Alton manager Kevin Adair is pleased with how his squad is shaping up ahead of the start of their Combined Counties Premier Division South campaign.
Among the players returning from last season are Matt Graham, Archie Larkham, Luke Roper, Scott Sanderson, Oli Page, Luke Perkins, Owen Lumsden, Lewis Mees, Billy Wright, Louis Russell, George Bowerman, Oli Graham, Richie Hunter, Rowan Sharratt, Jack Fowler, Ed Dryden, Jamie Phillips and Adam Brice.
New recruits include Joe Sowden – who has joined from Farnham Town – and Pat Cox.
Liam Marshall and Dylan Averiss complete the squad, and Adair is delighted with how the summer has gone.
“We’ve got a lot of good young players who we’ve managed to keep,” he said.
“I felt we needed a bit more experience to complement that, which we’ve managed to add to the squad.
“Joe Sowden has a lot of experience and knows all about this level.
“Pat Cox has played at a higher level before and is a big signing for us.
“We’ll probably start the season with the experienced lads, but the young players will soon get their chance as there are so many games.
“I must thank everyone at the club for all their support.
“As a management team we don’t tend to ask for a lot, but whenever we ask for anything the club always do their best to make it happen.
“The club also leave me to get on with my job and make the footballing decisions.
“They trust my judgement and are always interested in what I have to say.
“It suits me perfectly here and I’m really happy.”
One key player from last season who has departed is the highly-rated Trevor Caborn – who has joined Southern League Premier South outfit Winchester City – and Adair is pleased for his former player.
“I would never stand in the way of a player moving to a higher level, and I’m delighted for Trevor,” said Adair.
“I know the manager at Winchester really well – they’re a fantastic club and they will look after him.
“If Winchester ever need Trevor to get some game time then of course we would be happy to have him back.
“Hopefully this shows players that they can come to Alton, improve and go on to a higher level.
“Trevor is a great lad – he got experience of men’s football with us and has moved on with our blessing.”
Alton face a tough start to their Combined Counties Premier Division South campaign on paper, with games against AFC Croydon Athletic, Jersey Bulls and Farnham Town.
AFC Croydon Athletic’s new joint-owners include Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy, while Jersey have finished fourth and third in the past two seasons and are expected to challenge for promotion again.
Farnham are also strongly fancied to push for promotion after winning the Southern Combination Cup last season and winning seven of their final ten league games – and drawing the other three – to finish sixth.
Adair is unfazed, though, and is relishing the challenge ahead.
“We have to play everybody twice, so it doesn’t matter when we play them,” he said.
“Nobody really knows how the league will look until we get to the end of September.
“There are a lot of games between now and the end of September and a lot can happen before then.
“The final league table won’t lie – the best team will win the league and will deserve it.”