Fixtures confirmed for local sides, as Thatcham face a trip to Devon and Hungerford travel to Chertsey
Last Friday was one keenly awaited by fans of local non-league football clubs.
Fixture release day saw Hungerford, Thatcham and Tadley Calleva learn their fate, as their path through the upcoming season was laid out.
Hungerford Town will kick off their Southern Football League Premier South campaign away to newcomers Chertsey FC on August 10th.
The Surrey side have enjoyed a momentous rise in recent years, winning the Combined Counties League Premier Division in 2019, as well as the FA Vase at Wembley.
They won the Isthmian South Central Division One last season, losing just one game all season and scoring over 100 goals.
The Crusaders’ first home fixture will be against another newcomer, Taunton Town.
Freshly relegated from the Vanarama South, the side faced a winding-up petition from HMRC last year and were placed under a transfer embargo, but have since overcome these issues and undergone a near total rebuild on and off the pitch.
On Boxing Day, Hungerford host Welsh side Merthyr Town, whilst New Year’s Day sees a short trip to Swindon Supermarine. They end the season at home to Dorchester.
At Thatcham Town, its a season like no other, as they face multiple mammoth treks to Devon and Cornwall.
They won’t have to wait for one either, as they’ve been handed a five and a half hour round trip to Exmouth Town on the opening day.
The Devon side’s home at Southern Road holds approximately 300 spectators, with the Kingfisher’s needing all the support they can get.
There won’t be much time for rest either, as they’ll face Shaftesbury at home just three days later on the 13th.
Other big trips will include Falmouth Town on September 14th and Mousehole FC on January 11th.
On Boxing Day they’ll host Didcot Town at home, whilst New Year’s Day sees a trip away to Bashley. The season ends with Tavistock AFC visiting the Mettal Stadium.
The fixture releases for Tadley Calleva was slightly more complicated.
The Combined Counties League announced the fixtures for August, leaving clubs to wait for any further confirmed schedules.
Nevertheless, their league opener will see them travel to Camberley Town on Tuesday August 6th.
Four days later, on the 10th, they host Alton FC, whilst many supporters will look forward to an away fixture against Corinthian-Casuals on the 20th, one of England’s most historic amateur clubs.
