The disappointment of missing out on the play-offs last season is driving Alex Harris on for the campaign ahead as he prepares for the challenge that Welwyn Garden City will face in the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central.
The local lad emerged through the youth ranks at the club before he embarked upon an American adventure having secured a scholarship in the States.
Returning back to these shores, he has been a key figure for the Citizens, who finished ninth last season.
“I think the way last season ended for us in not reaching play-offs when we felt like we could and should have done will help to drive us on even more going into the new campaign,” he admitted to us. “We know what we are capable of as a group and a place in the play-offs is a minimum of what we should be aiming for this time around.
“We can’t wait to set about the task in hand; pre-season has been tough, but then they always are, and it’s been an opportunity for us as a team to learn a new system that we can carry into the season.
“We’ve done a lot of work on our shape and getting it right. Personally, it has been good for me because I picked up a hamstring injury in the final game of last season and the summer has allowed me to come back early and really work on my fitness, which has been hugely beneficial.
“I’m feeling good and ready to get as many minutes as possible under my belt. As a defender, I am hoping that we can improve on our defensive record of last season. We know that we conceded too many goals and the work that we’ve done on our shape will hopefully rectify this.
“It was the goals that we conceded which ultimately cost us a place in the play-offs and we’ve set ourselves some fresh, realistic targets in this respect to try and get us over the line this time.”
A trip to new-boys, Leverstock Green, awaits on Saturday.
IMAGE: Linda Babaie
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