VANARAMA SOUTH DIVISION SEASON PREVIEW

VANARAMA SOUTH DIVISION 
Current title odds at skybet.com
Billericay Town 4/1 
Havant & Waterlooville 9/2 
Chelmsford City 12/1 
Maidstone United 12/1 
Bath City 16/1 
Dulwich Hamlet 16/1 
Hemel Hempstead Town 16/1 
Braintree Town 20/1 
Concord Rangers 20/1 
Dartford 20/1 
Welling United 20/1 
Slough Town 22/1 
St Albans City 22/1 
Wealdstone 25/1 
Weymouth 25/1 
Dorking Wanderers 28/1 
Chippenham Town 33/1 
Hampton & Richmond 33/1 
Oxford City 33/1 
Eastbourne Borough 40/1 
Hungerford Town 50/1 
Tonbridge Angels 50/1

If the bookmakers are to be believed the title race in the Vanarama South Division will be between Billericay Town (currently rated at 4/1) and Havant & Waterlooville who were relegated from the National Division at the end of last season who are rated at 9/2. The nearest challengers are Chelmsford City (4th last season and lost in the play-off semi-finals) and Maidstone United (another side relegated from the National Division) both at 12/1. 

Here we focus on the top four in the betting and who I think are the best of the rest. 

Billericay Town
The club are now back under the management of Harry Wheeler, have made a number of players from higher levels and the football league that will improve their already impressive squad. 

Matt Rhead, 35, has signed from League One Lincoln City. He was a real fan's favourite at Sincil Bank and helped The Imps to promotion from the National League and League Two over the past few seasons scoring 44 goals in 163 matches. The 6ft 4inch centre-forward has signed a two year deal after an undisclosed free was paid.  

Gavin Gunning has spent the last one and half seasons with League Two side Forest Green Rovers. He helped them to a play-off place where they lost in the semi-final to Tranmere Rovers - The centre-back is probably best known for his time with Dundee United in Scotland where over two spells he made over 100 appearances for the club.  

Centre Back (but can also play in midfield) Craig Robson signs after being released from Barnet over the summer. He was part of The Bees squad which got to the Fourth Round last season beating Sheffield United in the Third Round at Bramall Lane. 

Doug Loft, 32, will bring a heap of experience to the midfield - He played on loan from Shrewsbury Town at Dagenham & Redbridge last season. He counts Brighton & HA, Port Vale, Colchester United and Gillingham amongst his former clubs. 

Right Back Ben Nunn has joined from National League side Dagenham & Redbridge. The 29 year old was with Boreham Wood between 2012 to 2017 where he helped them to promotion to non-league's top division. 

Ronnie Henry, 35, was released by League Two side Stevenage at the end of the 2018/19 season. He played over 400 times for The Boro and is currently the club's all time record appearance holder. A defender who has also played for Luton Town and represented England 'C' during his career. He came through the academy ranks at Tottenham Hotspur. 

Attacking Midfielder Jordan Parkes was one of the stand out players in the division last season and joins from Hemel Hempstead Town whom he has played over 200 games in two spells for. He has also played for Ebbsfleet United and Barnet amongst other clubs. Scored 18 goals in 48 appearances for The Tudors last season and is likely to score around about the same amount for The Blues this campaign. Parkes could be a key player for the Essex side this season. 

VERDICT Under the ownership of Glenn Tamplin since December 2016 the club have progressed upwards and there has certainly been some headlines made both on and off the pitch. With the quality of players they have signed over the summer they have a real good chance of being involved in the title race.  Once again they will be the team everyone wants to beat and players will raise their game against them. 

Havant & Waterlooville 
The Hawks parted company with long serving manager Lee Bradbury just before the season's end. Former Sutton United boss Paul Doswell has been brought it - He achieved much success whilst at Gander Green Lane. He brings with him Ian Baird who was his number two at The U's and was also in charge of H&W from 2004 to 2007. 

