Passionate skipper Rob Ambrose reckons that Spalding Town’s chief aim ahead of the new Lincs ECB Premier League season should be survival.
Town, who finished ninth in the 12-team division last season, kick off their new campaign with a tough home test against Woodhall Spa at Spalding Grammar School on Saturday (noon).
Town are much-changed from last season, with new signings Dan Millgate, Roy Tilley and Luke Hollingworth all poised for competitive debuts after impressing in a friendly win at Boston last Saturday.
Although they may be a little weaker than last year, Ambrose admits that he is keen to start blooding some of the club’s young talent. He wants Spalding to be a club that provides the top local young talent with a platform to play – and will hand 15-year-old Jimmy Hook a place in his side this weekend.
With that in mind, Spalding have cancelled their agreement with Nottinghamshire based wicket-keeper/batsman Josh Downey, who was expected to be one of their big players this term.
“It’s going to be a tough season,” said Ambrose. “It’s fair to say that we’re a little weaker this year.
“I think we’ll be playing catch-up from the off and I will place a great emphasis on us scrapping for points.
“We’ve got a great academy at the club and this is the first year where we’ll start to see the fruits of that. Players are coming through – and we want to give them a chance here.
“Some weeks we’ll be up against sides that have plenty of players on the payroll, so it’ll be hard.
“But we’re looking at creating a sustainable model here, a bit like Market Deeping.
“When I step down as captain I want to leave a strong side in place, not something that could just crumble.
“The main aim this year is to blood as many players as possible and try to stay in the league.”
Ambrose is without Henry Charlton for Saturday’s opener against a Woodhall Spa side he expects to finish in the top four. He is, however, hopeful that his side can get points on the board.
“It’s a very hard start,” added the Spalding skipper. “But I don’t think they’re as strong as they were last year.
“They’ve lost a few players, but I’d still expect them to be in the top four or five.
“I’m realistic, it’ll be hard for us. But we’ll battle for every point, you can be sure of that.”
Saturday’s fixtures
Lincs ECB Premier League (noon) – Louth v Bracebridge Heath; Market Rasen v Grimsby Town; Skegness v Grantham; Market Deeping v Sleaford; Bourne v Lindum; Spalding v Woodhall Spa.
South Lincs & Border League: Premier Division (1pm) – Boston v Belton Park; Lindum Ramblers v Bourne 2nd; Sleaford 2nd v Moulton Harrox; Spalding 2nd v Billingborough; Woodhall Spa 2nd v Stamford Town. Division One (1pm) – Grantham 3rd v Skegness 2nd; Lindum 3rd v Market Deeping 2nd; Long Sutton 2nd v Boston 2nd; Welby v Heckington.
