"Bring on Hendon" was the unanimous cry from the dressing room as Hampton wound up their pre-season programme with a resounding victory at Bracknell. And although the score was only 2-0, the class and quality of the Hampton side left the Bracknell manager saying: "We had a football lesson this afternoon".

It has been a difficult pre-season for Beavers' boss Chick Botley. After losing two of his younger players, Darren Powell to Brentford and Barry Moore to Hayes, he first had to replace them and then strengthen his squad for their first ever season in the premier division.

Cash has been the major worry but Botley insisted: "We are coming to terms with the premier division demands very quickly. Premier players cost a lot more money and there is no substitute for quality.

"We have missed out on a lot of players because we cannot afford them, but the new players we have got are the result of a lot of hard work by everyone, and we have got some real quality in this side.

"We knew that we wouldn't survive in the premier division with last season's side and we are now confident that we will do well this season. We have signed six new players and have hopes of finalising two more before Saturday.

Centre back Steve Croxford has joined from Wokingham. Johnson Hippolyte and Otis Hutchins, a centre forward and a centre midfielder, have signed from Aldershot Town.

Two real crowd pleasers, Jamie Beer (Hayes) and Jason Brown (Molesey), are further additions to the Beveree squad.

"Brown's a quality midfield or wide player," said Botley. "And we've also got Gary Cooper from Enfield, who has league experience."

Hendon, Saturday's opponents, are one of the early favourites for the title this season having finished in fifth place last season finishing with an unbeaten run of 20 games, so it is a really tough opening game. But the next two - away at Aldershot Town and away at St Albans City are going to be just as hard. "We know it will be tough," said Botley, "but we are ready and raring to go. The spirit within the dressing room should give us a goal start anyway. Bring on Hendon".

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.