel Osilaja (AFC Church)
Luca Purse (AFC Rushden & Diamonds)
Stevan Shaw (Cambridge City)

Bromsgrove Sporting are another side to have undergone something of a re-build in the summer.

Brendan Kelly`s men were riding high on their promotion successes of 2017/18 and 2018/19 when the pandemic halted their progress and several of that squad have decided to opt for a new challenge elsewhere.

But Kelly has been busy in the transfer market and pre-season performances, in general, have kept their big support relatively happy.

Look out for: Cameron Ebutt

Key signings:

Shama Bako (Aberystwyth Town)
Demitri Brown (Worcester City)
Jono Brown (Alvechurch)
Josh Dugmore (Birmingham City)
Kieran Dunbar (Redditch United)
Cameron Ebutt (Gloucester City)
Jack Hallahan (Hednesford Town)
James Mace (Leamington – Dual Reg)
Jourdain Masidi (Fairfield Villa)
Jack Newell (Northampton Town)
Askos Onodi (Aston Villa – Loan)
Connor Taylor (Leamington)
Nehemia Zazi (Rushall Olympic)

Coalville Town manager Adam Stevens has a fully fit squad to choose from for tomorrow`s opener and he has seen a number of impressive performances from new signings during the pre-season campaign.

Ravens` supporters will be hoping that defensive midfielder Herve Pepe-Ngoma will come good after being handed a chance to resurrect his career after a long spell out of the game through injury.

Look out for: Billy Kee

Key signings:

David Assuncao (Kirby Muxloe)
Kyle Tomlin (Mansfield Town)

Hednesford Town boss Keenan Meakin-Richards begins his first full season in charge knowing supporters will expect a promotion challenge.

Meakin-Richards was handed the more permanent post of manager in early November 2020, having taken over initially as caretaker boss following the departure of Andy Morrell the previous month.

It`s been five years since the Pitmen were playing in the National League North and the club want to get back there as soon as possible.

They have a big squad and some quality additions have been made in the close season.

Look out for: Reece Styche

Key signings:

Brad Birch (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Andre Landell (Stourbridge)
Todd Parker (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Ryan Pryce (Bala Town)
Reece Styche (Buxton)
Josh Webb (Coleshill Town)
Kieran Wells (Ilkeston Town)

Hitchin Town manager Mark Burke has been able to keep the majority of last season’s squad together, and whilst it`s quite a youthful group, stability could be key and some pleasing pre-season performances have enthused supporters, especially against National League side Boreham Wood.

Look out for: Callum Stead

Key signings:

Alex Brown (Soham Town Rangers)
Darion Furlong (Potters Bar T)

Leiston have former Norwich City star Darren Eadie in his first full season in charge and he has gone for a generally young squad.

However, a number of players have returned to the club this summer, including experienced duo Joe Marsden and Adam Mills.

Look out for: Dylan Switters

Key signings:

Seb Dunbar (Stowmarket Town)
Ben Hunter (AFC Sudbury)
Jake Hutchings (Kingstonian)
Joe Marsden (Needham Market)
Adam Mills (Needham Market)
Brendan Ocran (Basildon United)
Siju Odelusi (Hayes & Yeading United)
George Quantrell (Stowmarket Town)

It`s been a quiet summer at Lowestoft Town as manager Jamie Godbold retained the majority of the squad he had at his disposal last season.

Like their close neighbours Leiston, the Trawlerboys have quite a youthful group and will again rely on the goals of Jake Reed.

Look out for: Jake Reed

Key signings:

Chris Henderson (Gorleston)
Henry Knights (Leiston)
Marcus Wilkinson (Leiston)

Looking for Suffolk bragging rights are Needham Market, who also have a young-looking squad for former Ipswich Town and Northern Ireland star Kevin Horlock to work with.

The club`s successful academy has produced a number of first-team players for the Marketmen and a handful of summer signings boost Horlock`s strength in depth.

Look out for: Byron Lawrence

Key signings:

Andy Fennell (Chelmsford City)
Kyle Hammond (Leiston)
Tariq Issa (Colchester United)
Tom Maycock (AFC Sudbury)

Jimmy Ginnelly knows better than anyone that nothing short of a title challenge will satisfy Nuneaton Borough supporters.

The Boro faithful have endured more ups and downs over the years than most and having been foiled by the global pandemic from attempting to get their place back in the National League North from where they were relegated in 2018/19, they will be desperate to challenge for a return this time around.

And pre-season performances have brought optimism to Liberty Way.

Look out for: Veteran forward Carl Baker

Key signings:

Tom Armitage (Burton Albion)
Amer Awadh (Banbury United)
Jordan Gough (Tamworth)
Damien McCrory (Notts County)
Gift Mussa (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Cain Noble (Loughborough University)
Adam Pepera (Enfield Town)
Callum Westwood (Corby Town)

Peterborough Sports are the bookmakers` favourites for promotion and for the Turbines to continue their remarkable rise under Jimmy Dean.

It must be remembered that Sports were a Step 6 side just six years ago and were looking nailed on certainties for promotion before the 2019/20 season was declared null and void.

Not surprisingly, Dean has retained the majority of his squad from last season and has added two players in Ryan Fryatt and Michael Gash who were playing regularly at two levels higher last season.

