HOOPS BEGIN NEW SEASON AT AFC CROYDON

So here we go again with a new season for the Hoops, starting with a trip to AFC Croydon on Saturday, and manager Derek Hares is confident that the team can improve on last season’s seventh-place finish.
He told the East Kent Mercury: “We’ve certainly moved forward in the last couple of years and hopefully we’ll continue to do that this season.
“Because the majority of the squad have been together for a couple of seasons there’s a good spirit there. They all want to do well and they’ve got a good attitude.”
But Hares knows that his side face a testing opening game against an AFC Croydon side who won 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last season. He said: It’s always a difficult game up there, the pitch is not the best and they are a quite a strong, physical team. But overall our pre-season has gone well and I’m excited about getting under way again.”
AFC Croydon finished 13th last season and their manager, Kevin Rayner, is also looking forward to the new campaign. He said: “We have lost two players to a higher level but have welcomed a couple back. We have also picked up some very good additions and didn’t lose a game in pre-season.
“But Deal are a good side and by all accounts are expecting to do well this year. We will have to be at it to get a good result and I’m sure it will be a good competitive game.”
Hares will be without Steve Butcher who is ruled out by a back problem while Lee Scott and Andy Miller are both doubtful because of ankle injuries.