IT WILL BE THE TOUGHEST - POOK

THE TOP SIX with 12 games to go in the toughest non-league division outside the Conference. That's the target set and the assessment made by Worthing Football Club manager and director Alan Pook on the eve of the new season which starts with a trip to Wealdstone on Saturday, followed on Tuesday by a home match against Windsor & Eton.

He elaborated: "If we are in that position at that time, then we can go for an automatic play-off position. And I believe that the Ryman Premier will be that tough because it has 18 teams who won promotion, two relegated from the Conference and two remaining in it from last season.

"I think it will be a division where everyone beats each other and nothing makes much sense until Christmas. That suits us because we are a competitive side and our blend of youth and experience gives us a hunger."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Conditions will be difficult at first because grounds will be hard. We've just got to try to pick up some results. Our pre-season last season was one without any wins but we still won promotion from Ryman Division 1 South. This time we've had a good pre-season but I don't set any store on the results. It's just a question of getting everyone's fitness levels up and trying out some game patterns.

"I've made no new additions to our squad in the past week. I'm quite happy with what we've got."

Rebels have seven players out from the word go. Suspended are Shaun Grice, Nko Ekoku and Younis Nabil; unavailable are Des Guile, Owen Hill, Roy Pook and Andy Lutwyche.

They select from 15 on Saturday: Will Packham; Ian Payne, Chris Dicker (fitness test), Clay Lamont (fitness test), Marc Pullan, Mark Knee, Paul Rogers, Sam Rents, Ibrahim Eloumani, Mark Pulling, Phil Ruggles, Sam Francis, Andy Alexander, Ben Bowra, Dean Cox.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Defenders Payne and Pullan are from Crawley, Eloumani is a Moroccan Under-21 international, full-back or midfielder Rents, Cox and Bowra are youth players, proven striker Ruggles is from Leatherhead, and Alexander, believes Pook, has renewed fitness and potential as a troublesome forward.

Gone from Woodside are Ben Carrington (to USA), Glenn Davies (Ringmer), Ross Johnson (Eastbourne Borough), Darren Freeman and Gavin Jones (Three Bridges), Florian Mateos and Gavin Geddes (Horsham).

WORTHING UNITED are back in County League Division 1 for the first time since 1978, without a competitve team budget but with a capable management team of Ian Browne, with Geoff Raynsford and Keith Rowley.

They look extremely short of players with first division pedigree and will be relying on their coaching expertise and team organisation skills to help their squad make the grade.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Important forwards last season, Lee Weston, Peter Brackley and Lee Gibbs, have all chased the brown envelope and will be opposing United for also-promoted Littlehampton Town. Luke Reed has joined Mile Oak.

Browne: "I have three players I want to sign, who will help us be successful this season. All games for us will be tough and the new level we must suck and see. We must apply ourselves and be consistent. We must be compact and aggressive in defence, move well and retain the ball in attack. The players must rise to the challenge and aim to be the best they can be.

"We have still some players to share with Worthing FC and in Shane Moses, we have, from Worthing, a player who in a couple of years will be far to good for us."

Browne has a first-team list of 25 players. Additions among these are Moses, keeper Michael Oakley (from Withdean), Ryan Ford (ex-Wick, Lancing), Neil Shelley (formerly Lewes & Ringmer), Sonny Banks (Brighton Youth), Dave Schneider (ex-Lancing, Wick, Littlehampton) and Peter Christodoulou (Northbrook, Wick).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Returning to United are Glenn Souter (via Lancing and Wick), Paul Rapps (via Worthing, Lancing, Arundel).

LANCING, somehow spared relegation, are under new manager Mark Cox and will inevitably have a new-look side in the wake of Alf Ford's sacking. Only James Everett, John Rhodie and Mark Dixon are still there. Dean Lipscombe was, but broke his leg a second time in pre-season.

Other than Worthing United's Lee Thompson, the rest are from east to Brighton and beyond. Cox has roots at Saltdean.

Ian Costello, 21, and already from Peacehaven, Saltdean and Ringmer, will captain a side and the standout acquisition is ball-player Wesley Lopez. Last seasonwith Worthing, but injury-hit, he will begin his return to fitness at Culver Road but will inevitably move higher. While he's at Lancing, he'll put welcome numbers on the gate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Former Lancing boss Graham Russell has died at the age of 58. He was set this season to assist Mick Barry at Steyning Town.

Russell was a sought-after No 2 in the County League. He assisted Ray McCarthy at Southwick and Horsham, Alan Pook at Peacehaven and Burgess Hill.

Barry, whom Russell assisted at Upper Beeding, said: "I was his apprentice, really. He had a vast knowledge and I got him involved because I wanted to learn from him. I never stopped learning and I feel I've been robbed of learning more."

Related topics: