Published: Thursday, 10th July, 2008 13:00
Thatcham set for tough opener
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THATCHAM Town boss Gary Ackling has admitted his side face a tough start to their Southern League campaign after the fixtures were announced this week.
Thatcham open their Division One South & West season with a daunting journey to big-spending Truro City on Saturday, August 16.
They then entertain AFC Totton on Tuesday, August 19 before hosting highly-rated Didcot Town on Saturday, August 23.
It promises to be a baptism of fire for Ackling’s new-look team but the Town boss believes the opening day of the season could be the ideal time to play a Truro side who are many people’s favourites to lift the Division One title.
He said: “It might be a good time to play them as they might have some new faces in the team who are still getting to know each other.
“I think they’ll be aiming for a play-off spot at the absolute minimum as they’re signing some ex-Football League players but you often get some strange results early on before teams have a chance to gel and settle down.
“I’m not too bothered about the long journey as we knew we had to do it sometime and it will be good to get it out of the way early.
“We’ll just have to look at the logistics of getting there and it might mean we’ll end up heading down there on the train.”
Thatcham play their first pre-season game this Saturday when they travel to Calne Town and they then face another workout at Kidlington on Tuesday.
It will be the first chance for Ackling to see some of his trialists in match action and will build on the fitness work the squad started at RAF Lyneham last weekend when they were put through their paces by Air Force physical training instructors.
One player missing from that session was Marc Green who stunned everyone at Waterside Park by opting to join Hungerford Town last week.
“I was disappointed with the way he conducted himself as he told us he was definitely coming to us before back-tracking and doing a complete u-turn,” admitted Ackling.
“But we’ve moved on now and with more than 22 players at training last week and another five on holiday I’m really excited about the new season.”
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