Rebels set for Southend test as ex-players Parillon and Spasov return

Leon Parillon. Photo: George Beck

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Slough Town will step up preparations for their National League South campaign with a home friendly against Southend United on Tuesday evening (July 29), a match that was fixed up as part of the deal that took midfielder Leon Parillon to Roots Hall last season.

Parillon’s extra time goal in the National League play-off final at Wembley on June 1 had put the Shrimpers on the brink of promotion back to League 2, but a quickfire double from James Norwood and Kian Harratt turned the final on its head and secured Oldham Athletic a 3-2 victory.

The Latics will take up their place in the EFL with Southend left to contest another season in the National League, but Slough manager Scott Davies is anticipating a challenging evening for his side against a side who’ll fancy their chances of competing for promotion once again.

It’s also an opportunity for former Rebels Parillon and Slavi Spasov - who moved to Southend this summer - to properly say goodbye to the Slough supporters.

Spasov scored 13 league goals for the Rebels in a difficult campaign last season, however, with several suitors vying for his signature, a deal was done to take the striker to Southend. Slough received a fee for Slavi’s ‘training compensation’.

Tickets are now on sale for our home pre-season match against @SUFCRootsHall next Tuesday.

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— Slough Town FC (@sloughtownfc) July 22, 2025

Slough are unbeaten in all but one of their pre-season fixtures so far, that defeat coming away to Flackwell Heath on July 12.

They’ve since played out a thrilling 3-2 win over Brentford’s B side at Arbour Park and held a Reading team featuring ‘four or five first team players’ to a 1-1 draw at the Royals’ training ground. This friendly against the Shrimpers should give the home side another tough test with the new league season just weeks away.

The Rebels will also send a squad of players to Hanwell for a friendly on Saturday (July 26).

Davies said he hoped many of the club’s ‘regular faces’ would turn out for the friendly

“It’s a great fixture and obviously a chance to welcome back Leon and Slavi because they never really got a chance to say goodbye or thanks and I know both are really grateful for what the club and the fans did for them,” said Davies.

“That will be nice. I’m hoping we’ll see more of our regular faces for that game because it’s a great game to have.

“I know they’re only a division above us, but they were only a few minutes from getting into League 2 in the summer. I’m looking forward to it and it will be our strongest test so far.

“There’s a lot to learn from games like that.”

On whether he’s settled on his strongest XI ahead of Slough’s first league match at Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, August 9, Davies added: “I still don’t think we’ve been able to get our strongest XI out.

“There are players carrying knocks, Tyrese Dyce has a little knock, Johnny Goddard has got one, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas and Wiktor Makowski has gone on holiday for a week. It is frustrating.

“Wiktor certainly deserves a holiday, and his girlfriend works in a school so it’s the only time they can go away together. It’s understandable and he also has a suspension to serve for three games as well so it’s something we’ve allowed him to do. Hopefully, he’ll come back refreshed.”

The Southend friendly kicks off at 7.45pm on Tuesday. Adults are £8 and u18s are £1.

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