United begin their pre-season campaign on Saturday with a trip to Dorset to face Southern League Premier Division South side Poole Town.
Saturday’s encounter will provide Gary Johnson’s new signings the opportunity to showcase themselves to the travelling Yellow Army for the first time as the side builds up its preparation for the upcoming National League season.
Who’s the Boss?
A former Poole player himself, Thomas Killick has been at the helm since May 2004. He enjoyed a long and successful non-league career as a striker. Killick was awarded Non-League Player of the Year at the conclusion of the 1991/92 season and featured in the Wimborne side that came out on top in the FA Vase the same season.
He departed his assistant manager role at Salisbury City to take charge at Poole where the Dolphins were promoted following his first year in charge. He has enjoyed much success with the Club over the years; Thomas guided Town to the Southern South and West Division in 2012 before his side won the league outright the following season.
Killick’s side also won the Dorset Senior Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2014 before claiming the Southern Premier title at the end of the 2015/16 season. He went on to lead Town to a 5th place finish in the 2016/17 National League South season before the side were relegated the following year.
Town topped the Southern League South Division and were unbeaten in the league when the season was declared null and void, winning six and drawing one.
Player to Watch
The Town number 9 put pen to paper to commit to the upcoming season with Poole back in April. The forward is currently in his second spell at the club after he spent a season with the side in the 2017/18 season in which he made ten appearances and scored one goal.
The 24-year-old has also had stints at Eastleigh, Gosport, Dorchester, Whitehawk and Havant & Waterlooville.
The striker was in hot form when the Dolphin’s season was curtailed last season, having scored ten goals in eleven appearances Lee will be keen to continue this form into Poole’s upcoming season.
Played for Both
Carmichael spent time at Plainmoor on loan from AFC Bournemouth during the 2015/16 season. The midfielder made 14 appearances for United in the National League and scored one goal.
The 26-year-old joined AFC Bournemouth at the age of 10 and went on to make four first team appearances before he was released in 2016. During this period he also had loan spells with Gosport and Welling before signing a permanent deal with Gosport in 2016. Carmichael went on to spend two seasons at Weymouth before departing for his hometown club Poole in May 2019.
Previous Encounter
The two sides previously met in Dorset in the build-up to the 2018/19 campaign with all four of United’s goals coming in the second half.
Brett Williams opened the scoring for United early in the second half. The second goal came from George Essuman who was able to fire home from close range after a low cross found him at the far post. Williams made it 3-0 with his sliding effort finding the bottom right corner. Trialist Nick Dembele was played through on goal and got United’s fourth.
Poole Town v TUAFC | 24/07/2021 3pm KO | BlackGold Stadium, BH15 3JR