PERSHORE Town start preparations for a new campaign in the Premier Division of the Midland Combination with a first training session next Thursday, June 28.

The players will then have a little more than two weeks before the opening warm-up match at home to Stourbridge on Saturday, July 14.

Neil Hunt's men have four more friendly outings fixed up with the visit of Ledbury Town on Friday, July 20 (7pm), a trip to Wellington on Saturday, July 28, a home date with Lye Town on Friday, August 3 (7.30pm) and a visit to Littleton on Saturday, August 11 (3pm).

The King George's Playing Fields-based club's manager will be hoping to build on last season when Town enjoyed a fabulous second half of the season that lifted them off the bottom of the table on the way to securing a mid-table finish.

Grant Pinkney and Mark Shepherd have already pledged their immediate futures to the club, while ex-Worcester City and Malvern Town man Luke Whittington has also signed.

Hunt is also in discussions with two more former Evesham and Worcester players, Nathan Jukes and Marc Burrow.

The club is hoping to attract match sponsors together with ground and programme advertising. If you can help, ring the club on 01386-556902.

Town's star players from last term were announced at the player-of-the-year presentation night with Justin Ballinger named first team players' player and Rich Tompkins taking the supporters' award.

Gary Aldington was named over-40s player-of-the-year, Will Gayton took the under-18s players' player with Jack Carter getting the youth team manager's prize.

Ledbury Town FC held their presentation evening at the club's New Street ground.

Chairman Chris Stephens started the night by thanking all the people who work behind the scenes to make every game possible, before the trophies were handed out.

Manager Phil Preedy and club physio Roly Welch awarded Ashley Jones with the manager's player-of-the-year award and the same player then won the player's player title.

The Terry's Trustee Trophy award was won by Colin Brandt.

Reserve team manager Gary Watkins and his number two Alan Barnes named Chris Grubb as their player-of-the-season, while Pat Locke won player's player.

Tom Boyle and Tom Watkins were jointly named as the reserves' young-players-of-the-year Pre-season training starts on Tuesday, July 3 at 7pm, while the first pre-season friendly is at home to Gloucester City on Wednesday, July 11 (7.30pm).

The rest of the pre-season schedule is: Malvern Town (away, July 14), Pershore Town (away, July 20, 7pm), Evesham (home, July 28, 1.30pm) and Alton Town (home, August 4, 3pm).

Westfields' joint manager Sean Edwards has made three pre-season signings for the new season.

Presteigne's championship-winning duo Shaun Prince and Paul Allum have both signed for the allpay.park club.

Prince and Allum were both prominent members of the Presteigne team that enjoyed their best season for years, scooping the Central Wales League title.

Also joining Westfields is James Morgan from Wellington.

The young goalkeeper played twice against Westfields last season and each time gave impressive displays.

Edwards said: "At Midland Alliance level we need a squad of 22 players to allow for injuries and suspensions.

"The new players will be a great addition to our squad from last season and will make it competitive for places, which is what we want."

Westfields players report back for pre-season training on Sunday, July 8.