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.
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