Manager Gary Mansell is delighted by the quality of the eight additions made to the Burgess Hill Town squad ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Hill will be hoping the influx – who include players with Football League and National League experience – can help them improve on last season’s eighth-place finish in the Isthmian Premier.

As we have reported, they have signed defenders Brad Barry, Josh Rusoke, Luca Cocoracchio and Luther Williams, midfielder Joel Daly, wingers Nicky Wheeler and Yoan Marc Olivier and striker Shamir Fenelon.

In addition they have retained many of last season’s key players – although they have had to bid farewell to prolific goalscorer George Vorster.

Burgess Hill Town taking on Roffey in their first pre-season friendly | Picture by Lynden Humphrey

placeholder image — Burgess Hill Town taking on Roffey in their first pre-season friendly | Picture by Lynden Humphrey

All the new signings bar Fenelon got game time in Hill’s opening pre-season friendly, a 3-0 home win over SCFL Premier side Roffey last Saturday. They achieved the same result in a second friendly, at home to East Grinstead Town, on Tuesday night.

Mansell said there was a buzz around the club as the new-look squad began the build-up to Hill’s second season back at step three.

“We always keep a list of players we like – it’s a succession plan for when players move on – and we felt we were at the end of a two-year cycle when we’d got promoted then established ourselves in the Premier,” Mansell told us.

“So we knew that to keep moving forward we needed to bring in a number of players. And we were pleased to get them all in early in the close season.

Ben Austin, who has joined the backroom team, with Gary Mansell | Picture: BHTFC

“We felt at the end of last season we didn’t have enough depth. The starting XI didn't have much competition.

“With those we’ve brought in we feel we now have that competition. There’s a lot of experience of good levels of football in that squad.”

Mansell said parting with some of last season’s regulars had involved difficult decisions. “They’re good people, not just good players, and I’m sure they’ll all get clubs elsewhere.

“As for our squad we’ve been back a couple of weeks and training’s going well. Against Roffey we passed the ball around well and had to be organised, though were a bit wasteful in front of goal.”

Hill fans have two more chances coming up to see them in friendly action – they host Steyning on Saturday and Sevenoaks on Tuesday.