OVERTON United’s new management team Carl Clayton and David Asker are really looking forward to seeing their side in league action for the first time this weekend.

The village side finished 14th in the Hampshire Premier League last season and face a tough test on the opening day of their campaign with a trip to Clanfield, who were seventh last term.

The new management team have a wealth of experience and Clayton played some of last season in goal for Overton.

He was born in Basingstoke, playing between the posts at his home town before spells at Whitchurch, Fleet, Andover and Camberley.

Asker is also Basingstoke born and bred and played for his hometown team, as well as Andover, Eastleigh, Newbury, Thatcham, Gosport and Hungerford. He made over 400 appearances in the Southern League.

Clayton said: “We are very positive about the new season and both David (Asker) and myself are looking forward to the challenge.

"Only time will tell how we do, but it would be nice to win some silverware in our first season. We have been really pleased with the attitude and the performances we have put in pre-season.”

Overton finished their pre-season with a 2-0 loss at Kintbury Town in what was well contested friendly, where Clayton felt a draw of a 1-0 loss would have been a fairer result.

A lot of Overton’s squad from last season are back and they have the addition of former Hartley forward Ben Dillon and he hit the post at Kintbury.

He will bring a wealth of experience to the side and Clayton said: “He is really nice guy very vocal on the pitch which helps the younger players so we are really pleased to have signed him.”

The Overton captain this term will once again be Kirk Smith, and he was the club’s players’ player last season.

The centre back is set to move up into midfield for this campaign and Clayton said: “He leads by example and we will look for him to boss things in the middle of the park for us.”

As the football team share their ground with the cricket team there first four league games are all away, before their first home game on September 2.