Published: 13-08-2011

Programme Notes v Aylesbury

Written by Steve Bateman

Manager Steve Bateman

Here's to a successful season and isn't it great to be back!

Steve Bateman

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to Holloways Park for this afternoon's opening Evo-stik Southern Division One Central fixture against Aylesbury, where a tough encounter is expected as we both start the new season full of optimism and belief.

It doesn't seem all that long ago that our season ended so cruelly with defeat in the play-offs at Hitchin Town, our second play-off defeat in as many seasons and the challenge laid down to our players is to go one better and secure that elusive automatic promotion spot and avoid the lottery of the play-offs this time around. A difficult challenge we know, many teams will start the season full of hope and it will take 10 games or so before things start to settle down and form can be talked about. We will be working hard to secure as many points as possible and build a platform from which to push on from as the season unfolds. The two promoted sides last year were worthy and deserving of their achievements and have been replaced by the likes of St. Neots Town who have a Conference level budget and will no doubt be setting a standard for us all to aspire to if I am to believe what is being written and spoken about with regards to them. So it won't be any easier this time around.

The squad has not changed too much from last season as we retained all those players we wanted to and have added a few and also seen the return of Nathan Bowden-Haase following a year of working away in Scotland which prevented him playing at all last season. Another important addition is that of Fred Cummins, who replaces Dave Anderson as Assistant Manager / Coach and I am enjoying working with him and officially welcome Fred and our new recruits to the club and wish them a very successful time with us.

Pre-season has allowed me to have an extended look at one or two new options due to non availability of one or two others and with one or two recovering from summer surgery on injuries sustained at the back end of last season. In an ideal world you will have everyone available all of the time but the reality is we all have other lives and a day job as well but it certainly doesn't mean we are not committed to being successful at the club. We have a lot of continuity and familiarity from last year and along with the freshness that a few new faces add, I am confident we have all the ingredients at our disposal to challenge again this season and be in the mix come the end of April.

Our wonderful support continues to be a big factor at Slough Town and I urge you all to get fully behind us in the early part of the season as we seek to make a good start. I am always open to supporters coming up and having a chat with me regarding anything to do with the playing side of the club so I extend that invitation again to you all and I look forward to seeing many of you next week as we go on our travels to near neighbours Uxbridge.

Here's to a successful season and isn't it great to be back!