Our third game of the new season is, according to Club Historian Ken Fergus, against a team we’ve never played before in league or FA competitions. Uxbridge finished second in Isthmian League South Central Division last season, winning promotion via the play-offs to reach Step 3 for the first time. The club was formed way back in 1871 so their history will make fascinating reading in our matchday programme.

Danny Edwards, The Reds’ manager, has been in charge for six seasons; his predecessor was in the hot seat for thirteen. Edwards’ backroom staff includes Martin Kuhl who played for both Portsmouth and Watford. The manager has recruited plenty of experience at this level during the summer to add to his team who were so successful last term. His squad includes defender CJ Fearn, who was last season’s Supporter’s and Player’s Player, midfielder Liam Tack, who spent the previous three seasons at Bracknell, and striker George Moore, ex Harrow Borough, who was The Reds’ leading scorer with 21 last season.

Uxbridge started this campaign on Saturday with a creditable goal-less draw at home against Dorchester, who reached the play-offs last term, in front of 325 spectators. On Monday they took another point, this time in a 1-1 draw at high-spending Bracknell. New signing Dan Rowe gave The Reds the lead on 65 minutes, only to be pegged back 10 minutes from time. Two points from games with fancied Dorch and Bracknell is a pretty good way to start life at Step 3.

Wimborne started their campaign with a 0-2 loss at Basingstoke on Saturday. Three days later, on a hot August night, they deservedly bagged all three points against Havant & Waterlooville, a team fancied to be in the running for a play-off spot. Billy Walker, normally the fox in his own box, turned up at the other end to open the scoring, and in the second-half two substitutions brought immediate rewards with cracking goals from our two Joe’s – Smith and Ryan. And there was an eye-catching performance from another of Tim’s brilliant summer signings – Max Bustamante. If you haven’t seen first-hand the enthusiasm, excitement and sheer exuberance of our new signings, then wait no more.

The Reds will be keen to continue their great start to Step 3, and The Magpies will want to continue where they finished on Tuesday, so this game has all the ingredients of being a great example of competitive non-league football.

Saturday’s weather forecast is for a glorious summer day, but don’t think about lazing on a sunny afternoon. Slip on your replica shirt, slap on some sunscreen, sling on your Magpies hat, and slalom down to The Wyatt Homes Stadium for a hot footie feast. After all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for.

• There’s reasonable parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, but if you do decide to travel by car and park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.
• The Morebus no.13 runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square in the town centre with stops at the bottom of Parmiter Road, a five-minute stroll from the ground.
• There is a bike park near the players’ entrance.
• A packed printed programme will be on sale.
• Admission: adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.
• Weather forecast: sunny; 26oC; <5% chance of rain.