Holcombe begin their Vitality Division One South campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Southgate on Saturday afternoon (4:30pm) as part of a double-header, with Holcombe’s men taking on Southgate in the Premier Division at 7pm.

Nick Bandurak’s side are looking to start their season quickly as they aim for an immediate return to the Vitality Premier Division.

Holcombe made six new signings over the summer in Great Britain Elite Development Programme (EDP) player Lottie Bingham, New Zealand international Deanna Ritchie, Australian indoor international Jade van der Zwan, former Canterbury player Tilly Tillings, Sevenoaks’ Hannah Bond and Lucy Whalley from Wimbledon.

Bandurak has also added another assistant coach in New Zealand international Brad Read.

Junior international Tilly Woodhead is set to step up as first-choice goalkeeper after keeping a clean sheet on her Premier Division debut last season, with Miriam Pritchard having left the club to return to Hampstead & Westminster.

Southgate themselves have made five signings ahead of their first ever campaign in Division One – Ami Robinson, Georgie Brownhill, Louisa Bray, Lily Gandhi and Emma Postings.

Holcombe squad: Tilly Woodhead (GK), Jade van der Zwan, Robyn Hodges, Lottie Bingham, Tilly Tillings, Emma Bandurak, Deanna Ritchie, Lucy Whalley, Leisa Randall, Harriet Pittard (C), Hattie Jones, Catherine Ledesma, Phoebe Steele, Charlotte Daly, Hannah Bond, Marian Ledesma

Image courtesy of Theresa Field