Romeo's Thatcham Town kick off pre-season with a win

Yashwa Romeo's Thatcham Town kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win at Combined Counties League side Wokingham and Emmbrook thanks to goals from Alex Miller and Marcus Whittaker on Saturday, July 9.

Thatcham followed that up with a 3-3 draw with Sheerwater at Woking College on Tuesday, July 12 and will face Tadley Calleva on Wednesday, July 13 as the Kingfishers continue to adapt to a new formation.

"We're getting used to the new shape, I'd have liked to see us implement it a bit better, but it's early days and we had five first team players out," Romeo said.

"I'm not concerned it's taking a bit of time but I'm a perfectionist, that's how it is."

Thatcham's packed schedule will give Romeo the chance to run the rule over new signings James Andrews, Lewis Francis, Cory Hathaway and Ashley Howell.

Romeo described Francis, who signs from Windsor, as a "pacey full back with a long throw and a good left foot" and Howell, a striker from Flackwell Heath, as "eagle eyed, he knows where the goal is."

Romeo said Howell's teammate at Flackwell Heath, Hathaway, is a "dynamic, up and down midfielder with bags of energy" while Andrews, a goalkeeper, joins having impressed in training.

Thatcham will face Wessex League side Horndean, who scored 119 goals last season, in the FA Cup preliminary round on August 6 and Cinderford, who knocked the Kingfishers out of last season's competition on penalties, in the FA Trophy first qualifying round.