Sam’s Section: Dursley, Hartpury and Stonehouse make impressive starts as teams to watch are reviewed

With the Bank Holiday weekend out the way and the season in full swing what better time to take a look at how my teams to watch have started their campaigns.

At the beginning of the 2024/25 season, I joined in with the ‘Ultimate Gloucestershire Preview’ where I laid out my teams to watch around Gloucestershire from the Hellenic League’s right down to the Stroud Leagues.

So let’s get right to it and see if Hartpury University, Stonehouse Town, Sharpness, Chalford, Dursley Town, Painswick and Tetbury Town were worth backing.

Hartpury University (Hellenic League Premier)

After running away with Hellenic League Division One title last season, I saw no reason why Hartpury wouldn’t adapt well to life in the top division.

And that is exactly what the University side have done suffering just one defeat in seven games whilst conceding just three goals on the way.

After five games in the Hellenic Premier Hartpury sit seventh and two points off the play-offs following confident wins over Pershore Town, Tuffley Rovers and a 7-0 hammering over Lydney Town.

Elsewhere the side are about to make history in the FA Cup as they’ve reached the First Qualifying Round for the first time in their history as they host Nailsea & Tickenham at Hartpury College on Saturday August 31^st at 3pm.

Stonehouse Town (Hellenic League Division One)

With the return of manager, Ian Soule, and impressing myself during the Severn Sport Shield Tournament in July it felt like the Magpies were heading in a very positive direction.

And what a start to the season they have made going unbeaten in their first seven games in all competitions with two wins and five draws in what hasn’t been the easiest start to the season.

On Tuesday night, Soules side earned another valuable point during an emphatic 4-4 draw away at FC Stratford following on from their FA Vase victory on Saturday stunning Hellenic Premier side Corsham Town on penalties.

A derby win over Shortwood United and an impressive away win at Carterton has seen the Magpies currently occupy sixth place in the Hellenic Div One with goal difference keeping them out of the play-offs.

Sharpness & Chalford (Gloucestershire County League)

At the second time of asking Chalford finally earned promotion to the County League for the first time and, with a side good enough to compete at this level, are currently making the most of it.

Just two games played but an away win over Totterdown United and an away draw with Henbury & Rockleaze sees Ben Powell’s side sit eight in the league with a trip to struggling Quedgeley Wanderers up next on Saturday August 31^st at 3pm.

Sharpness have been a team always striving to be at the top end of the table and again this season will be no different with a raft of young talent such as Slimbridge’s Will Tainton, Kieran Bennett and James Tainton developing in their ranks.

And it’s been a dream start to the season for Sharpness who currently the league’s top scorers with 11 goals during two wins and two draws seeing them sit second and a single point off leaders Almondsbury.

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Dursley Town (Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One)

With Chalford’s promotion to the County League the GNSL Division One became even more competitive heading into the new season in which I believed Dursley Town would stamp a claim for promotion.

Top five finishes in each of their last three campaigns in the GNSL Div One pins Dursley as perfect challengers and have started this season in perfect form.

A 100% start to the campaign with wins over Lydney Reserves, Rodborough Old Boys and Staunton and Corse see’s Dursley sit second with goal difference the only thing keeping them off the top spot.

Painswick (Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two)

Follow their title winning promotion from the Stroud & District Football League Division One, Painswick offered fresh blood into the GNSL Division Two.

History could be on their side having seen former newly promoted sides Tredworth Tigers and Rodborough Old Boys promoted to the top division at the first time of asking.

And Painswick can’t complain about their start to life in the GNSL picking up four points from their first three games following a 6-1 win over Mushet & Coalway, a 2-2 draw with Lydbrook Athletic and a narrow 4-3 defeat to Falcons on the opening day.

Tetbury Town (Stroud & District Football League Division One)

A team to watch outside Gloucestershire’s top divisions for me was Tetbury Town who possibly have the best chance of earning promotion from Stroud League Division One after narrowly missing out in successive seasons.

This season the side are steeped in talented youth that has come through the club in recent years whilst also holding on to some of its top players.

Tetbury kicked off their Stroud League Div One season win an impressive 3-1 home win against newly promoted Stroud United and are up for another tough test on Saturday as they take on Dursley Town Reserves.

Tetbury’s Reserves completed their pre-season on Tuesday night but were defeated 4-2 by Stroud United Reserves but looked stacked with quality across the front line ready for their Stroud League Div Four South opener next Wednesday against Minchinhampton Reserves.

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