The experienced Paul McCone got another pre-season underway at the weekend as he looks to help Stratford Town recover from just missing out on a place in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central play-offs on goal difference at the end of last term.
The Bards have made their intentions clear this summer with the likes of Callum Ebanks, Lewis Ludford-Ison, Dan Vann and Jamie Molyneux being retained, alongside experienced arrivals such as Reece Styche and Andre Wright.
“This is the start of my 14th or 15th pre-season, so I’ve got a few under my belt now,” central defender McCone told his club’s media. “As far as first sessions go, this was one of the more enjoyable ones I’ve had during that time.
“I wouldn’t say that it was easy, but lads come back in much better shape these days. This time of year used to be for getting fit so there was always a lot of running, but these days lads use the off-season to get fit.
“We’ve got a busy schedule of pre-season matches coming up, which will provide us with a good test as we aim to be ready for when the season gets underway.
“Last season was generally good, there were plenty of positives to come out of it. Unfortunately, we just missed out on the play-offs by the narrowest of margins, for whatever reason, so now we are determined to go one better and from what I have seen already, there’s no reason why we can’t do that.
“I’ll be looking to lead from the front, that’s just the way I am. Hopefully I can help push things on and get this place rocking.”
Meanwhile the club are once more offering free season-tickets to all NHS workers and members of the Armed Forces, Police and Fire Service.
"This was so well received last season,” added Chairman, Jed McCrory. “We had so much positive feedback, I felt it only right to give back again this season and allow those that help us into our Southern League home games for free.”
IMAGE: Stratford Town FC
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