Hayling United set for a tough pre-season – starting with a Front Lawn friendly against Baffins Milton

Luke Wheatcroft (black/white) is one of a handful of players who can play as a centre half in Hayling's squad. Picture: Keith Woodland

Due to summer improvements at their Hayling College pitch, the game is being played on a 3G surface at Front Lawn in Havant (12.45pm).

Boss Dan Bishop has made few changes to a squad which ended last season with eight successive wins.

That was the best winning run by any team in the HPL top flight in 2019/20.

‘We were going well, but this is an entirely new season, everyone’s had a long break,’ said Bishop.

‘I’m not getting too excited yet. I’ve got no real expectations until we’ve played five or six games.

‘Everyone’s come back from lockdown fit, there’s a real buzz.

‘We all train together - everyone’s bought into that. There’s no ‘you’re a first team player, you’re a reserve player.’

‘It means if someone gets injured there’s a ready-made replacement who knows exactly what system we play.

We think we’re doing things the right way, but until we start the season we won’t know.

‘We’ve got some tough pre-season games - Baffins, Petersfield, Fawley, Romsey and Stoneham are all higher division.

‘If we get a result against Baffins it will mean we’ve had a blinder or they’ve had a stinker.

‘I saw them at Fleetlands on Tuesday, but it wasn’t a pretty game on a difficult pitch. The astro at Front Lawn will probably help them - they seem to want to get the ball down and play.’

Midfielder Josh Watts has returned to Hayling, having made over 20 HPL appearances for the club in 2018/19 before joining Petersfield Town.

Watts failed to make an impact with the Rams - only appearing twice for the first team as a sub.

Central defender Dan Clasby has also arrived from Fareham Town, where he made five first team starts last term.

‘We’re strong at centre half,’ said Bishop. ‘Last season we started with Elliott Spencer, Luke Wheatcroft, Jono Collington and Will Ford competing for the three places.

‘I’m looking for Dan to challenge them, and we’ve also got two young lads who can play there in Toby Wilson and Liam Buxton.’

Wilson has yet to make a competitive start for the club but Buxton was handed three starts last season.

Teenage midfielder Ronnie Clarke - who played a couple of HPL games for Locks Heath last term - has also arrived, as have goalkeepers Joe Boxall and Sam Bennett.

Boxall has spent time at Baffins, while Bennett was at Lyndhurst last season.

Central midfielder Steve Sylvester - a one-time Sunday League team-mate of Bishop’s - has also joined but will use his experience to help bring on the youngsters in the second team.

Hayling, helped by a £1,500 Football Foundation grant, have spent £3,000 on their College pitch this summer.

‘We badly need some rain,’ said Bishop, who revealed the pitch should be ready when Hayling host Bosham in a friendly on August 22.

The Humbugs lift the curtain on the HPL season at home to Infinity on Tuesday, September 1st (7.30pm).

‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ said Bishop. ‘They were the best team in the league last season.

‘It’ll be my first game against them - I missed the away game last season due to a holiday and we didn’t get to play them at home.’