As Evo-Stik League newcomers Rainworth MW look forward to their first pre-season friendly at Staveley tomorrow night (Tuesday) manager Rudy Funk is still keeping his cards close to his chest in terms of his squad for the coming season.

But he continues to draw satisfaction from what he has seen of some of his potential new boys in training so far, he is confident of a good debut season in the new league, even though there has been no addition to his playing budget from last term in the NCEL, and he re-iterated his call for greater support numerically from the local community to back them in that quest.

He said: “Very shortly players will be putting pen to paper, and when they do we will reveal who they are, but during training we’ve chatted to players, both existing and new, they are all enjoying the sessions and want to be part of Rainworth. We are a very tight unit and the bond between the players will help towards ensuring that we have a good, sound campaign when the league season gets under way.

“Five years ago when Billy Millar and I came to this club we promised to bring UniBond League football, as it was then, to Rainworth, and now here we are. We are delighted to have achieved that and now we are looking for a positive response from the people of the community.

“We want to hear the faster clicking of the turnstiles as people come through the gate in greater numbers, but in saying that it’s also important that we remember to thank the people who have backed us since day one of our time here. We’ve always had great support but now we hope to build the numbers up and add quantity to quality.

“My promise to everyone who comes through our turnstile is that although we probably won’t be the prettiest side we will be looking to put as many points on the board as we can while making a good impression on the community and on our new league.

“So some games you will see some fantastic football played and in others you will see a hard-fought battle. But above all we are looking to provide a good club for our community.
“Pre-season is building up very nicely, although it always happens that you pick up a few knocks, but I’m looking forward to our first game at Staveley tomorrow night, and hopefully we can give as many players as possible a few minutes under their belts and then go on from there.”

On the subject of the FA competition draws, the Wrens boss is more than happy with the pairings for both the Cup and the Trophy.

He continued: “Both FA Cup and Trophy draws are interesting. Brigg Town, our first FA Cup opponents, are a well established club within the Evo-Stik League, a big strong side with great people behind the scenes, and I’m looking forward to it. The most important thing is to go there and play well. I always like our first FA Cup tie to be away because of the camaraderie we have on the coach journey, so I’m looking forward to that.


“Our FA Trophy home draw against Sheffield will be a great game for us because it will be our debut in the competition after 30 years in the Vase, so we will be making a little bit more club history, and I couldn’t wish for a better club than Sheffield to provide our opposition for that occasion.

“Sheffield are a truly wonderful club, again with great people behind the scenes who have put in so much work over the years for charity particularly in Africa, so to me there is something very special about them beyond their being the world’s oldest club. On the field I think the game will be an absolute cracker, and what an incentive we have to beat them.

I don’t want to look ahead, but if Lady Luck is on our side we will have the fixture I’ve wanted, at home to Chasetown, ever since they knocked us out of the FA Cup in our first season in that competition three years ago. But that’s for another day if we make progress.”

ADDITIONAL FRIENDLY

Rainworth have added a further friendly fixture to their pre-season preparations, and will travel to NCEL Division One side Appleby Frodingham on Saturday, 14th August.

Following their opening game at Staveley, the Wrens will have two more fixtures in the next week, travelling to new look Eccleshill United on Saturday (3pm) and then making the one-mile journey to nearest neighbours Blidworth Welfare on Monday 19th July (7.45pm).