Doswell has been busy with lots of comings and goings from Westleigh Park over the summer months. He has signed a number of former Sutton United players as well as a few from Ebbsfleet United.   

Goalkeeper Ross Worner, Dean Beckwith (defender), Striker's Jonah Ayunga and Roarie Deacon along with midfielder's Nicky Bailey and Josh Taylor have all signed from from Sutton United. Deacon spent the final few months of last season with Sutton United whom he rejoined from Scottish Premiership side Dundee where he had spent a season and a half North of the border. He counts Stevenage and Crawley Town as former clubs and came through the ranks at Arsenal. 

Sam Magri, Andy Drury and Danny Kedwell all join from Ebbsfleet United. Magri, a defender, was born locally in Portsmouth and did play for England at u16, u17, u18 and u19 level before switching to play for Malta where he has played seven full international games. He came through the ranks at Pompey before moving to QPR - He has also played for Dover Athletic in the National League. Drury, 35, brings with him a massive amount of experience having played for Luton Town, Eastleigh, Crawley Town, Stevenage, Ipswich Town, Lewes and Sittingbourne during his long career. 

Striker Kedwell will score goals for The Hawks. He has played for Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon, Grays Athletic and Welling United along with a number of Kent based non-league sides earlier in his career. If he gets run of games for his new side I think he will score over 20+ goals easily.  

Anthony Straker joins from Bath City and defender Simon Walton joins as player/coach from Maidstone United. Both bring bags of experience with them. Straker, 30, came through the ranks at Crystal Palace and has played for Aldershot Town, Grimsby Town, York City, Motherwell, Southend United and Wycombe Wanderers in his career. Walton played for his home tome club Leeds United between 2004 and 2006 before a move down South to Charlton Athletic. He has since played for Ipswich Town (loan), Cardiff City (loan), QPR, Hull City (loan), Plymouth Argyle, Blackpool (loan), Crewe Alexandra (loan), Sheffield United (loan),  Hartlepool United, Stevenage,  Crawley Town, Garforth Town, Guiseley, Sutton United (under boss Paul Doswell), Billericay Town and Maidstone United firstly on loan and then full time. 

Defender Benny Reid, aged 21, has been snapped up from Wessex Premier side Horndean. He did have a trial with Sheffield United earlier in the year and big things are expected of the talented young player.  

Doswell has also kept midfielder Wes Fogden with the club. He is most well known for his time with AFC Bournemouth whom he joined after playing 100+ games in first spell with Havant and Waterlooville. He was with The Cherries between 2011 to 2014 under manager Eddie Howe. Alfie Rutherford, a fan's favourite, having been with the club since 2016 whom he signed for from local rival's Bognor Regis Town is also retained. 

Joe Cook, 21, is a defender and joins after a successful trial period with the club. He was with Winchester City last season. 

VERDICT Lots of new faces at Westleigh Park but most are known to Paul Doswell from his time at Sutton United. My verdict is they will finish in the top three of the table at least. 

Chelmsford City 
The Essex side have been knocking at the door of non-league's top table for a number of seasons under manager Rod Stringer with 4th, 3rd and 4th placed finishes over the past three campaigns. On the first occasion they lost in the play-off final to Ebbsfleet United and then lost to Hampton and Richmond Borough at the semi-final stage before losing to Welling United (3-2) at the same stage last season. 

All in all since promotion from the Isthmian Premier in 2008 The Clarets have qualified for the play-offs in seven of their eleven seasons - surely they must be due some luck soon? 

They have lost 28 goal striker Rhys Murphy who has moved to Yeovil Town but have recruited some decent players over the summer months. 

Sam Higgins, recruited from East Thurrock United, will be a good replacement for Murphy. He is a club legend with The Rocks where he is all time top goalscorer (275 goals!) and re-joins City for a second spell. He was with the club for the 2010/11 where he scored 16 goals in 28 games including one in the FA Cup against Wycombe Wanderers. 

