THE local soccer merry-go-round of players is in full swing – and it’s getting a bit crazy.

In fact, one Hellenic League manager has described the current situation as “mad.”

For players, pre-season games and training sessions offer the opportunity of sussing out if one club maybe better than another – or if they pay a tenner more than another.

All this, however, is mightily frustrating for managers as they look to get a team in shape ahead of the big kick-off which is fast approaching.

I understand Woodley United were convinced that a decent player was coming their way, only to see him join Reading City.

And City then announced they had signed Mitchell Parker, just days after Bracknell Town had reported he had signed for them.

The striker, of course, can be dual-registered as Reading and Bracknell play in different leagues, but City are claiming he will play for them and it’s doubtful if Bracknell will accept that.

There was another player City were keen to sign and were close to sealing a deal until the player in question mentioned he was also planning to check out another club.

That didn’t please City as they only want players totally committed to them and so dropped their interest.

Former Woodley United defender Idris Kamara, last season’s Hellenic League Premier Division player of the year, had been training with Binfield, but yesterday he signed on with Marlow.

“Mad isn’t it?” was how one Hellenic League manager summed up the transfer market this week.

  • HEROES are going to be made at Reading Hockey Club this weekend.

Hockey for Heroes – a representative squad which tours the country playing matches and raising funds – are holding trials for their men’s section at the Sonning Lane club on Sunday, from 9am.

But the trialists need to be super fit as there will be two hours of physical training and military-style challenges before displaying their hockey skills during the afternoon.

Reading ladies’ first-team keeper Aurora Mears and Sonning veteran Katherine Pike were involved with the Hockey for Heroes women’s team last season.