Following a productive pre-season, Southampton will be looking to carry their preparations into the opening league fixture and begin the new campaign with a positive result.

The opposition

Chesham United’s women’s side was founded in 1995 and has since established a long-standing presence in the women’s game.

The club has continued to develop its women’s and girls’ pathway, with teams ranging from youth level through to the senior side.

Chesham’s Women’s First Team now compete in the Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division after relegation from Tier 4 confirmed at the end of last season, making Sunday’s fixture a competitive opening-day test for both sides.

Chesham will have home advantage at The Meadow, while Southampton will be looking to carry the positives from pre-season into their first competitive fixture of the campaign.

Pre-season form

Chesham come into the fixture having played three listed pre-season friendlies. They began with a 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers, who were recently promoted to Tier 4 from the Southern Region Women’s Football League. They then visited Abingdon United and returned with a 5–3 victory. Their most recent outing ended in a narrow 1–0 defeat away to Barking on 16 August.

The Sirens, meanwhile, have spent the summer building towards the new campaign, using their pre-season fixtures to develop fitness, strengthen connections across the squad and improve match sharpness. Their final pre-season test concluded in a 2-2 draw against Tier 5 side, Poole Town, who will be competing in the South West Regional League for the coming season.

With both teams now ready for competitive action, Sunday’s encounter promises to be an exciting opening chapter in the new season.

Ones to watch

The Sirens will be looking for players across the squad to put their pre-season work into practice as the competitive campaign gets underway.

They have continued to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. Aaron Smith has made several player signings, including the likes of Calla Swain, Libby Carter and Aime Chiddle. He has also bolstered his matchday staff by appointing four new additions to the team, three of which have previously been involved at the club in some capacity. The Sirens have one more exciting signing announcement to make on the morning of their first game of the season.

What to expect

Opening-day fixtures often bring an extra level of excitement, with both teams eager to begin their league campaigns on the front foot.

For Southampton, the focus will be on starting the season positively, maintaining the standards established throughout pre-season and demonstrating the quality and intensity required over the course of the campaign.

With three points up for grabs, the Sirens will be hoping to return from Buckinghamshire with a strong result.

Match Information:

Kick-off: 2:00pm
Venue: The Meadow, Chesham, HP5 1NE
Tickets: Tickets are available to purchase at the gate or can be paid for online at Fanbase.com
Adults £5 | U16 FREE

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