Another forward player in Jamar Loza makes the short trip from local rival's Billericay Town after a short spell there last season. He was with Maidstone United from 2016 up until joining The Blues and came through the ranks at Norwich City.

Another striker Shaun Jeffers has rejoined for a second spell with City. He joines from Brackley Town and will be looking to recreate the form from his first spell at the club where he was the most prolific of his career when he scored 21 goals in 39 games during the 16/17 season.  

Defender Frazer Shaw was with Concord Rangers last season but left the club following the departure of player/manager Sammy Moore to Hemel Hempstead.  He came through the academy ranks at both Arsenal and West Ham United before dropping into the non-league game with Billericay Town and then Dulwich Hamlet where he joined Leyton Orient from for the 15/16 campaign. He has since been with Accrington Stanley, East Thurrock United, Woking, Dulwich Hamlet, Eastleigh and Leatherhead before joining Concord Rangers. 

Experienced goalkeeper Carl Pentney joins the club for a fourth spell after spending the last four years with Maidenhead United. He will replace Nathan McDonald who has rejoined his former club in Isthmian League side Enfield Town. 

Central Midfielder Ollie Muldoon joins from Maidstone United where he has been for the last two seasons. He started his careeer with Charlton Athletic before joining Gillingham and then The Stones. 

VERDICT With the bulk of last season's squad still with the club could stability be the key for Rod Stringer and Chelmsford City? 

Maidstone United 
After a rapid rise through the pyramid from step 4 in 2013 followed by step 3 in 2015 and then step 2 in 2016 under Manager Jay Saunders The Stones looked to have established themselves at non-league's top table with a 14th placed finish in 2016/17 - there followed a 19th placed finish before a poor start to last season saw the shock departure of long serving boss Saunders in August 2018 to be replaced by Harry Wheeler who had left Billericay Town. His stay with in Kent only lasted for four months and he was replaced by John Still who only a month beforehand had left Barnet after he had stood down as boss at The Hive. Still was in charge of the original Maidstone United club between 1986 and 1989 when they were promoted from the Conference to the football league in 1989. Still is "Head Of Football' with Hakan Hayrettin 'Head Coach'. Still has now been involved with football management for over 40 years having started out in 1976 with Leytonstone in the Isthmian League. 

Still is well known for picking up players from the lower divisions in non-league football and guiding them to become full time professionals. Paul Benson is one of the best examples - He signed with Still who was then boss of Dagenham and Redbridge, then in the Conference, in 2005. He had scored 65 goals in 107 matches for White Ensign who were then in the Essex Olympian League. It took time for Benson to adjust but in 06/07 he was the Conference top scorer with 28 goals and helped The Daggers to promotion to the football league. In 2010 he scored a goal at Wembley in the play-off final victory against Rotherham United which clinched the club promotion to League One. 

It's been a summer of re-building for the club lots of transfer activity. 

Jake Cole (goalkeeper) has joined after his release from Aldershot Town. He started his career with QPR before joining Barnet, Plymouth Argyle and Woking before his three season stint with The Shots. 

Experienced defender Gavin Hoyte joins from Dagenham & Redbridge. The 29 year old is a product of the Arsenal academy and has played for Barnet, Gillingham and Eastleigh as well as two spells with The Daggers. 

Another defender in Luke Pennell also joins from Dagenham. He is another example of Still's knowledge of the lower leagues having joined the East London side whilst he was boss in March 2016. He signed from then Southern League side Dunstable Town counting Banbury United and Wolverton Town as former sides. 

Sam Corne has been signed from Isthmian League side Ashford United so he steps up two divisions. The box-to-box midfielder played under Hayrettin at Braintree Town and counts Welling United and Greenwich Borough as former clubs.  

Centre-Back George Elokobi has been signed after his release from Aldershot Town. The 33 year old brings with him massive amounts of experience having started with Dulwich Hamlet in 2002 before moving to Colchester United in 2004 and then Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2008 for a reported transfer fee of £500,000 where he made 85 appearances. He has also played for a number of other football league sides. 

