Graham Drury will return to the training pitch tonight after a 15-month break – and he can’t wait to see his new Holbeach United players.
The former Stamford and Boston United chief, who is working as co-boss with John Chand, will take the Tigers’ first pre-season training session at Carter’s Park.
There will be a host of new faces on show – including former Boston Town skipper Ollie Pinner and Oadby Town trio Jake Duffy, Courtney Meade and Lee Dube.
All four were signed at the back end of last week – and could be joined by at least three more new faces by the end of the Thursday night session.
Meade and Dube led an Oadby attack that netted 159 goals en-route to winning UCL Division One last year, while Duffy is a midfielder that has been likened to England’s Frank Lampard.
Drury said: “I’m hoping we can get at least two more signed at training – maybe even three if all goes to plan.
“Once we get their names on forms, I’ll be happy enough with what I’ve got.
“It’ll be nice to see everyone together having spent the last few weeks assembling this squad.
“It has certainly been exciting chasing players and sealing a few deals, so I’m sure the buzz will be back once we’re all together.
“I’m undecided on how big a squad we need. We certainly want to involve young players like Jordan Keeble, so myself and John will have to weigh things up.”
Of the three players Holbeach hope to sign tonight, the only one Drury was prepared to name is Danny Steadman.
The midfielder, who has spent the past two seasons with Spalding United, is expected to follow ex-Tulips Jamie Stevens, Adam Jackson, Jonny Allen and Tom Roberts in crossing the South Holland divide.
Drury also revealed that the Tigers are in the hunt for one other player who returns from holiday on July 15. Kettering Town are among the clubs interested in securing his services.
But he denied reports that local favourite Tommy Treacher had signed forms to stay with the club. The striker will be at training, but both parties are believed to be keeping their options open with forwards Dube, Meade and Gary King already on the Tigers’ books.
Meanwhile, Holbeach will start their UCL Premier Division campaign with an unorthodox 11am kick-off at Peterborough Northern Star on Sunday, August 3. The fixture is part of the ‘Groundhop weekend’ of fixtures in the Peterborough area.
The Tigers’ next two fixtures are Carter’s Park dates with Desborough Town (August 9, 3pm) and Deeping Rangers (August 12, 7.45pm).
On his side’s early Sunday start, Drury quipped: “It’s an odd one, a lot of non-league players aren’t normally fit for football after a Saturday night out!
“You just have to trust the players and hope they look after themselves.”
