There were many familiar faces and a number of new ones too, when Tony Dobson's Rugby Town returned for its first pre-season training session on Tuesday evening.

By Jon Venner

Valley play their first actual warm-up game next Thursday on Butlin Road's artificial pitch against Barwell, and Dobson used the opening session to build up fitness levels ahead of this run-out.

Ten of last season's squad were in attendance - including key men Andrew Stevens, Delroy Gordon and David Kolodynski, who have all committed their immediate futures to the club by signing contracts for the 2009-10 season.

Matt Gearing, Steve Purton, Scott Musgrove, Neil Melvin, Jason Turner, Marcel Simpson and player/assistant manager Craig Herbert were also there to blow away the summer cobwebs, and they were joined by a number of triallists - including ex-Crewe Alexandra academy striker Josh Thompson.

Dobson is hopeful that other 2008-09 regulars Tom Breward, David Staff and Dave Pearson - who all missed the session due to holiday commitments or injuries - will also return to Butlin Road for the new campaign.

Dobson will use the next couple of sessions and early warm-up games to assess Thompson and the other hopeful new faces, before finalising the make-up of his squad for the coming season.