PLAYERS FLOCK TO PRE-SEASON
United boss has almost 30 players at his disposal FOOTBALL
HAYES & Yeading United returned to pre-season at the weekend with almost 30 players turning out at Beaconsfield Road.
Tristan Lewis is entering his first full season as first-team manager and used the opportunity to take a look at a few trialists alongside his existing squad members.
Ivory Coast-born forward Evans Kouassi was in attendance and is believed to have been recommended to the boss by former Chelmsford City team-mate Yado Mambo.
Mambo has bags of experience and will marshall the defence next season alongside the returning Ben Gerring.
Kouassi impressed in the practice sessions but is also being monitored by Conference Premier outfit Woking and the Cards are set to offer the player the chance to impress.
United also had a look at Jhai Dhillon, the inaugural winner of Chelsea’s Asian Star award after wowing the judges at the Premier League club’s Cobham training ground in 2009 at the age of 14.
Full-back Dhillon earned a place at Stevenage’s academy and also pitched up at the Clarets following his release by the League One side last year.
He had loan spells at Hitchin Town, St Neots Town and Arlesey Town during his time with Stevenage and is looking to secure regular football next term.
Hayes & Yeading have made Fulham loanee Magnus Norman their number one for next season’s Conference South campaign but want competition between the sticks.
Former Hanwell, Harrow and Hemel keeper Alex Tokarczyk, who starred against United in the Middlesex Senior Cup for the Reynolds Field side, is being considered as a candidate for the role.
Lewis will oversee his first preseason game in charge when United host St Margaretsbury on the 3G playing surface of their future home on July 11 before playing Slough three days later.
Elsewhere, QPR Ladies will return to familiar surroundings in August after extending their stay at Uxbridge FC for another season.
Rangers remain at Honeycroft – home to the R’s since 2012 – for a fourth consecutive year as Martino Chevannes’ side prepare for a second successive term in the FA Women’s Premier League (FAWPL).
The stadium played host to 13 women’s games in all competitions during the 2014/15 campaign, seeing the Rs claim wins over Copsewood, Keynsham Town and Lewes on route to survival.