New boss O'Neill looking forward to Steyning Town's start

The Barrowmen are back in the Isthmian South East division after winning the SCFL Premier last term – although the competitive season starts in the FA Cup, with an extra preliminary eound tie at home to Erith Town on Saturday.

O’Neill, who took over after Michael Hamm left in May, has kept most of last season’s squad together and added a handful of new recruits. He likes much of what he has seen in pre-season and is looking forward to the campaign.

O’Neill told us: “Pre-season’s been good. As with all pre-seasons we’ve had some ups and downs with player availability, a few injuries and niggles, but it’s been really good to play againt some step three teams.

"We’ve had some competitive fixtures against them, as we have against step five teams, so it’s been really good. We’ve had that balance – though it was a shame we didn’t play a step four team to see where we’re at going into the first game.”

Steyning’s final warm-up game was the Sussex Community Shield clash with Three Bridges at Lancing, which Bridges won 3-2 last Wednesday.

O’Neill said: “That was a really good run-out for us againt the team that’s just won the league we’ve gone up to. It was a real opportunity to see where we’re at, not just physically and fitness wise but technically and tactically.

"We got loads out of it, positives and negatives, and learning actions. At half-time we deserved to be 2-0 down, then in the second half we deserved to be drawing 2-2. Maybe a draw would have been a fair result, however it wasn’t to be, and well done to Three Bridges for winning the shield.”

Steyning did lose a couple of their SCFL title winners but O’Neill said: "We’ve managed to keep a massive core (of last aeason’s squad) together which was one of our first aims as a management team.

"We’ve managed to keep the spine with Marcus Allen, Tad Bromage, Ryan Worrall, Finn Daniels-Yeoman, Conrad Honore, Max Blencowe, Callum Dowdell, Jaz Rance, Alex Brewer and others who have been excellent for us.

"Then it was just about adding a few around that core group and we’ve managed to bring in some good players and good characters who go well with the group. There’s Harvey Woollard, who’s just won the league with Bridges and you can see the standard and behaviour that he’s setting. Josh Mundy who was playing this level with Hassocks last year – it was really important we got someone like that in for the physical and technical element.

"We’ve brought in some wide players – Charlie Pitcher, Adam Adam – and we’ve also brought in Luke Ashburn, a full-back who’s played for Merstham and Burgess Hill,

"It’s important that we have a big squad with the injuries we already have and a competitive squad.

"We’re excited about the FA Cup starting on Saturday – everyone loves playing in the Cup. It’s great we have a home draw. Erith Town have looked very positive in pre-season. Whoever brings the level of ability and pulls out their game plan on the day is probably going to win the game.

"The group are raring to go and hopefully we can turn Saturday into a win and get into the next round.”

Steyning’s first league game comes at home to Ashford on Saturday week, August 15.