Saturday marks the return of competitive football, with Yeovil Town making the trip to outer London to face Hemel Hempstead Town.
As one of the so-called “big teams” in the National League South, the Glovers will be hoping to make an instant impact. Over recent years though, they have found it difficult getting off to a good start, having not won an opening day fixture since the 2016-17 season against Notts County.
Hemel Hempstead record is much better however having won three out of their last four fixtures to start a season.
3 points in the bag for The Tudors. Farnborough went right to the last minute but some great defending and goalkeeping ensured a win for the opening game of the season
1-0 pic.twitter.com/XZvl78duTJ
— Hemel Hempstead Town FC (@hemelfc) August 6, 2022
Hemel Hempstead News
Hempstead manager Brad Quinton is up for the challenge making sure his team are ready for what he describes as a “big unit of a club” going to Vauxhall Road. He said: “They [Yeovil] have to understand they’re coming here to our home ground, they’re going to be in for a good game and we’re looking forward to it.”
Quinton added: “They’re going to possibly be in and around titles, but you can only beat what’s in front of you and all my teams fight and work hard for each other.”
Yeovil Town News
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has been impressed with The Tudors throughout pre-season, saying: “You can tell they are very well coached, they have some lively players but our mantra has been ‘we can have no excuses’.”
Cooper believes the Hertfordshire side will be a tough test, with “one of the best players he’s ever coached” George Williams in their ranks. But the Yeovil manager has made sure his squad will be up for the fight. He said: “We have to deal with the pitch and everything else but we will be ready.”
Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton and frontman Jake Hyde are unavailable due to not being able to play on artificial pitches, Jordan Stevens misses out through injury. Morgan Williams will be able to play after his sending off in pre-season only counting towards other friendly games.
If you are heading to Vauxhall Road for season’s curtain-raiser, check out the Ciderspace Away Travel Guide to Hemel – here.