Look out for: Dion Sembi-Ferris

Key signings:

Jake Battersby (St Neots Town)
Ryan Fryatt (King`s Lynn Town)
Cameron Gow (Yaxley)
Michael Gash (King`s Lynn Town)

It`s been all-change at Redditch United this summer as manager Matt Clarke begins his second season in charge at the Trico Stadium.

Some very good pre-season results and performances have given Reds` supporters cause to believe they will enjoy a much better campaign than they have endured in recent years.

Look out for: Dan Sweeney

Key signings:

Callum Allchurch (Cadbury Athletic)
Luke Cox (Sheffield Wednesday)
Dennis Digie (Kidderminster Harriers)
Lewis Hudson (Coventry United)
Curtis Jemmett-Hutson (Barry Town United)
Kaden May (Stourbridge)
Rahis Nabi (Alvechurch)
Chay Tilt (Stourbridge)
Ryan Wollacott (Stourport Swifts)

Royston Town were another side who were bombing when the 2019/20 season was ended early.

Steve Castle`s side also reached the quarter-finals of the Buildbase FA Trophy that season and had it not been for the lack of continuity caused by lockdown, who knows, the Crows could have been Wembley-bound!

Castle has lost one or two players from his squad but has welcomed back prolific marksman Matt Bateman and has the experienced Ronnie Henry organising things at the back.

Look out for: Matt Bateman

Key signings:

Matt Bateman (Hemel Hempstead Town)
Ronnie Henry (Billericay Town)
Elliot Kettle (Biggleswade FC)

Rushall Olympic have ambitions to push on and in Liam McDonald have one of the best young managers around.

The Pics have a decent squad which has been strengthened considerably in the close season, so they could well be pushing towards the top end of the table.

Look out for: Simeon Colbourne

Key signings:

Simeon Colbourne (Halesowen Town)
Callum Coyle (Stafford Rangers)
Sam Fitzgerald (Walsall Wood)
Kristian Green (Stourbridge)
Shaquille Master (Leicester Nirvana)
Michael Nelson (Walsall Wood)
Tom Palmer (Kidderminster Harriers on 6-Month Loan)
Owen Parry (Boldmere St Michaels)

St Ives Town themselves and especially visiting sides will be delighted that their infamous Westwood Road pitch is now a brand new 3G surface!

And the Saints` boss Ricky Marheineke has brought in some very interesting new recruits in the close season, including veteran Brett Solkhon and keeper Paul White, who both know what it like to win this division.

Look out for: Nabil Shariff

Key signings:

Eniola Agemoh-Davies (Pro-Academy)
Liam Cross (Northampton Town – Loan)
Jason Dwumfuo (Hanworth Villa)
Joe Evans (Hednesford Town)
Luke Fairlamb (AFC Rushden & Diamonds)
Josh Flanagan (Northampton Town – Loan)
Ryan Kelsey (New Bradwell St Peter)
Callum Milne (Bedford Town)
Samir Nabi (Hereford)
Michael Richens (Kettering Town)
Ryan Robbins (St Neots Town)
Brett Solkhon (Kettering Town)
Paul White (Hereford)

Stourbridge are another team who supporters will expect to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

And under experienced boss Mark Yates, the Glassboys certainly look to possess a squad capable of challenging.

Look out for: Montel Gibson

Key signings:

Melis Bushaj (Solihull Moors – 6-Month Loan)
Jason Cowley (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Liam Daly (Barnet)
Montel Gibson (Grimsby Town – 6-Month Loan)
Reece King (Buxton)
Josh Marsden (Team Dudley)
James McQuilkin (Hereford)
Ethan Moran (Lye Town)
Miracle Okafor (Guiseley AFC)
Lathaniel Rowe-Turner (Tamworth)
Lee Vaughan (Barnet)

Stratford Town have undergone something of an overhaul in the close season as manager Paul Davis looks to build a competitive squad.

Few remain from last season`s squad and pre-season performances have been encouraging for Bards` supporters.

Look out for: Will Grocott

Key signings:

Caine Elliott (Rugby Town)
Bailey Fuller (Stourport Swifts)
Jaanai Gordon (Banbury United)
James Harding (Hungerford Town)
Michael Hopkins (Swindon Supermarine)
Owen James (Chalfont St Peter)
Dan Lafferty (Coventry City)
Joe Magunda (Tamworth)
Ahmed Obeng (Boldmere St Michaels)
Ross Oulton (AFC Rushden & Diamonds)
Jack Self (Chippenham Town)
*Ben Stephens (Kettering Town)
Jack Turner (Kettering Town)
*Subsequently left

Tamworth are another ambitious club whose fans believe have been at this level for too long now as they embark on their fourth season since being relegated from the National League North.

The Lambs look to have a squad with a decent mix of youth and experience and seem to have recruited well in the close season, so it would be a surprise if they were not serious challengers.

Look out for: Mike Taylor

Key signings:

Jordaan Brown (Stourbridge)
Jordan Clement (Redditch United)
Jack Concannon (Birmingham City)
Kevin Da Silva Bastos (Newark)
Keelan Fallows (Coventry City)
Ben Hart (Burton Albion)
Prince Mancinelli (Radford)
Orrin Pendley (Rushall Olympic)
Mike Taylor (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Jack Thomas (Ilkeston Town)
Tom Ward (Grantham Town)