New Spalding United assistant manager Chris Rawlinson admits that he’s been impressed by everything about the club so far.
Rawlinson, who has followed boss Dave Frecklington to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field from former side Lincoln United, is also confident that the Tulips are in a strong position ahead of the start of pre-season training next month.
The Spalding number two is excited by the challenge of pushing for promotion in Evo-Stik NPL Division One South next season and feels that the three years he and Frecklington spent at Lincoln have educated them perfectly for the task in hand.
“I’m really looking forward to getting started,” said Rawlinson, who is a former Lincoln City youth player. “Everything about the club seems very impressive.
“As Dave has said previously, it’s an exciting challenge for us and Spalding’s ambitions are aligned with our own.
“Another thing that excites me is being with a team from a one-club town. There’s a great deal of potential here and you can’t underestimate that.
“The board have been incredibly helpful and have given us a good budget. The geographical nature of Spalding has perhaps made bringing players in something of a challenge, but we’re very happy with how things are shaping up.
“What we didn’t want to do was go back and try to raid players from Lincoln United. There was the nucleus of a very strong side here and we’ve just had to build on that.
“What can the fans expect from a team managed by Dave and myself? Firstly, I think we know the league inside out. We tried going down the footballing route of playing good, attractive stuff – but that only got us so far.
“Look at Stafford Rangers last year. They had a top striker and made themselves hard to beat.
“That has to be the model for us. We’ve signed Bradley Barraclough, who we believe is capable of being our stellar striker and the first 11 already looks a strong one.”
With Frecklington away for a few weeks, Rawlinson admits that he jetted off for his holidays happy with the Spalding squad as it stands.
A handful of promising trialists have also been lined up to attend pre-season training in July, with Rawlinson quietly confident that there could be a diamond among them.
He also feels that a number of their rivals have taken on too many players ahead of pre-season, so expects the club to be in a position to pounce ahead of the start of the new campaign.
But Rawlinson is also keen to see local young players given a chance at Spalding. Young guns Jonny Lockie and Levi Butland have already signed on for next season and will be given the chance to shine.
The Tulips’ assistant insists that if the pair are good enough, they’ll get game time.
“I think we’re sitting pretty squad wise,” added Rawlinson. “It’s unlikely we’ll be adding any more before pre-season begins.
“But there’s usually a big contrast from the first day of pre-season to the first league game personnel-wise.
“Some clubs are hoovering up a lot of the players – so there’s inevitably going to be a few options for us to swoop.
“Players want game-time in pre-season, it’s that simple.
“We’re also keen to involve younger players when we can. We’ve already shown a desire to include Levi and Jonny and they’ll get their chance to show us what they can do.
“For a club that has the geographic restrictions Spalding has, it’s important that young players are given a chance. But, of course, they have to be good enough.”
Meanwhile, former Spalding United striker Ryan Oliver has pledged his future to hometown club Sleaford Town despite having offers to join up with the Tulips and Lincoln United.
Oliver netted 36 goals in 45 appearances for Sleaford last term as they finished seventh in the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division and the Spalding Voice understands he was offered a contract to re-join the Tulips.
- Spalding fans have until July 10 to take advantage of the club’s 2016/17 season ticket ‘early-bird’ offer. The offer enables fans to save 10 per cent off the quoted adult (£125) and concession/student (£70) rates.
The Tulips also revealed earlier this summer that 11-16 year olds will be admitted for free to all games next season.
All enquiries via email to [email protected], or alternatively season tickets can be purchased in the Tulips Social Club.
