Salisbury FC’s season gets underway this Saturday (10th August) away at Hemel Hempstead.It’s the club’s first season in the Vanarama National League South after winning promotion in the dramatic playoff final against AFC Totton at the end of last season.
Brian Dutton has made some changes to the squad while keeping the core of the team that achieved promotion.
A good number of players, including Luke Wilkinson, George Franklin, Rafa Ramos, Jordan Ragguette, Craig Fasanmade, and Ronan Silva, are looking to make their competitive debuts.
Salisbury have had a mixed set of results during pre-season, winning comfortably against Laverstock and beating Winchester City.
A draw in a hastily arranged game against Wimborne Town before defeat to Woking.
The final pre-season outing saw the Whites lose to last season’s play-off semi-final opponents, Gosport Borough.
Hemel Hempstead has been in the National League South since 2014.
Last season, they finished 20th out of 24 clubs, just avoiding relegation.
Hemel have also had a mixed pre-season, playing a selection of higher and lower league opponents; in their last friendly, they lost 3-2 to Wealdstone Rovers of the National League.
Like Salisbury, The Tudors have brought in new players, including young defender Ben Tompkins from Luton Town.
The young defender spent the previous season at Braintree who were promoted out of this league, with Tompkins playing 37 times.
You can purchase your tickets in advance from the Hemel Hempstead website – https://www.hemelfc.com/ then click on tickets.
If you can’t make the game, you can listen to commentary with coverage starting at 2pm ahead of kick-off at 3pm. https://salisburyradio.co.uk
As part of the new partnership with Salisbury Radio, Andy Munns and Ian Pearson will bring commentary from every away game, plus live updates from every home game this season. You can listen to the commentary on DAB, online and on smart speakers.
Visitor Information from Hemel Hempstead Town’s Website:
Address: The Focus Community Arena, Vauxhall Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP2 4HW
Travelling by car M25 – Leave at junction 21 for M1 North M1 – Leave at junction 8 for Hemel Hempstead A41 – Leave at Hemel Hempstead
Nearest Train Station: Hemel Hempstead (London Northwestern Railway) The stadium is a 45 min walk from the station or a 6-8 min ride in a taxi.
About The Focus Community Arena
Entry to the ground is via our Main Entrance off Vauxhall Road. The main turnstiles are located opposite the main gates. For games with bigger crowds, additional turnstiles will be in use. Upon entry to the ground, you’ll be able to purchase a programme and grab some food from our burger van. The clubhouse/bar is further to the right, and the toilets are in the bottom corner. To the left of these is our club shop.
There are large covered terraces at the top end of the ground and a covered all-seater stand running along the opposite side of the pitch to where you enter the ground. At the bottom end of the ground (to the right as you enter) is an all-seater covered stand behind the goal. Programmes are priced at £3.00 and are available inside the ground.
Parking
There is a small car park at Vauxhall Road, and supporters can park for a fee of £5 per car (season ticket holders and boardroom guests are free). Vauxhall Road is a busy residential street, and like the car park, the whole area fills up quickly. Attempts should be made to park away from the area to ease congestion; if you do park locally, then please do so with consideration and respect for our residential neighbours.
