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Billy
Jeffrey's Rugby Town side will make
the short trip to Warwickshire rivals
Bedworth United for the first game
of an eight-match pre-season schedule.
Rugby
have not faced the Greenbacks since
the 2003/4 season when Valley secured
a 5th-place finish to gain promotion
to the Southern League Premier Division.
Bedworth
have since been plying their trade
in the BGB Midland Division and have
finished either 15th or 16th in the
last three seasons, however they are
now managed by ex-Rugby boss Martin
Sockett - who left Butlin Road in
2001.
Rugby
last faced Bedworth in April 2003
when the sides played out a dour 0-0
draw. Both sides had little to play
for as the league positions had already
been determined.
However,
the two previous meetings in the 2003/4
did produce comprehensive wins with
a 3-0 win at The Oval in an FA Trophy
tie and a 4-1 win at Butlin Road on
New Year's Day.
With
the departures of Chris Tullin, Parys
Okai & Ross Harris and with Aaron
Stringfellow & Matt Gearing currently
having trials at Hinckley & Stamford
respectively, Rugby manager Billy
Jeffrey is looking to recruit some
new blood.
Billy
has already secured the services of
Faz Afandiyev, Delroy Gordon, Jason
Taylor, David Stone and David Kolodynski
and he is hoping to sign more of last
season's squad on in the near future.
The
game is likely to feature a large
number of trialists including Stefan
Morley (formerly of Kettering), Scott
Musgrove (ex-Stamford & Cheltenham)
& Robert Gondwe (Zambian Under
23 International) as well as promising
youth team prospects such as Brad
Harris and Mark Edge.
Gordon could feature in central defence,
although he is expected to require
further treatment on a knee problem.
Andy Commander is likely to partner
Gordon at the back with captain Craig
Herbert unavailable due to a family
illness.
Last
season's top scorer Taylor has been
ruled out for the short term with
a knee injury which he sustained in
the 1-0 win over King's Lynn in April.
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