TOOMEY ARRIVAL BOLSTERS UNITED’S SQUAD
HAYES & Yeading United kick off their pre-season campaign on Saturday with a Queens Park Rangers XI visiting the SkyEx Community Stadium in a 12.30pm kick-off – with a new signing on board.
The match comes early on in the United pre-season with players and coaching staff only back last week for their first training sessions, but manager Paul Hughes was pleased with the initial sessions.
The squad will be bolstered for the club’s forthcoming Isthmian League South Central campaign by the arrival of striker Lewis Toomey, who has joined from Southern Premier side Chesham United, where he spent last season netting 18 times, after a season at Kings Langley. He has also featured for Hemel Hempstead Town, Chalfont St Peter, Hitchin Town, St Albans City and Boreham Wood.
“It was hard in the heat but the majority of players have kept themselves fit during the close season and it was great to be able to literally hit the ground running,” said Hughes.
Speaking about the visit of Championship club QPR, Hughes added: “We think they are likely to send a pretty strong side down to play us.
“For the club that’s brilliant, for a manager so early in pre-season it’s perhaps a concern, but it’s a great opportunity for our players to test themselves against full-time professionals.
“Pre-season games are all about team-building and players getting to know each other, so I never go much on results until the season starts.”
The match against Queens Park Rangers has been given an earlier kick-off time to allow fans of both sides to watch the World Cup quarter-final which will be shown in the bar form 3pm.
Admission prices for this match will be adults £6, concessions £4, under-16s £2.
On the remainder of pre-season fixtures for United, Hughes said: “We’ve got a good balance of games coming up, which will give us a chance to try a few things out ahead of the new season and we’re delighted to be able to welcome among them this year’s FA Vase winners Thatcham Town on August 4.”