FOOTBALL returns this weekend with the borough's non-League sides in action as their pre-season campaigns get underway.

Aveley will be first in action this evening (Friday, 4 July) when they entertain National South side Dagenham & Redbridge at Parkside (7.30pm KO).

Both sides suffered relegation last season - Daggers dropping from the National League to the south - where Aveley also experienced a disappointing season, ending two years at Step Two with demotion to the Isthmian premier.

Tickets are only available on the gate, £10 Adults, £3 Kids.

Aveley have a new manager and Brett Munyard has been busy putting a new backroom team together, as well as making acquisitions on the pitch.

New players include much-travelled Joseph Boachie from Isthmian South East side Sittingbourne and 21-year-old midfielder midfielder Albie Armin from Southern Premier League side Leiston.

An addition to the defence is Jayden Gipson, who joins from Isthmnian North Cambridge City and includes spells with Braintree Town, Coggeshall, Enfield and Maldon & Tiptree on his CV.

Left back Harry Critchley is another new recruit. He was an academy graduate at AFC Sudbury and went on to play for their first team making 15 appearances in his breakthrough season after impressing at Coggeshall Town before being ever present in the closing stages of the 2021/22 season.

Spells at East Thurrock United and Hashtag United moving to Munyard's then Brightlingsea Regent side. He played at Heybridge Swifts last season.

Also new at the back is experienced Ryan Henshaw, 31, from Southern Central AFC Sudbury who holds an Isthmian Premier championship in his collection, earned with Bishops Stortford.

Another recruit from Sudbury is Ollie Peters from AFC Sudbury. He was also a title winner with Henshaw at Bishops Stortford and he will be joined in midfield by young Jayden Robinson, another who was with Munyard at Brightlingsea Regent. 

Grays Athletic begin their fixture schedule with a trip to Rayleigh Town tomorrow (Saturday, 5 July).

Manager Darren Manning has been busy in the close season recruiting new players, though much of the core of last season's Blues' squad remain - including Tyler Brampton, Kye Jude, Aron Gordon, Sid Walker, Harry Hope, Luke Hirst and Sam Bantick.

Joining them for the coming season are former Blues defenders Lewis Clark and Macaulay Joynes, with more than 100 appearances for Grays on their records. Both rejoin from Tilbury.

Joining Clark is his twin brother, Jordan. He was part of Hornchurch's FA Trophy winning side in 2021 and also played for Tilbury last year.

Another returnee is Joe Paxman.

Keeping the tradition of recruiting local goalkeepers, this season will see George Marsh between the sticks for Blues. Other new recruits include Callum Fitzer, as well as midfielder Oscar Shelvey and winger Jayden Silcott-Brown.

Tilbury were due to begin their pre-season with a trip to Shoebury Town but that has been cancelled and they will now face Pitsea AFC in a 3pm kick off at Lakeside Sports Ground, followed up with an away fixture against Athletic Newham on Tuesday (7.45pm).

New players for the Dockers include youngster Jimmy Wallace, a six foot plus young defender who is a graduate of Southend United and played for Canvey Island last season.

Another young defensive recruit is Luke Reeve, from Bowers & Pitsea.

Former Docker Sam Carter has agreed to return to Chadfields and will operate in midfield, where he played in the 23/24 Essex Senior league winning season.

Up front Tilbury have recruited Juwon Akintunde from Barking, where he scored 26 goals last season.

Goalkeeper Harry Fairs has joined from fellow isthmian North Witham Town.