Four set to sign as Horsham YMCA freshen up squad

JPCT 221114 S14490641x Football, FA Vase, second round: Horsham YMCA v Eirth & Belvedere -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-141124-093229001

The Gorings Mead side’s manager blamed himself for their seventh-placed finish in the Premier Division last year.

He felt he should have brought some new faces into the team before the campaign kicked-off to keep the players on their toes.

So far YMCA hope to have acquired four new additions including Alex Spinks and Ollie Hartley, who are set to join from Peacehaven along with goalkeeper Jordan Jenner, from Lingfield.

Buckland said: “Squad-wise, we have retained, as was to be expected, all of last season’s squad bar one - who was always going to be leaving.

“That’s Dan Evans and I think he is going to Dorking Wanderers my old side. He lives up that way so it was always going to happen and he was totally up front about it.

“At the moment we have four more that we are likely to be signing, they have agreed with us and will be at pre-season training.

“I am pretty confident as the players we have met and spoken to have said they want to join us.

“Although I always try and wait until the first training session before announcing anything as you don’t want to end up with egg on your face.

“I was a bit reminiscent last year and the fact I didn’t freshen the squad up reflected where we finished last season and that’s something I wanted to change.

“We have also retained the senior players such as Sam Schaaf, Phil Johnson, Ash Dugdale, everyone really. That’s also very important.”

Pre-season starts tonight (Tuesday) for YM with their first friendly away against Redhill on Saturday, July 16. Other friendlies: Tues, July 19, Roffey (A - Faygate); Sat, July 23, TD Shipley (A); Tues, July 26, Guildford City (H); Sat, July 30, Horsham (H); Tues, Aug 2, Lewes (H); Sat, Aug 6, Billingshurst (H).

YMCA will also be running an under-21 side next season in the Southern Combination League.

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