Pre-season training is starting soon for football clubs across the Herald area.

Farnham Town are beginning another new adventure after winning the Isthmian League South Central Division last season.

They will now be playing in the Southern League Premier Division South, which means they will be looking south and west for the majority of their opponents.

While there are still local derbies with Basingstoke, Chertsey, Bracknell and Hungerford, there are also three trips to the Hampshire coast to take on Sholing, Gosport and Havant & Waterlooville, and journeys all the way to Devon to face Tiverton and Plymouth Parkway - the latter 180 miles away from the Memorial Ground.

Farnham wasted no time in boosting their squad following their second successive championship-winning campaign. Before the end of May they had recruited Bobby-Joe Taylor from Dorking Wanderers, Imran Uche from Aveley, Brandon Mason from St Albans City, Tom Leggett from Salisbury and Ogo Obi from Wingate & Finchley, followed in early June by Mat Mackenzie from Hanwell Town.

The club have so far announced two pre-season friendlies, away to Cobham on July 1 at 7.45pm and away to neighbours Badshot Lea on July 5 at 3pm.

Badshot Lea endured a difficult 2024-25 season, finishing bottom of the Isthmian League South Central Division with only three wins and 18 points.

Long-serving manager Gavin Smith, who joined the club in December 2018, departed after 286 games in charge to be replaced by Adam New for their return to the Combined Counties Premier Division South.

Badshot Lea’s other pre-season fixtures are at home to Aldershot Town on July 12, away to South Park on July 19, against Ashford Town (Middx) on July 26 and at home to Harefield United on July 29.

The Baggies have signed Brandon Vangrove from Camberley Town, who had played more than 50 games for the club by the age of 20. They have also retained the services of Ben Thompson, a dynamic forward with an eye for goal, who was on loan to Sandhurst Town for most of last season.

Alton will start their warm-up games with a trip to Newman Collard Fields to take on Liss Athletic on July 5 at midday.

They will also be competing in the Combined Counties Premier Division South after finishing tenth with 50 points last season, 16 short of the playoffs and 17 clear of the relegation zone.

Alton are holding their annual general meeting in the clubhouse at the Anstey Park Enclosure on July 16 at 7.30pm.

All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Members are defined as registered adult players, one parent or carer of registered players aged under 18, current team managers and coaches, current members of the executive committee, the men's committee, the ladies’ committee and the youth committee, plus those appointed to special positions at the previous annual general meeting.

Petersfield Town are returning to the Wessex League Premier Division after their one-season sojourn in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division.

This entailed lots of trips to Sussex and saw the Rams qualify for the playoffs by finishing fifth with 71 points. Petersfield lost 2-0 at Crowborough Athletic in the playoff semi-finals.

Alresford Town will again play in the Wessex League Division One. They finished third last season with 74 points but lost 2-1 at home to East Cowes Victoria Athletic in the playoff semi-finals.