Rugby Town kick off the new Evo-Stik League Southern Division One Central season with the visit of newly-promoted Chertsey Town at Butlin Road on Saturday.

	Date Saturday 13th August 2011 Kick-off 3pm Venue Butlin Road Comp The Evo-Stik League Southern Division One Central Admission £8 Adults & £4 Concessions

By Jon Venner Tweet

Valley boss Dave Stringer remains confident that his first season in charge at Butlin Road will be a successful one, as he prepares for the first game this weekend.

Rugby play new boys Chertsey Town, after having completed their warm-up schedule last weekend with a creditable 4-2 defeat at the hands of Conference side Kidderminster.
Stringer reflected on the pre-season preparations in a positive manner.

He said: “Everything has gone really well.

"We’ve played some good football and the performances – especially in the last couple of games – have been very encouraging.”

“We are where we want to be fitness wise and - with the exception of the goalkeeping situation – we are relatively injury free, so I am more than happy overall.”

“As long as we can get that bit of luck throughout the season and continue to keep the lads free from injury, I am confident that we can have another good year.

"From what I have seen of this level and division, it's going to take a decent outfit and performance to beat us."

Stringer expects the clubs that just denied Rugby a place in the play-offs last season to be in the mix again in 2011-12, plus he also highlighted newly promoted St Neots as the danger team in the division.

He continued: "St Neots seem to have a lot of money to spend, so they will be the one to beat.

"Daventry will be there or thereabouts again, even though they seem to have a lost a couple of key players, and I’m sure Slough and Biggleswade will be challenging again."

"The important thing is that we focus on ourselves though, and that we get off to a good start in the first few games. We know from last season that there a no easy games in this division.”

This Saturday's visitors Chertsey were promoted from the Combined Counties League at the end of 2010-11, after a second place finish in its Premier Division – a promotion which gives them their first taste of football at this level.

On the playing front, Stringer has tied up a deal with another midfielder JJ Cole though, after the player impressed for a second time against Kidderminster – setting up both of Town’s goals for Seb Hamilton.

Stringer explained: “It is difficult for JJ because he has work commitments which means that he will have to juggle his shifts, but he has committed to playing for us for the season and he is clearly is a tidy player – who will get even better the fitter we can get him.”

It is between the sticks that Stringer has had the biggest problems to-date, with four different keepers donning the gloves in the six main friendlies.

Last season’s regular pick Dave Clarke is ruled out with a long term back injury and summer signing Pete Smith has not played for four weeks.

Dan James covered the position for two games, until he returned to study in America, and then Stringer brought in young Louis Connor against Kidderminster.

Stringer said: "Dave looks like he is unavailable indefinitely, and Pete’s shoulder is taking longer to heal than we originally anticipated – but hopefully he will be back again in a week or so.

"Louis has come in and done a good job for us on Saturday, and it is likely he will feature again this weekend.”

19 year old Connor – son of Wolverhampton Wanderers assistant manager Terry – was at Tamworth last season and played the last couple of games in their Conference campaign.

Rugby are without the services of Danny Hall for the opening two weeks of the season due to a holiday, so another pre-season recruit Dominic Reece is likely to retain the left-back berth he has occupied throughout the warm-up campaign.

Valley are without long-term absentee Paddy Connolly (knee) while fellow midfielder Craig Civzelis left the club last week.

Valley Squad from: Louis Connor; Gary Moran, Dominic Reece, Nick Preston, Melvin Gourlay, Jamel Wilson; Ben Steane, Richard Wesley, Andy Gundelach, JJ Cole, Adam Khan, Lynval Da Costa, Steve Evans; Seb Hamilton, Lewis Haycock, Tyrone Fagan.