Pre-season is finally over and Ashford look forward to entertaining Leighton Town at Short Lane on Saturday in their opening match in the newly created Central Division of the Southern League.  The Bedfordshire side are not complete strangers to Ashford by any means, having knocked the Ash Trees out of the FA Cup on two separate occasions, firstly back in 1997, when a solitary goal from Richard McDonald was insufficient to stave off a 1-2 defeat, and then more recently in September 2007, when the only goal of the game went to Leighton.

The two clubs have only once been in the same League and division at the same time and that was in the 2005-2006 season, when Ashford managed to complete the double, winning by a solitary goal at home, scored by Paul Johnson, and then pulling off a more emphatic 4-1 victory away, courtesy of goals from Gavin Smith (2), Ryan Lake and Johnson.  The only other meeting between the clubs was in the 2003-2004 season when goals from Steve Willmore and John Pomroy gave Ashford a 2-0 win in the 1^st Round of the Bryco Cup (Isthmian League Cup).

Ashford will come into the match on Saturday with manager Jamie Lawrence, in his own words, now fielding “his own side and not someone else’s” and he will be keen for all the new signings to fulfil the promise shown in the pre-season matches.  The squad has been further strengthened this week by the arrival of full back Kayode Olayinka, previously at Wealdstone and Luke Hickie who has Conference experience with Grays Athletic.  He has also played for Dulwich Hamlet and Fisher Athletic and arrives from Kingstonian, where he played a part in their promotion campaign last season.  Also signed on Southern League forms is highly promising young keeper Jordan Dawson, who is likely to be on the bench for tomorrow’s game.

Ashford will also be sending a squad to meet Hampton & Richmond Borough Reserves tomorrow at the Richardson-Evans sports ground in a further friendly.

Following a committee meeting last night, Ashford will be offering free entry to all their registered junior players at all 1^st Team matches as from tomorrow, and there will also be a concessionary rate of just £5 for parents of junior players.  Prices overall have been reduced from last season, with entry now down to £8 for adults.

The new kit arrived in time for the squad photo yesterday evening and will proudly bear the name of Ashford’s new shirt sponsors, the Mama Mia Ristorante in Staines.  Also now available for the new season is a fresh batch of tangerine & white scarves, available at the tea bar from Sue.