Twenty one year old Nana Kyei is a player Still will know well having signed from Barnet. He came through the youth ranks at The Bees and made 20 first team appearances for the club spending time on loan at Potters Bar Town, Hampton and Richmond Borough and Concord Rangers over the past two years. 

Saidou Khan steps up from the Isthmian League where he has been playing for Tooting and Mitcham United. The 23 year old is a central midfielder. 

Twenty two year old striker Jon Edwards has moved from FC Halifax Town who he joined from Hull City in August 2018. He had joined Hull from Dunstable Town in 2016 but his stay with The Tigers wasn't successful. He came through the ranks at both Stevenage and Peterborough United and has played for a number of other non-league clubs on loan. 

Justin Amaluzor joined the club shortly after Hayrettin and Still moving from Braintree Town. The 22 year old winger/forward has bags of pace and counts Barnet and Dartford amongst his former clubs. 

Striker Ibrahim Olutade steps up after an impressive campaign with Isthmian League side Leatherhead last season whom he joined from Hanwell Town. 

Left back Noah Chesmain joins after he left Colchester United over the summer. He spent the majoirty of last season on loan to Hitchin Town. He is 21 years old and came through the Millwall academy. 

VERDICT Could it be a season of consolidation for The Stones with maybe a play-off push and a decent FA Cup run? 

THE BEST OF THE REST 

Wealdstone 
I think they should be somewhat lower than their current 25/1 odds. The Stones crept into the play-offs last season finishing seventh in the table before beating Bath City (5th place) away and then after being 0-2 up at runner's up Woking they lost 3-2 at the semi-final stage. Bobby Wilkinson stepped down as boss during the summer after a two year spell in charge at Grosvenor Vale to be replaced by former Hemel Hempstead Town and Billericay Town boss Dean Brennan. There is a rivalry between The Stones and The Tudor fans so the appointment is likely to make the two league games eventful this season and add some extra spice. 

Brennan has signed a large number of players as he rebuilds the squad at his new club. It will be near enough a completely different team for 2019/20.   

Reece Beckles-Richards joins from Isthmian League side Wingate and Finchley. The 23 year old striker has made over 100 appearances for the North London side. 

Kavan Cotter joins from Brennan's former side Hemel. The 20 year old midfielder played over 30 times for The Tudors in 2018/19 and has also played for Kings Langley, Hitchin Town and at youth level for QPR and Arsenal. 

Full back Ryan Sellers has rejoined the club after a one season stint with FC Halifax Town in the Vanarama National Division where he made over 20 appearances. He also played in the football league for Wycombe Wanderers in 15/16 playing 15 times for The Chairboys. 

26 year old midfielder Connor Smith has joined for league rival's Billericay Town. The Irish born midfielder came through the youth system at Watford and spent a successful period on loan at Grosvenor Vale in 2011/12. He left The Hornets in 2016 for AFC Wimbledon and then played for Plymouth Argyle, Yeovil Town, Boreham Wood and then joined Billericay in January 2019 - He spent time on loan with Kingstonian and Kings Langley in the final part of the 18/19 campaign. Smith's previous spell on loan at the club was with then team mate Britt Assombalonga who I saw both play in the Middlesex Cup tie at Donkey Lane on Tuesday 6th December 2011 - Both scored two goals each in the 0-6 victory. 

Defensive midfielder Jacob Cook joins from Kings Langley making the move up to Step Two football. Cook was with Watford u18s and will know both Smith and Cotter from their time on loan with Langley last season. 

Nick Arnold has signed after his release from Aldershot Town. The 25 year old full back began with Reading in their academy system being making football league appearances for Wycombe Wanderers. He then spent two years with Whitehawk before joining The Shots. 

Another ex Watford academy player to sign up is 20 year old Dejon Noel-Williams - He has been with Oxford United since 2016 and had two spells on loan in the Vanarama South with Slough Town and Gloucester City last season. He is the son of former Watford player Gifton Noel-Williams. 

