There’s plenty of activity going on at Pavilion Manor Field as Milton Keynes Irish get ready for their first taste of life at Step 4.
Pitch renovation works have taken place and now nature is taking its course so that the surface is ready to grace the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central.
The club only celebrated its fifth birthday this week, formed as a result of three local clubs amalgamating, but so much progress has been made since then, culminating in Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division title success at the end of last term.
It was a campaign which saw them lose just one of their 34 League games, scoring 101 goals in the process, 12 months after narrowly missing out on promotion via the play-offs.
“We had a very good season,” said manager, Terry Shrieves, with a smile. “The League campaign went just as we hoped that it would, whilst we also won a few games in the FA Cup to have a bit of a run in that competition.
“I am so proud of what the players and staff have achieved; coming so close to promotion during the previous campaign, it would have been easy for heads to drop, but they used the disappointment as motivation this time around and we were worthy title winners in the end.
“To go through a season with just one League defeat is a fantastic achievement at any level because it shows consistency, determination and the right attitude.
“Of course, we’re expecting a tough introduction to life at this level. It’s a big step up but we know a bit about a few of the teams that we will face having come up against them in friendlies and FA Cup games over recent seasons.
“Our initial aim is to consolidate and establish ourselves as a Step 4 club. It’s a challenge that we will face head-on, we’re looking forward to it and being able to build on the momentum that we have.”
Shrieves, who was player and manager of Milton Keynes City between 1998 and 2002 before going on to have a six-year spell at the Newport Pagnell Town helm, is adamant of what he wants from his team.
“I expect everyone to work hard and give everything they’ve got in matches and training,” he added without hesitation. “I want players here who play for the team, not themselves; we’ve worked hard over the last few years to build a solid unit where each player knows their roles and responsibilities to the team and that will not change.
“I have no set way of playing; we’re open-minded and try to set up the team to suit the players’ strengths.
“The process of getting a competitive team together is going on in the background whilst, as you can see, works to improve and enhance the pitch and our facilities are ongoing. All of it will come together so that hopefully we can hit the ground running when the season finally gets underway.”
We’ll be getting to know more of our new teams over the days and weeks ahead as we begin our countdown to the start of the 2025/26 season.
IMAGE: @dcphotos4you
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