CAMELFORD have announced five new signings ahead of the upcoming season.

The Camels endured a difficult season in the last ever Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Premier Division to finish second from bottom and were placed in the SWPL Premier West following the league restructure, which means they’ll face solely Cornish teams in the league.

But with all of last season’s squad set to stay, manager Reg Hambly has been busy bringing in former Bideford and Truro City attacking midfielder Matt Andrew, central midfielder Bobby Hopkinson who spent a couple of seasons at Trefrew Park until joining Sticker last term and striker Jack Lawrence from local rivals Wadebridge Town.

On top of that, they’ve also added a couple of youngsters in utility player Jake Williams from Boscastle and defensive midfielder James Richardson from Bude Town.

Hambly is delighted with how his squad is shaping up.

He said: “We’ve made three really good signings as well as the couple of youngsters in Jake and James.

“We haven’t lost anybody, so I’m very pleased to keep all the players who kept us in the (South West Peninsula League) Premier Division for so many years. We’re looking forward to doing a lot better than last year.

“I’ve been very pleased with the turnout so far at pre-season training. Last year we were struggling with a bare 11 on some occasions, so this year we should have a much better nucleus of 16/17 players.”

The Camels got their pre-season campaign underway last Tuesday night with a 3-2 victory at Holsworthy, thanks to goals from Adam Sleep, Ed Harrison (penalty) and new signing Jack Lawrence.

Holsworthy led 2-0 at the break before the North Cornwall side fought back.

The Camels were in action at Penryn on Tuesday night before home games with Brixham (tomorrow night, 7.30pm) and Bude Town (Tuesday, July 30, 7.30pm).

Camelford have also been given a bye into the second-round of the FA Vase when the draw was conducted recently.

The Camels will welcome Somerset-based Ashton & Backwell United who finished fourth in last year’s Western League Division One, on Saturday, September 14, and Hambly believes it’s a great opportunity.

He said: “We’re delighted to get a team from the Bristol area at home and it’s also great to face new opposition.

“The last couple of years have seen us Tavistock and Helston from our own league. The beauty of the FA Vase is to play teams from around the country, and the home draw gives us a better chance to progress.”