Centre-Forward Ross Lafayette returns to the club for second spell after a very short stay in 2009. He was with Billericay Town last season and has represented a large number of clubs around London and the Home Counties during his playing career. He played for Luton Town in the football league during the 2014/15 season. 

His other former clubs are Chesham United (two spells), Barton Rovers, Aylesbury United,.Aylesbury FC, Burnham, Hemel Hempstead Town, Welling United (two spells - one on loan from Luton Town), Woking (loan), Eastleigh, Aldershot Town, Dover Athletic, Sutton United, n Maidstone United (loan) and Billericay Town. 

Dennon Lewis joins from National League side Bromley. The 22 year old is another former Watford Academy player where he played for both Woking and Crawley Town on loan. He was with Scottish Championship side Falkirk for the first part of last season where he played a total of 23 times before joining The Ravens. Lewis has made headlines this summer as he was on ITV television show Love Island. 

Jacob Mendy has made the move up after a successful spell with Carshalton Athletic in the Isthmian Premier Division. The left footed winger was one of the stand out players for The Robins who finshed as runner's up last season. His pace and skill will be likely to cause problems for many bank lines in step two over the coming weeks. 

Afolabi Coker has stepped up two levels after playing for Ashford United in the Isthmian South East division for 2018/19. The 23 year old central defender spent time with Leeds United and Norwich City academies as a youngster. 

Michael Efete joins from Billericay Town. The 22 year old defender was with Norwich City up until last summer when he was released joining Maidstone United and then Bath City (on loan) before joining the blues last January. 

Midfielder Billy Clifford is also a player to have followed Brennan from Hemel to Billericay to Wealdstone. He was released by Chelsea in 2014 joining Walsall, Boreham Wood, Crawley Town and then Hemel. He spent time on loan with Slough Town at the end of last season. 

Another ex Hemel player Matty Saunders also joins. The 29 year old midfielder came through the ranks at Fulham and then joined Dagenham & Redbridge where he spent three seasons. He also has played for Whitehawk, Dover Athletic and Aldershot Town. 

Midfielder Michael Phillips is the last signing joining after being crowned player of the season at Madistone United.  The 21 year old is a product of Crystal Palace's academy. 

VERDICT 
Will all the new players gel together? If they do The Stones will do very well under Dean Brennan. I would rate them at 12/1 and not 25/1. 

Bath City
Jerry Gill has been in charge of Bath City since October 2017 and he has kept the majority of last season's squad and added some good signings too. 

Midfielder Jordan Simpson (from Forest Green Rovers), Midfielder Tom Smith (from Cheltenham Town who has been on loan with the club last season), attacking midfielder Tyler Harvey (from Truro City who has also been on loan at Twerton Park previously), Alex Hartridge (a defender on loan from Exeter City), left back Connor Riley-Lowe (from Truro City) and central midfielder Harry Hamblin (on loan from Southampton)

VERDICT 
Likely to be there or thereabouts in the race for the play-offs. 

Dorking Wanderers 
Isthmian League Champion's Dorking Wanderers are preparing for life at step two with minimal player movement. Centre-Half Ed Harris comes in from Havant & Waterlooville who was followed by Rory Williams - A change in circumstances for him saw him move back closer to home with Gosport Borough. Midfielder Jake Gallagher had joined from Aldershot Town where he made over 100 appearances since joining in 2015. 

Chris Boulter and Tom Tolfrey who have been with the club for seven seasons have departed along with Robb Sheridan who leaves after a three season stay along with Reece Hall who had a short stay with the club after joining from Merstham.  

VERDICT 
I think Wanderer's fans will be very happy with a mid-table finish - they could well surprise a few teams along the way. 

Braintree Town
Relegated from the National Division last season, are under the new management of former Leiston boss Glen Driver who has made many new signings who move to Cressing Road. 

