FOOTBALL: Banbury United, Kidlington, North Leigh, Didcot Town and Thame United gear up for Evo-Stik South League season

• Jefferson Louis has bolstered Banbury United's strikeforce, joining from Oxford City Picture: Mike Allen

BANBURY United boss Mike Ford believes the Premier division will provide a much sterner test for his team this season.

The Puritans narrowly missed out on the play-offs in the last campaign, but Ford believes it will be tough to emulate that this year, although he remains hopeful of further improvement.

Hereford are the favourites to win the top tier of the Evo-Stik South League, and Ford says that the bigger spending power of many clubs will ensure a difficult season.

He said: “There are bigger clubs this season, there’s no doubt about it.

“These bigger clubs can spend a lot more, and we are just not able to compete financially.

“Chippenham spent 15 years trying to get out of the Southern League before they won it last year.

“Unless you’re a Hereford, who get 3,000 watching every week, you’re not going to buy your way out of the division.

“For me, that makes this season more challenging. But we will try and improve everything that we do. We have made massive strides in the last two years.

"Maybe this year, those strides will be smaller, but if we keep moving forwards, that is all I can ask.”

Jefferson Louis has joined from Oxford City, while Darren Pond returns.

Zach McEachran has left to join Oxford City, while Eddie Odhiambo and Mark Bell have moved to Kidlington.

Banbury begin their campaign with a home clash with Dorchester United tomorrow.

PLAYERS IN

J Louis, D Pond, T Winters, M Peake-Pijnen, C Hawtin.

PLAYERS OUT

Z McEachran, E Odhiambo, M Bell.

KIDLINGTON

• Midfielder Lance Williams has made the move to Kidlington from North Leigh Picture: David Fleming

KIDLINGTON have a host of new signings ahead of their West campaign, which starts with a home clash against Yate Town.

Julian McCalmon’s side have had an excellent pre-season, with victories against Flackwell Heath, Wantage Town, North Leigh, Banbury United and Thame United.

Kidlington have been busy recruiting new faces during the summer, with Declan Benjamin, Ben Brown, Mark Bell, Mark Wharton, James Organ and Lance Williams (pictured) all joining the Yarnton Road club.

McCalmon believes his side can challenge for honours in the Evo-Stik South League.

He said: “Pre-season has enforced my belief that this squad is more than capable of winning this league.

“The players have bought into what we are trying to do and the style of play we will try to enforce.

“The season cannot come quickly enough for me.”

PLAYERS IN

D Benjamin, B Brown, M Bell, M Wharton, J Organ, L Williams.

PLAYERS OUT

J Dunmall, H Owen.

NORTH LEIGH

• Connor Thompson is back between the sticks for North Leigh Picture: David Fleming

NORTH Leigh boss John Brough is targeting a play-off place after a busy summer spent rebuilding his squad.

The Millers kick off their West campaign in the Evo-Stik South League tomorrow at home to newly-promoted Bristol Manor Farm.

Building on last season, when they finished sixth and enjoyed club record runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy, is easier said than done, but it is Brough’s goal.

He said: “My aim will always be to improve on what we did the season before.

“If we do that it means we will be in the play-offs and if we do better in the cups it will bring some money into the club.

“There has been a lot of change in the summer.

“But we’ve had a reasonable pre-season, winning four of our six games.”

The side which starts on Saturday will look very different to the one which finished last season by lifting the Oxfordshire Senior Cup.

Jamie Cook and Stuart Hole have retired, while Wayne Turk has dropped a division to reduce his travel commitments.

Connor Thompson, who left in February, is back in goal, while one of the new faces is Ryan Paddock, who plays in defence or midfield and skippers the British Army team.

PLAYERS IN

M Grade, E Keighley, S Mattock, S Mendes, R Paddock, E Stevens, C Thompson, C Waldon, S Wood.

PLAYERS OUT

J Cook, S Hole, M Sysum, W Turk, L Williams, A Woodley, M Woodley.

DIDCOT TOWN

• Didcot Town boss Andy Ballard is hopeful of a strong campaign after an encouraging pre-season Picture: Steve Wheeler

DESPITE a big reduction in playing budget, Didcot Town manager Andy Ballard remains cautiously optimistic ahead of his side’s West campaign.

The Railwaymen kick off their Evo-Stik South League season with a long trip to Bideford Town, buoyed by an encouraging pre-season.

After losing narrowly to Vanarama National League side Eastleigh, they defeated Oxford City 2-1.

“While you can’t read too much into pre-season results, the displays against Eastleigh and Oxford City, which was a very good scalp, have boosted confidence,” said Ballard.

“Because of a reduction in sponsorship, we’re running on a tight budget, but with a couple of signings and some good youngsters coming through, I’m hopeful of a good season.”

The most interesting signing is Australian Josh Pin, a midfielder from Far North Queensland Heat.

Matt Woodley has returned from North Leigh, while Ballard has also signed ex-Oxford United youth player Lewis Hayden.

These make up for the departures of Ben Whitehead to Cirencester Town and James Organ to Kidlington.

“I’m sitting firmly on the fence, with regards to predictions,” said Ballard.

“We’ll take each game as it comes.”

PLAYERS IN

O Holloway, L Hayden, S Humphries, M Woodley, J Pin.

PLAYERS OUT

B Whitehead, J Organ.

THAME UNITED

• Thame United have added Evo-Stik South League experience to their defence with the signing of Joel Meade Picture: David Fleming

MARK West is targeting a top-ten finish as Thame United return to the Evo-Stik South League.

The Oxfordshire side have retained all of last year’s Uhlsport Hellenic League championship squad, and brought in several new faces.

West hopes the additions will make Thame competitive in the East division.

He said: “It’s obviously going to be a tougher league. To win the Hellenic was a very tough ask, and what the lads did last year was unbelievable with the threadbare squad we had.

“We’ve managed to hang on to all of them and added some good quality, so we’ve definitely got strength in depth.”

New signings include Joel Meade, who has previously played for Banbury United, Oxford City and Didcot Town, while keeper Eddie Cavanagh joins from Wantage Town.

Thame start with a trip to Chalfont St Peter tomorrow.

West added: “We are looking for top ten or higher. Whether we will be good enough, only time will tell.”

PLAYERS IN

E Cavanagh, H Mepham, F Murray, L Smyth, J Meade.