Tom Hickey: New signings will help fire us back into Conference South
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Hampton and Richmond Borough midfielder Tom Hickey is expecting the latest surge of signings to the club to be the difference to get back into the Conference South at the first attempt.
In recent days Beavers boss Mark Harper has tied up deals for Anson Cousins, Malvin Kamara and Joe Benjamin as well as Billy Jeffreys and Darren Powell re-signing.
On Friday Alan Bray and Elliot Bent were confirmed ahead of the coming campaign and 19-year-old Hickey believes the signings will be the final piece of the jigsaw.
“Harps has to try new players and obviously not every player is going to be right for Hampton but with the signings made we have a strong squad now and it won't be long before we have all gelled as a team.
“For most of last season we missed a physical presence up front and the new signings give us that and have shown how strong they are in training.“
“It's not fair to rely on only a few players to score goals though and we all have to chip in this season.
"Be it the forwards or even defenders, it doesn't matter who scores as long as we win games.”
While the players on board will give Hampton the best chance of promotion, Hickey is under no illusion that they will be pushed all the way by the opposition week in, week out:
“Our aim for this season is simple, to get promoted.
"But this season is going to be even tougher than last year and teams aren't going to let us play our passing game at times.
"Last season taught us we need to mix it up and we definitely need to be more clinical.”
The Ryman Premier League season opener sees Hampton host Hastings at the Beveree and Hickey is raring to go, despite filling in at right back on several occasions during the pre-season period:
“I can't remember having a better pre-season to be honest. I have trained hard by myself and with the team and feel very good right now.
“It’s not my favoured position but I used to play there when I was younger so when I was asked to do a job there it wasn't a problem."
With promotion on the mindset for all concerned at the Beveree, Hickey admits he has a battle to get himself into Mark Harper's starting eleven but insists it’s vital to claim three points at home against Hastings to get off to the perfect start:
“I hope I’m in the starting line-up for Saturday but there is a lot of competition in centre midfield so we'll have to wait and see who Harps picks to play.”
“We need to get off to a good start, something we didn't do last year.
"Our fans stuck by us last year when we were struggling so we owe them a good performance and a convincing three points on Saturday.”
Written by Ravit Anand - @RavitAnand
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