Ian Dunn reckons that his Pinchbeck United side will be considered favourites for their first-ever game in ChromaSport UCL Division One on Friday night.
Pinchbeck, promoted from the PDFL Premier Division last season, travel to Huntingdon Town (7.45pm) for the opening game of this year’s UCL/PDFL Groundhop weekend.
Despite there being two levels between the teams at this point last season, Huntingdon come into the clash off the back of a tough relegation from the UCL Premier Division.
Player/boss Ian Dunn, who has added Andrew Tidswell, Josh Smith, Corey Kingston and Herbie Panting to his promoted side, is targeting another season of challenging at the top this time around.
He admits that being back on the UCL scene feels “normal” to him, having been a regular in the league as a player since he was 16-years-old. It’s that kind of experience that has led Dunn to label the club’s historic Friday fixture as “just another game”, with the player/boss adamant that his charges won’t let the occasion get to them.
“It’s a big moment for the club,” said Dunn, who has previously managed Boston Town in the UCL Premier Division. “But we don’t want to over-egg it.
“To be honest, we’re looking at it as just another game. This is a level the club has wanted to reach for a while now and we’re happy to be here.
“We’ve made no secret of our desire to keep on winning and keep on moving in an upwards trajectory, so the lads know that yes, this is a big game – but it’s one of many.
“For me, the UCL is all about going away to places like Long Buckby in the winter and grinding out three points. For years, that was my bread and butter. You dig in, go away to places in Northamptonshire and get home at 8pm – but it’s a buzz.
“Without being disrespectful to the PDFL, this is normality for me. Playing at grounds that are fenced off and in front of a crowd, or under the floodlights. It’s great to be back.
“We’ve got lots of UCL experience in the side, but it’s also great to see some of the other lads really stepping things up off the pitch.
“For example, Luke Gardner has really been putting extra work in over the summer and you can tell.
“We’re in a league where the standard, commitment and fitness is superior to the PDFL – and we can’t just expect to turn up and win anymore. That being said, we go to Huntingdon expecting to win the game. There may have been two levels between us last year, but I don’t imagine anybody would say their squad is better than ours.
“We want to be promoted from this league and, to do that, we’ll have to go to places like Huntingdon and earn three points. It’s not about earning the right to play, it’s about working hard and matching the ability and desire of the other sides.”
Pinchbeck will make the trip to Jubilee Park in high spirits, having beaten UCL Premier Division side Boston Town 2-1 on Monday night thanks to goals from Tidswell and Smith.
The Knights also lost 3-2 at Sleaford Town on Saturday, despite strikes from Kingston and Connor Eyes. Key striker Ollie Maltby, who was the club’s top scorer last season, also picked up an eye injury that rules him out of the Huntingdon clash.
- Full Groundhop schedule: Friday – Huntingdon v Pinchbeck (7.45pm). Saturday – Holbeach v Sleaford (10.45am); Moulton v Sutton Bridge (1.45pm); Spalding Town v WSM Saints (4.30pm); Bourne v Raunds (7.45pm). Sunday – Long Sutton v Tydd (11am); Leverington v ICA Sports (2pm); Wisbech v Wellingborough (5pm).