Sean Bonnett-Johnson (Potters Bar Town), Kyran Clements (Bury Town), Michael Johnson (Hitchin Town) and Trey Charles from Northwood are amongst the signings. They have a chance to pit themselves against big spending Billericay Town in an Essex derby in their second game of the season! 

VERDICT
It's likely to be season of transition for the club as many of the players recruited have come from the lower divisions. 

Dulwich Hamlet
Gavin Rose's side had a decent finish of 14th in their first season at step two last campaign and have recruited well over the summer. 

Midfielder Jefferey Monakana has signed after spending last season with Wealdstone. The 25 year old came through the Arsenal academy and played 40 times for Preston North End between 2010 and 2014. He is joined by Christian Smith who also joins after one season with The Stones. The 31 year old midfielder has played for a large number of clubs in his career including Chester and Chelmsford City. 

Striker Ade Yussuf joins from Folkestone Invictia where he was one of the stand out players in the Isthmian Premier Division last season. 

Defender Ryan Case comes in from Oxford City. Kieron Monlouis joins from Hemel  after stating the season with Scottish club Hamilton Academical. 

Central defender Richard Orlu joins from Welling United. Connor Hunte joins after spending time on loan from Billericay Town last season. I think the talented 22 year old midfielder has joined the right club if he wants to climb back up to the football league where he came through the ranks of both Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Stevenage on loan. 

Forward Danny Mills has moved from Ebbsfleet United - He is likely to weigh in with some goals for the South London side this season. 20 year old midfielder Ben Chapman joins from Gillingham where he made 3 first team appearances. 

Left sided defender Jack Connors also joins from Dover Athletic who counts Dagenham & Redbridge as a former club. 

Goalkeeper Preston Edwards, Midfielder's Nyren Clunis and Quade Taylor along with  Aryan Tajbakhsh and Dominic Vose have all signed up for the news season. One club man Clunis starts his 10th season with Hamlet. 

VERDICT 
After a season of adjusting to the new surroundings of the Vanarama South division, a huge support and now some quality signings I think Gavin Rose's side will reach the play-offs. 

OPENING FIXTURES
Saturday 3rd August 
Bath City v Braintree Town 
Billericay Town v Eastbourne Borough 
Chelmsford City v Hampton & Richmond Borough 
Havant & Waterlooville v Welling United 
Hemel Hempstead Town v Hungerford Town 
Maidstone United v Weymouth 
Oxford City v Concord Rangers 
Slough Town v Dorking Wanderers 
St Albans City v Chippenham Town
Tonbridge Angels v Dulwich Hamlet 
Wealdstone v Dartford 

Tuesday 6th August
Braintree Town v Billericay Town 
Chippenham Town v Oxford City 
Concord Rangers v Chelmsford City
Dartford v St Albans City 
Dorking Wanderers v Hemel Hempstead Town 
Dulwich Hamlet v Wealdstone 
Eastbourne Borough v Tonbridge Angels 
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Havant & Waterlooville 
Hungerford Town v Slough Town 
Welling United v Maidstone United 
Weymouth v Bath City

Saturday 10th August 
Braintree Town v Wealdstone 
Chippenham Town v Billericay Town 
Concord Rangers v Slough Town 
Dartford v Havant & Waterlooville 
Dorking Wanderers v Tonbridge Angels
Dulwich Hamlet v St Albans City
Eastbourne Borough v Oxford City
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Hemel Hempstead Town
Hungerford Town v Maidstone United
Welling United v Bath City 
Weymouth v Chelmsford City


Monday 12th August
Chelmsford City v Dartford 

Tuesday 13th August 
Bath City v Hungerford Town 
Billericay Town v Welling United 
Hemel Hempstead Town v Dulwich Hamlet 
Maidstone United v Eastbourne Borough 
Oxford City v Hampton & Richmond Borough 
Slough Town v Weymouth 
St Albans City v Braintree Town 
Tonbridge Angels v Concord Rangers 
Wealdstone v Chippenham Town

Wednesday 14th August
Havant & Waterlooville v Dorking Wanderers 

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