HOME is where the heart is for Royal Wootton Bassett boss Paul Braithwaite as they return to playing in the town.

Having outgrown their ground at Rylands Way, Bassett upped sticks and have been playing at Cirencester for the past two campaigns.

The Wootton Bassett Sports Association (WBSA), consisting of the town’s football, tennis, cricket and running clubs, sought a larger site in order to meet the community demand for sporting participation and renew the legacy of the gift of land by Major Gerard Buxton some 80 years ago.

The new 23-acre site to the north of the Malmesbury Road, opposite the Ballard’s Ash sports ground, is three times the size of Rylands Way and is hoped to provide a sporting hub for the town.

Bassett will play their first home game at the New Gerrard Buxton Sports Ground when they host Brackley Town Saints on Saturday, but Braithwaite admits it may take some time for the team to find their feet in the new surroundings.

“It is going to take us four or five games before I think we start calling it home because it is new for the players,” he said.

“It is of course a very positive thing for us to have, and for the Town, and I am sure it will benefit the club.”

As well as the new facilities and new name, there will be plenty of new faces in the changing room as Braithwaite looks to build on the team that finished 14th in the Hellenic League Premier Division last season.

Sam Packer, who has had two previous spells with the club between 2010 and 2012 and during the 2013-14 campaign, returns alongside defender Dan Comer, whose dad used to play inbetween the sticks for the club during the 1980s.

Braithwaite has also moved for the Shrivenham trio of defenders Adam Corcoran and Dane Moulden and midfielder Steve Olphert.

Matt Cheetham, who steps up a division from Clanfield, former New College midfielder Harvey Scholes, goalkeeper Curtis Meare and forward Kalum Youngsam also bolster Braithwaites options.

“Last season we rebuilt a lot and this summer we have wanted to build on top of that,” added Braithwaite.