Ackling happy with Thatcham squad

Gary Ackling is looking forward to playing pre-season friendlies after his squad returned to training last week

THATCHAM Town boss, Gary Ackling, is looking for a quick start to the season after pre-season training got underway last week.

Dozens of players attended the start of pre-season training last Thursday, with new signings Callum Willmoth, Tom Melledew and James Mandry joining several members of last season's squad in signing forms ahead of the new Evo-Stik Southern League season.

Midfielder Willmoth, whose previous clubs include Swindon Town and Hungerford Town, has joined from Newbury along with defender James Mandry, while midfielder Tom Melledew has rejoined the Waterside Park outfit from Abingdon United.

Boss Gary Ackling said he was pleased with his new additions, adding that although he has seen Carl Self and Charles Mpi leave the club, he was looking forward to getting back to playing pre-season friendlies.

He said: "I have admired Callum for a while and I am pleased to have got him on board and pleased that the majority of the squad have now re-signed.

"We want to build on what we did last year and hopefully get off to a quick start so it will be good to get back to playing games."

Ackling said he was also looking forward to the draws for the early rounds of the FA Carlsberg Trophy, FA Carlsberg Vase and FA Cup with Budweiser, which are due to be made tomorrow (Friday).

He said: "It is always a nice time of the season.

"I hope we maybe get a team from a lower division to give us a good chance of getting through."