Ashley Hemmings made an instant impact at Gloucester City, netting two goals during Tuesday night’s 4-1 pre-season victory over Bristol Manor Farm. The 35-year-old forward, who recently joined City after a spell with Dagenham and Redbridge, wasted no time endearing himself to the fans.
Hemmings brings a wealth of experience, boasting a career that includes loan periods at Oxford City and Kidderminster Harriers, as well as stints at clubs like Plymouth Argyle, Mansfield Town, Salford City, Boston United, and AFC Fylde. His most prolific period came at Kidderminster, where he scored 76 goals in 209 appearances.
Gloucester City manager Daf Williams expressed his delight at securing Hemmings’ services: “Ash has experience in abundance at a higher level and has scored a lot of goals. He was player of the season and top scorer in the National League North just last season. We aimed to bolster our squad with more experience, and Ash is a perfect fit.”
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Hemmings is one of nine new recruits this season, alongside notable additions like Tom Owen-Evans, returning from Chippenham Town, and Morgan Lewis, who has joined permanently following a loan spell. Both players also found the net in Tuesday’s match.
City’s manager praised the new signings: “We’re very pleased with the quality and diverse skill set each player brings. Our recruitment strategy has focused on blending experience with unique individual qualities. The intensity in training has been outstanding.”
In the friendly, Morgan Lewis opened the scoring right at halftime, and Owen-Evans doubled the lead early in the second half. Hemmings then scored twice: the first, assisted by James Waite, extended the lead to 3-0; the second was a well-executed header from a Harry Emmett cross. Bristol Manor Farm managed a late consolation goal, finalizing the score at 4-1.
Williams remarked on the team’s performance: “There was a noticeable freshness and energy, particularly in the second half when we stuck better to our game plan. The competitive spirit in the squad is strong, and I enjoyed watching the team create numerous chances.”
Gloucester City began their pre-season earlier with a 0-0 draw against Tuffley Rovers, where Williams was equally optimistic about his squad’s progress. He emphasized the physical focus in training and the promising contributions from nine newcomers and youth players like Billy Kinder and Jack Lewis.
Looking ahead, Gloucester City will host Newport County in their third pre-season fixture on Saturday, aiming to build on the encouraging early performances from their revamped squad.