Match Preview: Southern League Premier Division South
Gloucester City vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 12th September 2026 Kick-off 3pm
Tiger Turf Stadium, Sudmeadow Road, Gloucester GL2 5HD
Gloucester City (The Tigers), 2026-27 League Position 8th
We enter this Saturdays tough trip to Gloucester, following a rather depressing failure in two attempts to remain in the FA Cup for this season. Tuesday night’s replay mean’t that we failed to score in 180+ minutes of football, against a team in a league below us.
Last season, Gloucester did the double over us, winning 2-1 at home last September, followed by a 2-0 defeat in November at Winklebury.
Our Opponents
The Tigers continue to be managed by Dafydd Williams who took over from Mike Cook, at the beginning of May 2025. Williams, was previously Assistant Manager at EFL 2 side Newport County, and was a familiar face to City fans, having previously been at the club during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons as Assistant to Lee Mansell.
The Tigers have got off to a poor start in the league with Tigers fans, far from happy, as they sit in 19th place, with a record of Pld 6 Won 1 Drawn 2 Lost 3 GF 8 GA 10 and 5pts. The one win was a 1-0 win home win against Hanwell Town. The three losses were against Chertsey, Bracknell and Evesham. As for their participation in the FA Cup, after a 1-1 draw at home to Mangotsfield, they then went on the road and thumped them 4-0 in the replay, and now travel to AFC Totton in the second qualifying round.
The Tigers return a number of last year’s players, including attacking midfielder Joe Hanks, who has been at the club since 2015. Hanks has two goals so far. Striker Ed Williams is also back for another year and also has two goals so far. Williams previously played at Cheltenham Town and also spent time at Kidderminster Harriers & EFL side Doncaster Rovers. 35-year-old Ashley Hemmings, joined in July, and has three goals on the season, and has played for numerous clubs at both league, and non-league level, but more recently Dagenham & Redbridge, Kidderminster & Oxford City. Forward Ethan Dunbar, arrives at Gloucester having previously represented Hartpury University, Longlevens, Bishops Cleeve and Evesham United.
Apart from Hanks in midfield, they have left-sided midfielder Harry Emmett, who started at Chippenham Town, as well as stints at Longlevens & Cinderford Town. James Waite who signed in early 2026, joined from Eastleigh, in a deal that sees him at the club until the summer of 2027. He was a product of the Cardiff City academy. Tom Owen-Evans also joined the Tiger ranks, having previously spent three years at Chippenham Town.
The defence also returns a number of starters starting with right-back Daniel Leadbetter. He spent most of his career at Bristol Rovers, before joining in 2021. Centre-back Michael O’Regan also returns for another season, having been Evesham’s vice-captain at the age of 23, helping them win promotion at the time. Keiran Thomas, who is in his third term with the club, returns as captain once more. In goal will likely once more be Jared Thompson, who started at Swindon Town, but then spent seven years at Chelsea’s academy, where he won a number of youth cups at various levels. He did get a straight red card against Evesham, but his suspension maybe up for this Saturday’s game. If not Phillip Chovanec will be the back-up.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
For those who saw one or both of our FA Cup matches against Stoneham, you will have once more been disappointed, not only by the performances, but an opportunity wasted for not only a big day-out at National League South side Torquay Utd, in the next round, but the vital financial loss as well, to a club that desperately needs money.
Last time out in the league was the deserved 2-1 defeat of rivals Bracknell Town, with both goals scored by defender Billy Upton, which leaves us in fourteenth place with our current record at Pld 6 Won 2 Drawn 1 Lost 3 GF 11 GA 12 and 7pts
Our strikeforce has been ineffective in the past two games, and hasn’t found the net in the last three matches, and possibly one or two appear to have lost a little confidence in front of goal. Unless Cheick Sylla finally makes it back on to the pitch, Finn Evans recovers from his knock, or we give Andrei Chiriac (an unused sub Tuesday night), a start then it will be the current three attacking players Miles Obodo, Jeremiah Okine-Peters & Christos in the starting line-up.
The midfield continue to work hard, but have struggled in the FA Cup matches to create enough chances for out forwards to use. However, unless Amar Singh finds his way to the pitch, then the likely quartet of Louis McGrory, Tom Blake, James Henry and D’Andre Brown are the starting options for Saturday. Alex Solomon is also a viable option here. No clear sign of Lloyd Snell or John Adebiyi returning anytime soon.
The defence has looked ok against AFC Stoneham in the FA Cup match-ups, but ultimately with our forward line unable to find the net at the other end, one mix-up, cost us the game, and the potential rewards of a trip to Torquay Utd. Again with one or two players close to returning to action, then the starting four could change. Assuming Billy Upton is one of the centre-backs, who plays alongside him could be the question. Sulayman Ceesay will be back from suspension and could challenge Bernie Tanner for the start. Jonathan Gjoshe looks to be the right-back whilst Casey Bocarro covers the left-back role, whilst Joe O’Loughlin, who could be close to return from his groin injury, is the other option. Still no clear sign of Jack Ball, Scott Armsworth, or Ben Jefford returning to the matchday squad, but this preview is out before the teams Thursday night training session. Simon Grant, will once more don the goalkeepers jersey this Saturday afternoon.
As just stated above, this preview is prior to any Thursday’s training session, and any potential changes for the matchday squad to travel to Gloucester.
After two disappointing Cup performances, the club will look to pick themselves up and put a marker down in the league, and against Gloucester side that have had the bragging rights over us in recent seasons.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make this Saturday’s game in person, but will be listening to Nick Wilson’s excellent radio commentary on Saturday afternoon.
A chance for the team to make a statement after the past week.
Let’s Go Stoke !
Match Preview by Martin French..
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