Top of the pile is former Walton Casuals striker James Ewington.

He has had a prolific goalscoring record for a number of clubs, including Harpenden Town, London Colney, Colney Heath and last season with Casuals, where he scored 39 goals in 38 games in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier South.

He joined Hampton`s league rivals St Albans City last February but returned to Walton later in March.

McCann told http://www.hamptonfc.net: “We tried to sign James last season but were beaten to it by St Albans. However, their style of play didn’t suit him and he returned to Walton Casuals late in the season to score the goals which kept them in the Southern Premier. We have a good idea of how to get the best out of him and I think he could become a real crowd favourite here.”

Attacking midfielder Sam Deadfield has also become a new Beaver.

The 22-year-old, who prefers being on the left-hand side of midfield, spent last season at Basingstoke Town in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South, but was unable to prevent their relegation.

Deadfield joined `Stoke in 2016 after coming through the Reading and Birmingham City youth systems.

He has also had a spell at Hungerford Town and also Beaconsfield SYCOB in the last few years.

Defender Tom Jelley has returned to the Jezzards Beveree from Bostik League South Central champions Hayes & Yeading United.

Jelley left Hampton in the 2017/18 season, after making over 100 appearances in the red & blue following his signing for the club in 2014/15, scoring 14 goals.

McCann said: “We had looked at Tom last season but couldn’t make our budget stretch far enough, with so many others in contention. He then played a significant part in Hayes & Yeading’s dominant season, but he doesn`t want the travelling in the Southern League.”

Shaun McAuley has also re-signed for the club, after being part of the Kingstonian set-up last season.

He made 48 appearances for the Beavers in the 2017/18 season, which was his second stint at the Jezzards Beveree.

He was originally part of the Hampton squad that earned play-off appearances under Alan Devonshire back in the late 2000s.

McCann said: “We spoke with Shaun at the start of last season, when I first arrived, but we couldn’t get the deal over the line and he went to Kingstonian. He will bring some real authority to the midfield and I know he had a stellar season when he was last here”.

Rob Overfield