WELCOME TO INGFIELD

JAMES ROGERS , CHAIRMAN

that this could be a special season.

Welcome to Ingfield for the first competitive game of the 2023/24 season, how good does that sound!

I am sure today’s opponents, 1874 Northwich, will agree that preseason is a vital part of the year, but nothing beats the edge of a competitive game.

As was touched on last week as we played Widnes, the summer games have been used to look at various players, formations and positions that will be utilised as the season progresses, something I believe has been successful this year.

The squad is looking strong and well balanced and just as important, if not more so, there is an excellent atmosphere in the dressing room led by the newly appointed captain Harry Coates. There is a positivity emitting from the group that I have not felt for some time and while there is no expectation of emulating what Worksop Town did in the NPL East last season there is a confidence

After what has been a couple of difficult seasons for a variety of reasons, I do now feel we are ready to re-start the journey that was conceived in 2018 with the merger of Town and Albion.

There is simply too much hard work done by countless volunteers behind the scenes to be happy plodding along in the bottom half of this division, everything is geared towards progression and giving the management team and players the best possible facilities and resources to produce positive results.

Today, however, is the Emirates FA Cup, so league ambitions are on hold for another seven days. The FA Cup continues to bring excitement amongst everyone involved and after disappointing campaigns in recent seasons a good run in the Cup would be a great fillip for the season – and I am sure our opponents today feel the same, it will certainly be a difficult game to progress from for both sides. Whoever is the victor today (or Tuesday if a replay is required) will host Step Five opposition on 19 August as