Chatham Town host Three Bridges at the Bauvill Stadium on Friday night and Maidstone United on Saturday
Published: 05:00, 25 July 2024
Chatham Town are gearing up for a double-header of action at the Bauvill Stadium.
Chats welcome Isthmian South East side Three Bridges to Maidstone Road tomorrow (Friday, 7.45pm) before Maidstone United visit on Saturday (3pm).
More: Former Premier League striker joins Chatham
Bromley will then be in town on Tuesday (7.45pm) for the club’s penultimate friendly of pre-season.
Those games come after Chatham’s last friendly against a Gillingham youth team last Friday attracted an attendance of 1,287. Goals from Bradley Sach and Luke Robinson clinched a 2-1 win, a late consolation for the visitors coming from Freddie Carruthers.
Chatham manager Kevin Hake said: “We had a great attendance for our annual pre-season game against Gillingham.
“It was more minutes in the tank for players as we look to ramp it up as the season draws ever more closer.
“It was nice to see Freddie Sears make his debut and get 45 minutes. He had only done one training session [before the match] but has integrated with the squad well.
“The culture in the dressing room is the most accommodating one I have seen and the togetherness is already evident.
“It helps when they know each other through prior engagement which can speed up the process.”
Sears came off the bench at the break along with former Gillingham captain Stuart O’Keefe - another big summer signing for Chats. Hake’s added nine new faces to the squad for a fresh crack at the Isthmian Premier Division title.
Hake added: “The supporters have embraced the changes we’ve made and although no one likes to see any player leave the club, they realise it is part of football that players come and go.”
“We now have two games at home against Three Bridges and Maidstone so lads can start to get a lot more minutes as they have been built up over the course of pre-season.
“We begin our league campaign with a trip to Lewes (on Saturday, August 10) and then we have Billericay at home on the Tuesday (August 13) so everything we do will be getting ourselves prepared for these games.”
Chatham’s newly-formed B team beat Glebe 4-1 in a friendly on Monday. Jabari Christmas, Evan Readshaw, Bailee Cain and Farron Chime netted.
*Chatham’s Women played Charlton Athletic Women in a friendly match on Sunday. The visitors won 3-1. They face another big challenge this Sunday against Watford at Rochester United’s Rede Court Road (2pm).
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Luke Cawdell