As pre-season gets underway, we will bring you interviews with some of the coaching staff about their return to training and how the club is preparing for the new season. Craig Lynch took time out from a busy pre-season schedule to chat to the website about pre-season, our first game of the season against Shildon and his hopes for the coming season.
On pre-season training:
“It’s a sense of deja-vu as we stood here at a similar time last year after the first lockdown and we are back having not had a game in six months. We came back to training on Thursday and then had another session today. It is a big pre-season this year because as I say it’s six, almost seven months since we played Notts County in the FA Trophy back in December. It’s the equivalent of a long-term injury for all of the players. It’s great to have them back in though.”
On our first pre-season opponents Shildon:
“Shildon are a very good side and a team that we are familiar with! IT was a tough game last season when we played them so we have to make sure that our intensity is right from the first whistle to set the tone for the season. They’ll be full of confidence as well having been promoted this season so they’ll be looking to make an impact as well. I’m sure that they will be there are thereabouts at the end of the season as well.”
On pre-season in general:
“We have a lot of tough games this pre-season and I think it will be a good test of character for the boys. We’ve got a lot of games and have two training sessions before our first game on Saturday. It’s going to be a different one this season as every team is wanting to have that competitive edge come the first league game.”
On the upcoming season:
“It’s going to be a hard season for every side. There is a lot of quality in the league but we know that we are capable of going out there and doing well. The last couple of seasons we’ve been doing well but then had the season called off. The usual sides will be up at the top end of the table I would expect, and we want to be in amongst it.”
