Hednesford in town for home league opener
Although we’re only in mid-August we’re already coming up to our fourth fixture of the new season and while Saturday’s defeat at Bootle was a bit of a dampener, there were enough signs in our performance that the season ahead holds plenty of promise.
Paul Moore’s no-nonsense straight-talking interview with me after the game on Saturday showed just how high the expectations are that he has in the team and what he wants from them moving forward. We could all be in for quite a ride.
The game tomorrow night against one of the new members of our division, Hednesford Town, represents the ideal opportunity to bounce back from our first defeat of the season.
The south Staffordshire club – who reached the fourth round of the FA Cup in the 1996/7 season and won the FA Trophy in 2004, have fallen on harder times more recently and were relegated from the Southern League Premier Central Division in April.
Managing The Pitmen is a name that will be very familiar to many local football followers. Former Valiant Danny Glover, son of Port Vale legend Dean, is the man who has been tasked with trying to restore some of Hednesford’s former glories.
They had an opening day draw at home to Trafford on Saturday and, like us, will be looking to put three points on the board tomorrow.
Despite their recent league troubles, Hednesford are still extremely well supported, with 757 turning up at Keys Park for their opening fixture.
For us tomorrow, Alfie Carmichael having made his debut at the weekend as a second half substitute, will be pushing for a place in the starting line-up.
Tomorrow night’s game may come a little too soon for Joe Berks though, who picked up an injury in training last Thursday and missed the trip to Bootle.
This is the first time the two sides have met in a league game, and it promises to be another very competitive fixture. We will appreciate all your support.
Come on ‘Castle!