The fun and the madness starts again

Everyone has worked really hard in pre-season and I’ve been impressed by the new faces we’ve brought in.

There will be ups and downs this season and we know it’s not going to be plain sailing all the way.

We’ve reduced the average of the squad in the summer and with Iain Harvey the oldest, we have Sam Allison at 28, Ross Adams at 25 and it’s downhill from there.

With young players there will be ups and downs as they are still learning their trade but at the same time they possess that youthful enthusiasm and they won’t fear the big reputations of others.

They’ll build up the experience along the way and learn the finer aspects of how to win a game of football in different situations.

There’ll be peaks and troughs along the way but at the end of the season everything will even itself out and we’ll ultimately finish where we deserve to.

Obviously it was a big blow to lose Kye Holly just a week before the season starts but he’s been totally honest with us and we have to respect his wishes.

I keep saying it but consistency is going to be massive this year. With Kye, Kev Halliday, Sean Seavill and Iain Harvey out, we’re without 40 per cent of the side who made the play-offs.

But all that means is that it is time for the likes of Ben Highmore, Greg Tindle, Lewis Powell and Shaun Lamb to step up to the plate and show how good they are.

We play Nuneaton on Saturday and I watched them in pre-season so know they’re a strong team with good players in all areas.

There’s a lot of experience there and I think anyone who finishes above them this year will win the league or at least be in the play-offs.

There’s no more dangerous team to play on the first day than one who’s been promoted as they’re on a crest of a wave and full of energy, enthusiasm and desire.

Hopefully our supporters will turn out in force for the game and, with Didcot away on Tuesday, I’d take four points from the two games.