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The new season is almost upon
us and the Nailers can look back on a promising pre-season campaign and
some encouraging performances.
They have impressed most
supporters who have taken the trouble to see the games and the big
question is; can they carry their form into league games where it matters
most?
Everything suggests that they
can and they will, and with new boys Loughborough Dynamo providing first
day opposition at Christchurch Meadow on Saturday joint managers Andy
Carney and Danny Hudson will be keeping their fingers crossed that
everything will come together in front of their own supporters.
Andy Carney says he is happy
with the way things have gone.
“We are pleased with our
preparations over the last few weeks,” he said, “we’ve been able to get
most of the players we have targeted and we have a much stronger squad
than we had at the end of last season”.
There was good news for the
club last weekend when defender Mark Barnard agreed to sign for the
Nailers after the game against Matlock Town last Saturday.
Barnard has bags of Football
League experience and even played once for Belper before moving on to
Harrogate Town in November 2003, he then moved to Alfreton Town via
Stalybridge Celtic.
“Mark is a great signing for
us”, said Carney, “ as far as I’m concerned he is the final piece of the
jigsaw.”
“We’ve been trying to get him
to join us for some time now and I wasn’t sure that it would happen, but
he’s a Belper player now and I’m delighted.”
Anthony Wilson, who has been
so impressive in the run up to the new campaign will be absent for the
first three games after being suspended following an accumulation of 15
bookings throughout last season.
This is clearly a blow to the
Nailers although they do have strength in depth with Ben Kistell and
Richard Tracey battling to fill the void left by Wilson, although Kistell
has been out with injury and it’s not clear whether he will be fit for
next Saturday.
“We only found out about Ant’s
suspension last Thursday,” said Carney, “and it’s come as a big
surprise”.
“Our team strategy has been
built around him being our main striker and now we will have to change
all that for the first three games.”
Carney and Hudson have worked
hard to improve their squad over the summer months and have recruited a
number of promising players, all of whom have shown up well in pre-season
games.
In addition to Kistell and
Barnard, Adam Nixon joined the Nailers after being out of the game for a
year.
He is a left sided defender or
midfield player who numbers Buxton and Worksop amongst his former clubs,
and has looked a competent player when he has had the opportunity to fill
the left back slot.
Aaron Pride at 17 years of age
is definitely one for the future and joined Belper from Sutton Town youth
set up, as is Stephen Murphy who was recommended to the club after
performing well in local football with Wirksworth Ivanhoe.
Former Peterborough midfielder
Jimmy Ghaichem has possibly made the biggest impact at the ‘Meadow’ and
looks likely to be named in the starting line up on Saturday.
He has shown himself to be a
tricky player on the ball, impressing management and supporters in the
pre-season friendly matches and looks to be a key addition to the squad.
Eric Graves has yet to be seen
by supporters but he could be a very important signing.
Graves spent his formative
years with Derby County and Stoke City and his since played at Burton
Albion, Gainsborough and Hucknall Town from where he joined the Nailers
in the close season. He is unlikely to figure in the first team until the
end of September due to recovery from a knee operation.
Adam Ogden remains a Belper
Town player despite being linked with a move to Ilkeston Town last month.
Agreement was reach with the
Robins but the player decided he didn’t want to move and has signed for
the Nailers pledging to fight for his place currently held by Paul
Pettinger.
Saturday’s opponents
Loughborough Dynamo were elevated from the Midland Football Alliance into
the UniBond League after finishing in the runners up position last season
and make their debut at this level at Christchurch Meadow, kick off 3pm.
The Nailers then visit
familiar territory when they travel to Harrison Park and face Leek Town
on the following Tuesday evening and then they meet another ‘newcomer’ to
the division when they make the journey to Rushall Olympic on 23 August.
Belper joint manager Andy
Carney won’t be drawn on any predictions for his team this season, but
the Nailers start off in a much stronger position than they were 12
months ago.
“It’s important that we make a
good start and all I can say is that we will be giving 100% effort in
every game, and Danny and I believe we have a squad of players capable of
doing well this season.”
Stewards Required
Belper Town FC are looking for
people interested in becoming match day stewards. Applicants will have to
undertake a two day course, but would then be qualified to work at any
level of sporting event.
Interested persons should
contact club chairman Phil Varney on 07979 311411
Programme Editor
The club are looking to
recruit a match day programme editor with effect from the end of
September. The position would suit someone looking to develop a career in
journalism or aiming to achieve media based qualification.
The applicant should ideally
have an interest in non-league football and be able to work to deadlines.
Anyone who
feels would like to know more about this exciting opportunity should
contact Dave Laughlin on 07768 010604
Nigel Oldrini
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