Slough Town began their pre-season campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw away at Chatham Town on 4 July, as new manager Alan Julian ran the rule over his squad. The Rebels fielded two completely different sides in each half, handing minutes to a blend of established names, new signings, and several development squad players looking to step up.
A 6th-minute goal from recent arrival Godlove Oppong got the visitors off to a dream start, the forward turning sharply on the edge of the area before rifling home. But Chatham, who play one tier below Slough in the Isthmian League, responded strongly. Jimmy Wild levelled in the 26th minute and Elliot Wenham put the hosts ahead ten minutes later, shortly after a hydration break called to cope with scorching temperatures. Luke Holness rescued a share of the spoils in the 75th minute, spinning his marker and firing into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
Julian, appointed in May after an extensive recruitment process to succeed Scott Davies, used the fixture to assess his options ahead of the National League South season. The side included nine players retained from last term, alongside summer signings such as Keenan Quansah from Hereford and Arthur Gregory on loan from Wycombe Wanderers. Trialists also featured as the manager evaluates which younger members of the club might be ready for first-team football.
Chatham Town’s second pre-season outing provided a useful early test, and the Rebels’ second-half fightback offered encouragement. Oppong’s bright start adds competition in the forward line after his prolific spell last season with step-four Leighton Town. Slough will learn their league fixtures on 10 July, with the 2026/27 campaign scheduled to kick off on 10 August.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
