The countdown to the new season continues and this morning The Ryman league released the fixtures for the forthcoming campaign.

We kick off on the 8th of August at King Georges Arena against Worthing before a mid-week trip to Tooting 3 days later.

Guernsey away is mid-September and on Boxing day we face Molesey at home.
The season concludes in April when we host Three Bridges.

The full set of fixtures for Casuals are now uploaded and can be viewed here

Tooting and Mitcham United defeated Ryman Premier opposition over two days to claim the sixth annual Geoff Harvey Memorial Vase.

The tournament, played over the weekend of the 11th and 12th July saw four Ryman League teams (hosts Corinthian-Casuals, Tooting and Mitcham United, Met Police and Hampton and Richmond Borough) compete in the pre-season warm-up.

In the Saturday morning fixture, Tooting tore apart a Met Police side littered with trialists. Billy Marshal bagged two along with one from Gareth Chendlik. Met will rue the chance missed from the penalty spot with the score at 1-0 but on evidence of play, 3-0 was a fair result.

Corinthian-Casuals and Hampton and Richmond would play to decide who would join Tooting in Sunday’s final. A new look Casuals line-up looked lively and arguably should’ve been ahead, not least from the penalty spot. However, Jamie Byatt’s effort was well saved by experienced stopper Seb Brown.

Hampton nicked the game in the last few minutes when Kamara scored after Josh Casey’s free kick was flicked on by Ross Defoe.

With Sunday’s ties decided, Corinth faced Met Police in dull and drizzly conditions to see who would avoid the wooden spoon. Both sides made several changes to the ones that played the day before which included the wonderfully named Diego Maradona starting in the chocolate and pink. Of course… he had to score… and he did to the delight of the Corinth fans who’d already mustered a song in tribute. Casuals ran out deserved 1-0 winners.

The final took a while to get going but when it did, it came in a flurry of goals. Hampton took the lead before ex-Casual Michael Salako levelled. The teams then traded goals as the Beavers once again took the lead before the Terrors hit two in reply. Parity was restored in the dying minutes and the Geoff Harvey Vase was to be decided by penalties.

With a little confusion from the officials (who clearly miscounted), Adam Faith had saved two for Tooting and Seb Brown just the once for Hampton. Tooting took the title winning 4-3 on pens. It was left to Corinthian-Casuals Vice-President Brian Adamson to present the Vase to Tooting skipper Harry Knock.

On a side note, I’d like to thank all the players, officials and supporters for their participation in this pre-season tournament and for paying your respects to Junior Dian who sadly passed away in the week playing for Ryman side Tonbridge Angels against Whyteleafe.

Saturday's photos can be seen here. 
Sunday's pics... here.

Corinthian-Casuals will begin their FA Cup journey this season with a trip to either Redhill or Pagham in the Preliminary Round on the 29th August 2015. The winners of the round are set to receive £1,925 in prize money.

Both sides will prove tough tests for Corinth; Redhill, now in the Combined Counties League defeated Casuals at the same stage of the competition three years ago at Kiln Brow and will be looking to avoid a similar result.

Pagham play in the newly named Southern Combination (formerly the Sussex County League) and finished third in the league last season, just behind Littlehampton and Ryman new-boys Dorking Wanderers.

Casuals have only won twice in the past twelve FA Cup appearances but new manager James Bracken will be looking to improve on that record this term.

Casuals have also been drawn against familiar faces in the Preliminary stage of the FA Trophy. Three Bridges, who took six points from Corinth last season in the league will travel to King George’s on Saturday 3rd October. The winner of the tie will receive £2,500 and meet either Arsley Town or Redbridge in the next round.