Joshua Reflects on Productive Pre-Season

Rugby Town boss Grant Joshua is pleased with progress following the conclusion of a transformative pre-season with full focus now turning to the upcoming FA Cup tie at Coton Green.

Town wrapped up their schedule of six warm-up matches on Saturday with a solid showing at Redditch United despite suffering their first loss of pre-season.

Joshua reflected on his first pre-season campaign with the club after joining in May: "The main aim in when I joined was to totally transform the culture of the football club.

"Results in pre-season are irrelevant but performances aren’t and I am pleased with what we've seen in our six games."

Rugby have faced three higher-level friendlies against Southern League Premier Central opposition with a win at Stratford Town, draw against Alvechurch plus Saturday's defeat at Redditch along with wins over lower-league Highgate United, Walsall Wood and Tividale.

Joshua again had high praise for the Valley traveling faithful: "The support at Redditch was incredible - it was unlike anything I've seen from an away following at our level.

"We have a group that care about the football club and the supporters can see that and we now need to take this into the competitive season.

"Plugging these two together only makes us stronger."

Focus now turns to the Emirates FA Cup at Coton Green on Saturday with Joshua expecting a tough test against the newly-promoted Midland Football League side: "We have this week now to plan for our FA Cup game at Coton Green which I fully expect to turn into a difficult and tricky tie to navigate through.

"I have huge respect for what they’ve done there - a fantastic management group who know what they're doing and they have some players who can win games in moments.

"So this game, like every one we go into, has my full attention.

"I urge our supporters to make this game feel like a home game - see you at Coton Green."