Three months and four days after the end of 2024/25, the curtain is raised on the new season as Hinckley AFC open with a trip to Daventry Town on Saturday, kick off 7pm.
The new campaign brings renewed hope for all 20 sides in the United Counties Premier South, with Hinckley and Daventry both in the pack of clubs that were involved in a play-off race for much of last season but ultimately missed out on a top five place.
And the two sides will have to wait four hours longer than most to kick a ball in anger for the first time. The 7pm kick off time comes with the game picked to be in the UCL’s groundhop weekend, with matches spread across the weekend.
As such, there will likely be a bumper crowd at Browns Road with many taking the chance to see a number of matches across the weekend.
However, manager Joe Conneely will be without a handful of players for the opener with some injuries suffered in pre-season, as well as the match falling in what is still peak holiday season.
The opposition
These two sides finished just one place and four points apart last season, Daventry in eighth and Hinckley in ninth.
But Daventry have shown their ambitions to go better this season by bringing in a new joint manager, Dan Porter, from AFC Rushden and Diamonds, and a host of new signings. They include two players from the step four Diamonds – including striker Nathan Burrows, who scored 19 goals for Sileby Rangers last season before joining Rushden.
They have also this week signed Simeon Cobourne on dual registration from Quorn – despite serving a suspension at higher levels, he is eligible to play at step five.
Both games between the sides last season ended in away wins. Daventry won 1-0 at Kirkby Road early in the season after an excellent defensive display, despite finishing the game with nine men. But Hinckley got their own back by winning 3-1 in Northamptonshire in February, Leo Farruch and Lewis Rankin (2) getting the goals.
From the dressing room
“This is why we do it. We love it, and I wouldn’t change it. I can’t wait. It’s a rollercoaster, but hopefully we can be a bit more consistent. We can’t lose as many games as we did last year, we’ve got to be better and more streetwise away from home.
“Daventry is a tough start, I get on with Jamie, the manager, well. They’re building a good squad, we’ve watched them in pre-season so we know what they’re all about. It might be the best time to play these fancied sides, early on, when they could be a bit unsettled. But if we want to get where we want to, we’ve got to get good results against these teams.
“St Neots were head and shoulders above everyone else last year, this year will be more open than that. There are some big clubs, we’ll have some great games to look forward to. This league was one before that people wanted to get put in because it was an easy way out. It’s not any more.”
Joe Conneely
Key information
Daventry play in purple, so Hinckley will be in our new red home kit for the first time for this match.
Daventry play at Elderstubbs, Browns Road, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 4NS.
Adults: £8
Concessions: £5
Under 18s: £1
