Rugby
Town begin their BGB Premier campaign
this weekend with the long trip to
Clevedon Town.
The
start of the season is the time for
optimism, and Rugby are hopeful of
a decent start after a fairly successful
pre-season.
Manager
Billy Jeffrey has pieced together
a squad which, for the first time
in many years, has a look of continuity
about it with no less than 13 of the
players finishing last season at Butlin
Road.
Clevedon
have meanwhile been strengthening
their squad for the new season with
a number of new players and the Seasiders
will be looking to repeat the double
they secured over Valley last season.
In
the corresponding fixture last season,
Rugby were brushed aside 3-0
while at Butlin Road, Clevedon inflicted
a 3-2
defeat on Valley.
In
fact, Rugby's record against Clevedon
is not a good one, having recorded
just one win from ten attempts. That
victory came in January 2004 when
goals from Robbie Beard and Justin
Marsden ensured a 2-0
win.
Rugby
will also be hoping to secure their
first opening day win since 2003 -
something that looked likely with
two minutes remaining against Merthyr
Tydfil in the first game last season
but a sudden turnaround meant Valley
lost the game 2-1.
Billy
has a selection headache ahead of
his team's first outing of the season,
with captain Craig Herbert unlikely
to feature having not played in any
of Valley's pre-season friendlies
so far, while youth player Brad Harris
has been carrying an injury. Trialist
Ashley Blake could make his debut,
as he played against Thatcham last
weekend, but he too has been out of
competitive action for a long period.
Andy Commander is also out of the
reckoning as he is still recovering
from a broken hand which he sustained
against Eastwood in July.
Meanwhile,
new signing Stefan Morley is expected
to make his debut at left back while
midfielder Scott Musgrove is again
available for selection following
an achilles injury.
Last
season's top scorer Jason Taylor will
be the only other absentee in Rugby's
squad as his knee injury is expected
to keep him out of the opening games
of the season at the very least.
Pre-season
trialists Ashley Blake, Alessandro
Barcherini, Tristan Kabongo and Stefan
McGrath have all signed for Valley
ahead of the first game although with
18 players available, Billy will have
to choose his matchday squad.
A
supporters' coach will be leaving
Butlin Road at 9.30am and places are
available.
Rugby
Town Squad From: Faz Afandiyev,
Alessandro Barcherini, Aaron Stringfellow,
Brad Harris, Delroy Gordon, Craig
Herbert, Ashley Blake, Stefan Morley,
Stefan McGrath, Mark Edge, Matt Gearing,
David Staff, Willis Francis, Tom Breward,
Scott Musgrove, David Kolodynski,
David Stone, Tristan Kabongo, Akin
Aladetoun. |
