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Pre-season set to begin
Andrew Schooler1 Jul - 08:54
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Shrimpers head to Little Oakley on Saturday - with two new players already signed up.
The HPFC first team play their opening pre-season friendly on Saturday as the countdown to the new season begins in earnest.
Matt Carmichael’s side will head to local rivals Little Oakley to compete for the Tim Gooch and Norman Mann Memorial Cup.
Norman was club president prior to his death in 2021, while Tim played a prominent role at the Essex Senior League club.
The match was first played in 2022 and has become an annual pre-season affair. The Shrimpers have won the trophy on both occasions thus far.
Saturday’s game will kick-off at 2pm, ensuring fans can watch the England v Switzerland Euro 2024 quarter-final which starts at 5pm.
It is the first of five planned pre-season fixtures for the first XI, while Michael Clarke’s Under-23 side have also announced a full pre-season programme. Their opening match will also be this Saturday, kicking off at 1pm on the Royal Oak against Border League side Great Bentley.
Full details of pre-season can be found below.
The new Thurlow Nunn League season is due to begin on Saturday July 27. Fixtures are expected to be announced shortly after this Friday's FA draws, which will include news of our FA Vase opponents.
The club has also been busy on the paperwork front with several players having signed up for the 2024/25 campaign.
Former Oakley man Greg Rodger has moved to the Royal Oak.
Matt said: “Greg's a player I know really well after being part of my Oakley side that got promoted to Step 5.
“His football has stuttered in recent seasons after showing so much potential. I'm determined to get him back to the levels he showed prior to that.
“He has the ability to fire us to Step 5. There won't be a better player at Step 6 if we can find the formula to get him back to his best.”
Another new recruit is centre-back Will Crisell, who has previously played for Needham Market, AFC Sudbury, Brantham and Oakley.
Matt said: “I’m delighted to have got Will signed despite interest from other clubs. If we can get the best version of Will, we will have one of the strongest centre-halves in the league.
“Will is a player I know really well after signing him for Brantham as a youngster from Needham Market. He hasn't reached his full potential yet but he's getting fitter and sharper and he will be a real asset this season.
“He has great experience at Step 4 and 5 and I'm sure we will benefit from that too as the season unfolds.”
Meanwhile, last season’s managers’ player of the year, Alfie Canning (pictured), has signed a contract. Keeper Brad Cook, 2023/24 top scorer Luke Mayhew and Liam White have also extended their deals.
Striker Danny Garrad, who joined midway through last season, has also committed himself to the club.
Full pre-season fixtures:
First team
Saturday July 6 – Little Oakley (away, 2pm)
Saturday July 13 – FC Clacton (away, 3pm)
Tuesday July 16 – Brantham Athletic (home, 7.45pm)
Saturday July 20 – Kings Park Rangers (home, 3pm)
Tuesday July 23 – Thorpe Athletic (home, 7.45pm)
Under-23s
Saturday July 6 – Great Bentley (home, 1pm)
Saturday July 13 – FC Clacton (away, noon)
Tuesday July 16 – Tiptree Jobserve (away, 7.45pm)
Saturday July 20 – Alresford Colne Rangers (away, 3pm)
Thursday July 25 – Harwich & Parkeston U18 (home, 7pm)
Saturday August 3 – Silver End (away, 3pm)
Saturday August 10 – Ramsey & Mistley (home, 3pm) - TBC
Under-18s
Tuesday July 9 - Woodbridge Town (home - Harwich School 3G, 7.30pm)
Thursday July 18 - Felixstowe & Walton United (away, 7.45pm)
Thursday July 25 - Harwich & Parkeston U23 (home, 7pm)
Thursday August 1 - Holland (away, 7pm)
Thursday August 15 - FC Clacton (home, 7pm)
Matt Carmichael’s side will head to local rivals Little Oakley to compete for the Tim Gooch and Norman Mann Memorial Cup.
Norman was club president prior to his death in 2021, while Tim played a prominent role at the Essex Senior League club.
The match was first played in 2022 and has become an annual pre-season affair. The Shrimpers have won the trophy on both occasions thus far.
Saturday’s game will kick-off at 2pm, ensuring fans can watch the England v Switzerland Euro 2024 quarter-final which starts at 5pm.
It is the first of five planned pre-season fixtures for the first XI, while Michael Clarke’s Under-23 side have also announced a full pre-season programme. Their opening match will also be this Saturday, kicking off at 1pm on the Royal Oak against Border League side Great Bentley.
Full details of pre-season can be found below.
The new Thurlow Nunn League season is due to begin on Saturday July 27. Fixtures are expected to be announced shortly after this Friday's FA draws, which will include news of our FA Vase opponents.
The club has also been busy on the paperwork front with several players having signed up for the 2024/25 campaign.
Former Oakley man Greg Rodger has moved to the Royal Oak.
Matt said: “Greg's a player I know really well after being part of my Oakley side that got promoted to Step 5.
“His football has stuttered in recent seasons after showing so much potential. I'm determined to get him back to the levels he showed prior to that.
“He has the ability to fire us to Step 5. There won't be a better player at Step 6 if we can find the formula to get him back to his best.”
Another new recruit is centre-back Will Crisell, who has previously played for Needham Market, AFC Sudbury, Brantham and Oakley.
Matt said: “I’m delighted to have got Will signed despite interest from other clubs. If we can get the best version of Will, we will have one of the strongest centre-halves in the league.
“Will is a player I know really well after signing him for Brantham as a youngster from Needham Market. He hasn't reached his full potential yet but he's getting fitter and sharper and he will be a real asset this season.
“He has great experience at Step 4 and 5 and I'm sure we will benefit from that too as the season unfolds.”
Meanwhile, last season’s managers’ player of the year, Alfie Canning (pictured), has signed a contract. Keeper Brad Cook, 2023/24 top scorer Luke Mayhew and Liam White have also extended their deals.
Striker Danny Garrad, who joined midway through last season, has also committed himself to the club.
Full pre-season fixtures:
First team
Saturday July 6 – Little Oakley (away, 2pm)
Saturday July 13 – FC Clacton (away, 3pm)
Tuesday July 16 – Brantham Athletic (home, 7.45pm)
Saturday July 20 – Kings Park Rangers (home, 3pm)
Tuesday July 23 – Thorpe Athletic (home, 7.45pm)
Under-23s
Saturday July 6 – Great Bentley (home, 1pm)
Saturday July 13 – FC Clacton (away, noon)
Tuesday July 16 – Tiptree Jobserve (away, 7.45pm)
Saturday July 20 – Alresford Colne Rangers (away, 3pm)
Thursday July 25 – Harwich & Parkeston U18 (home, 7pm)
Saturday August 3 – Silver End (away, 3pm)
Saturday August 10 – Ramsey & Mistley (home, 3pm) - TBC
Under-18s
Tuesday July 9 - Woodbridge Town (home - Harwich School 3G, 7.30pm)
Thursday July 18 - Felixstowe & Walton United (away, 7.45pm)
Thursday July 25 - Harwich & Parkeston U23 (home, 7pm)
Thursday August 1 - Holland (away, 7pm)
Thursday August 15 - FC Clacton (home, 7pm)
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