Brightlingsea Regent kickstart their pre-season schedule on Saturday after two months away, with an away fixture against Hutton FC at New Lodge, home of Billericay Town FC, the ground that has served as the opposition’s groundshare since 2023.

Supporters travelling down are reminded that the kick-off time is 2:30PM, as opposed to the traditional 3PM start, with entry being pay what you would like. However, a small donation is recommended to support the income of non-league football. Furthermore, Hutton FC confirmed earlier on their social media page that food and drink options will also be available for supporters' pre-game and during half-time.

This opening friendly marks the first opportunity to watch our new players in action, as they begin to settle into the squad and showcase their qualities ahead of the 2026/2027 season, as well as of course the familiar faces returning and gaining valuable minutes on the pitch

Moreover, you can expect a plethora of trialists across both sides, with some potentially linking up with Ryan Salter permanently as a result of a solid performance.

Located just over an hour-long drive away from North Road, for those with nothing planned, this fixture presents the perfect opportunity to take in live football after such a long period without non-league football, soak up the summer weather, and support the regent whilst preparations for the new season officially get underway.

A look at the opposition:

Based in the borough of Brentwood, Hutton FC were founded in 1928 and merged and expanded further with Hutton Medway YFC in 2005. After previously sharing a ground with Tilbury FC, they now share New Lodge with National League South side Billericay Town.

Hutton will be competing in the Essex Senior League in the upcoming campaign, step five of non-league football, following promotion from the Eastern Counties League Division One South during the 2025/2026 season.

Hutton FC clinched the league title on the final weekend of the season against Brimsdown, beating them one-nil, to seal the title three points ahead of promotion rivals Clapton Community, bagging over 100 goals during the course of the league season and additionally embarking on a twenty-four-game unbeaten run.

This will be the first-ever meeting between both sides, adding an extra layer of excitement to the occasion for supporters and players alike. As we face each other for the first time, both sides will be looking for strong performances and a high-quality start to pre-season, alongside of course getting straight back into the flow of consistent matchdays.