YATE TOWN look set to be a much-changed team when their first game of the season comes around against AFC Hayes on Saturday, August 15.
Following last season’s relegation from the Southern League Premier Division, manager Dave Mogg has moved to bring in a lot of new faces while others from last year have already left the club or are seeking moves elsewhere.
Defender Kes Metitiri is the latest player who looks to have played his last game in a Yate shirt after he moved to London and striker Jake Reid is bidding to make the step up as a professional footballer, although the door is not shut on him at Yate.
He played 45 minutes for Hereford United in their 3-0 pre-season friendly victory over Pegasus Juniors last week.
However, Lee Matthews, Aron Robbins, Edd Vahid, Paul Metheringham, Neil Ward, and Sam Duggan have committed their futures to Yate.
Tom Warren, John McAllindon, Scott Thomas, Mark Reynolds and Dave Pearse have joined from other clubs while Bath City defender Callum Stewart looks set to join on a season-long loan.
Mogg is also set to play several trialists in the first pre-season friendly at Welton Rovers on Saturday. Midfielders Ashley Derrick, Kyle Shawcross, Jason Burl, Carl Simmons, Lee Tudor, goalkeeper Stuart Wood and striker Rob Dunphy will all get the chance to impress.
And Mogg is hoping his new-look side will be ready for the start of the season, after the fixtures were released yesterday, giving them a home game against Hayes to start.
He said: “It is nice to have a home game to start off.”
“It won’t be an easy start, we’ve got a lot of new faces so I’m hoping they gel quickly.
“I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully pre-season will go well and those lads who get the opportunity will take it by the scruff of the neck.”
It’s a difficult start for Yate, whose first three games are against sides who finished in the top half of Zamaretto League Division One South and West last season.
On August 18, they visit Thatcham Town before a trip to Windsor and Eton, who were runners-up last season.
Their first derby against Mangotsfield United is at home on New Year’s Day, with the return on Easter Monday, April 5.
They visit Cirencester Town on Boxing Day and end their campaign with an away match at Abingdon United on April 24.
Vahid is unavailable for the start of Yate’s pre-season programme, while Metheringham is out until September with the knee injury he sustained at the end of last season.
Yate also visit Brislington for a friendly next Tuesday evening.
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