Bards return ahead of hectic pre-season campaign
STRATFORD Town manager Paul Davis has told his players that it is down to them to secure a place in his squad ahead of the new Southern League Premier Central season.
And he believes the Bards’ hectic nine-game pre-season programme gives them the perfect platform for them to do that.
Around 30 players attended the first training session which was held at the Welcombe Hotel on Tuesday evening with a handful of academy players and trialists among those already signed on.
Davis said: “We have six sessions and nine games and the next time we train twice in a week will be the week before the season starts. The players want to play rather than just train and there is only an element of football fitness that you can get while training.
“Our biggest challenge over the nine games will be managing the minutes and making sure that players get the ‘90s’ in before the season starts. In my experience there are times when management teams get to the start of the season and say ‘oh dear - so-and-so has not played a full 90’. Having this many games allows us to do that rather than just playing five or six matches.
“We had a trial day on Saturday and have invited two of those along to training along with a couple of academy players who impressed me and that’s good for the football club to have those youngsters coming through.
“We are a step three football club and can‘t carry a squad of 25 players. We may have a squad of 20 in August and then whittle that down to 16-18 players from September just like everyone else but no-one will be able to say to me that they didn’t have a chance. We have nine games so it is down to the players.”
The first of those is on Saturday at home to Evesham United who were promoted to the Southern League Premier South last season. The Bards are in action again on Tuesday when they host step four side Rugby Town.
Davis added: “The money floating around this division this year through talking to players is quite outstanding but we are not that football club and nor should we be that football club. I don’t want to pay people what they are not worth and I don’t know how some clubs are doing it.
“I am really happy with the players we have got over the line because I know that they have had bigger offers from elsewhere and have decided to come to Stratford for the right reasons. We have also kept the right players.”
One of those linking up with the Bards is attacking midfielder Henry Landers who has signed after a two-year stint at National League North side Leamington.
The Bards boss said: “I taught Henry as a kid and I was flying out the day he agreed to come so that made my holiday even better. He knows a couple of the staff and players and wants to play for a football club that is competitive and wants to progress. We need to fulfil his ambition and he needs to get on the train and ride with us. Hopefully he can deliver just as he did at Leamington.”
As for Landers, he has already set a goals target for the season as he looks to better his return with the Brakes.
“I want to score goals,” he admitted. “I scored nine last year and I’m aiming to improve on that.
“Stratford are a side that plays football and have the pitch that allows you to do that and it’s how I want to play. I’m excited at the start of every season but I’m very excited to be back at step three where hopefully I can have more success.
“This is a club that wants to win titles and I’m here for a promotion push. With Leamington, there are so many big teams [in their league] they are not expected to be up there. It is a great club - a big family club. I loved the fans and they loved me but it was time for me to move on.”
