Alan Devonshire's long wait for a Hampton & Richmond Borough reserve team finally came to an end this week.

From next season, Beavers boss Dev will be able to field his fringe players, promising youngsters and first team stars returning from injury in a second string competing in the Suburban League.

Previously, he had to rely on farming them out on dual contracts to clubs like Slough and Feltham to give them first team football.

Dev said: "I have wanted to do this for a long time, but we have not had the finances in place before.

"It is certainly necessary to have a reserve team as we have a very good youth team, and we don't want to lose our best young players because we can't give them a game."

One such player is former Hampton youth-teamer Abdul Osman, who this week joined League One side Northampton Town from Gretna after failing a medical with Kilmarnock.

Dev himself is set to wrap up a deal with a Ryman League striker by the weekend.

The Beavers will be playing in a new strip next season after striking a three-year deal with kit manufacturers Vandanel.

While the traditional red and blue will be retained for the home kit, the change strip will be in a new sky blue colour. The new shirt sponsors should also be announced next week.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, Nick Lyons has joined the Beavers' board as Media and PR Director.

He joins chairman Steve McPherson, vice-chair Steve O'Neill, secretary/managing director Nick Hornsey and finance director Chas Milner on the new-look board.

Tickets for the prestigious West Ham friendly on July 17 are on sale at s15 (s7.50 concessions), call 020 8979 2456 for details. They can also be bought behind the bar at the Jolly Coopers and Plush Folly pubs.

A percentage of the gate receipts will go to Hampton's charity, African Revival, which is aiming to set up a football league for 72 schools in Uganda. ..SUPL: