Excited boss Seb Hayes wants his Holbeach United side to hit the ground running in their ChromaSport UCL Premier Division opener this Saturday.
The Tigers welcome Sleaford Town to Carter’s Park for what is a 10.45am kick-off as part of the now annual UCL/PDFL Groundhop weekend.
Having enjoyed a positive pre-season – which has seen Holbeach sign Lewis Leckie, Will Bird, George Asplin, Joe Braithwaite and Joe Smith (the latter three from Sleaford) – Hayes is confident his side will get off to a winning start.
He’s not setting any big targets for the Tigers this season, with improving on last year’s seventh place the only aim so far.
But Hayes has warned his players not to underestimate Sleaford, who are currently being rebuilt by respected club stalwart Jamie Shaw after a summer of upheaval.
“The players have been brilliant in pre-season,” enthused Hayes. “But we won’t get carried away, the real games start now.
“If we could have planned pre-season, both fitness-wise and club-wise, we wouldn’t have asked for much more.
“The difference in the club as a whole from the first day I arrived to now is a big one – and it’s great to see.
“We’re staying grounded, though. The real stuff starts now and we’re hungry to get three points on the board.
“Starting at home – and hopefully infront of a big crowd – is great for us.
“People will see us as favourites, as there has been unrest at Sleaford. But Jamie will have them at it, I can be sure of that.
“The UCL is a momentum league. If you start a game well, you’re usually in the game for 90 minutes.
“I believe that, with the way we are now, if we start games well this season teams will have to do very well to beat us. It’s a bold statement, but one that I believe in.
“There are no massive targets for us this year. Obviously we want to improve on last season.
“If we start well, we’ll see what happens from there and maybe re-assess after ten games or so.”
Hayes will have to do without Spencer Tinkler and Dan Dougill for the season opener, but has everybody else – including his five new signings – available.
The Tigers warmed up for the clash with a 2-2 friendly draw against Stamford at Carter’s Park on Tuesday, with George Zuerner and Stacy Cartwright the scorers.
But Hayes was left fuming by UCL rivals St Andrews pulling out of Saturday’s proposed home friendly clash.
St Andrews, who are managed by former Tigers skipper Jamie Clarke, agreed to the fixture before being relocated to the UCL.
Hayes insists that the league newboys were offered the chance to cancel the friendly at the start of the summer, but declined.
However, they then called off the match on Thursday – leaving Holbeach with no time to arrange another game.
The Tigers chief sees St Andrews’ decision as “disrespectful” and admits it left a bad taste in his mouth.
“You have to respect other sides in pre-season,” added Hayes. “For example, we were offered a game by Godmanchester a few weeks ago (for Saturday).
“But we turned them down, because we’d agreed to play St Andrews. So, to be told by them – two days before the game – that they wouldn’t be coming was very disappointing.
“It has really annoyed me. Even if you can’t get a strong side together, you fulfil the game as other sides have included you in their pre-season plan.
“Look at Peterborough Sports. They’ve had lots of selection problems in pre-season, but have still fulfilled games – even if it meant them losing heavily.
“For St Andrews to let us down – and so late – shows a massive lack of respect.
“I see they also let another side down on Saturday, which leads me to believe they never had any intention of fulfilling our game.
“The entire situation has left a really bad taste in my mouth and hasn’t gone down well with anyone at the football club. Luckily, we had a two-hour training session and the lads are all fit. But you can’t beat game time.”
Holbeach meet St Andrews in the UCL on October 21.
- 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).
