BLUEBIRDS chairman Neil Blackmore reckons that there’s a ‘positive buzz’ about Chippenham Town as his club continue their preparations for the upcoming season.

The Bluebirds players are back in pre-season training whilst Hardenhuish Park has received much more than a lick of paint as the Southern League outfit prepare to re-open their doors later this summer.

“Off the field, an immense amount of work has been done on the ground, like decorating, cleaning tidying, and refurbishment,” said Blackmore.

“We’ve renovated the VP (Vice President’s) lounge and we’re going to have a hospitality offer per ticket now.

“For £25 a ticket, you come in to watch the game, have a two-course home-cooked meal, with wine or beer, and you get biscuits, tea and coffee at half-time too. Whether that be for individuals, couples or companies; we’re flexible on that.

“The directors’ lounge has been renovated. We’ve redecorated the main stand and work’s been done on the pitch, with artificial grass put in the tramlines for where the officials run.

“I’m really positive – we’re ahead of where we want to be in terms of the off-field preparations and on-field, Mark (Collier) has got a good squad together.

“This is Mark and Tom (Jones’) season now. We can draw a line under last season and everything from here on in is theirs now.

“There’s a real positive buzz about the club at the moment.”

Chippenham finished 18th in the Southern League Premier Division last season, with manager Collier taking charge in November.

The new campaign is due to begin on Saturday August 9.

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