Matchday Programme: Issue 1 Louis Storey's Column

“ From the hard work and preparation I’ve witnessed from the players, staff, and club, I am confident that we can attack these games head on and that we will be successful in achieving our goals. ”

It’s here... the start of the new season with all the excitement and positivity that comes with it looking ahead to new goals and challenges but with some unfinished business to also take care of.

It’s been over 5 months since our 2019-20 season came to a halt and just over nine weeks since we returned for preseason training anticipating the news for how the new season will look and if and when we could finish last season’s FA Vase.

With quality additions joining the group over the summer in Amar, Damo, Luke and Andrew alongside security of last season’s stalwarts committing for another season, we are looking super fit and in tip top shape. We are hungry to compete to get the best out of each other and focused in preparation to attack all of the 2020-21 competitions.

It goes without saying that all of the players, staff, club officials and fans were truly gutted to have last season’s final stretch snatched away from us with such momentum building around the club as we got closer to establishing ourselves into the top three spots for promotion and progressing to the semi-finals of the FA vase with a home and away fixture acting as our final hurdle towards Wembley.

The ups and downs of new rumours, whispers and news of potential return dates and opportunities to finish what we started was a rollercoaster and at times played with our emotions. The worst-case scenario of not being able to finish what we started lingered at the back of my mind, but it wasn’t worth listening to. I am delighted that the FA has recognised the undeniable value of the competition to our level of football and that we, the players, and staff get to continue the club’s journey and hopefully reward the tremendous support we have received from the fans with more success beyond the semi-finals.

Our performances and results across our preseason is evidence of how we have evolved yet again. We have strengthened the quality and depth of our squad and we have all put in hard work on the training pitch. The performances we put in against Morpeth, South Shields and Blyth were a pleasure to take part in and that was converted into brilliant results which we can use to attain more confidence for the upcoming games. The group demonstrated how we can go toe-to-toe with teams higher up the pyramid, the quality we have individually across the pitch, and the feeling of a close group gelling further and working hard with momentum and a sense of being in sync.

The first month of this season is clearly a huge period of exciting challenges and it will be a crucial period in hopefully creating more history for the club in the immediate future as well as paving the first building blocks for even more history and success for the upcoming season. The FA Cup and Vase ties within the first five days of the season is huge and that is followed by league fixtures against many of our rivals who will look to compete with us for the promotion spots and title.

From the hard work and preparation I’ve witnessed from the players, staff, and club, I am confident that we can attack these games head on and that we will be successful in achieving our goals. Hard work, focus and togetherness is something we have in abundance and is what we will need for the first four weeks of the season. We are all itching to get going again and hopefully we can kick the season off with a positive performance and progression in the FA Cup.

See yous all down at the club and can’t wait to get started,

Louis Storey