A new-look Pinchbeck United will be treating it as a new season as they look to get back to competitive action this weekend – weather permitting.
Their wait for the return of football had to go on after last week’s snow put paid to the Knights’ scheduled Uhlsport UCL Premier Division fixture with ON Chenecks.
But they’re hopeful to be back in competitive action at Rothwell Corinthians on Saturday (3pm).
The side that’s set to turn out for the fixture looks set to be wildly different from the one that’s picked up just two points from the opening ten games, with manager Lewis Thorogood saying that there could be as many as 13 debutants in the squad.
He had only just arrived at the club before the league’s suspension due to the most recent COVID-19 lockdown.
And he’s used the down time to bring in the new players for a club that currently sits second from bottom in the standings.
Among those in contention to make debuts are former Spalding United players Jack Fixter, Kelvyn Brookes, Archie Moyses and Nathan Rudman, plus ex-Boston Town men Harrison Holland, James Waby, Jack Wood, Dan Moulds and Josh Burkitt.
“I said to the lads we’ve got to treat this as a new season,” Thorogood said. “Forget what’s happened to the club.
“You can get stuck into that mentality of losing and it gets into players heads when that continues for a long time. But we’ve a number of new players not used to that and it’s about working hard as a group and to back ourselves.
“It’s certainly a case of the players have nothing to lose from the rest of the season.”
Rothwell will likely be a tough test for Pinchbeck having only lost three times in their opening 12 matches and sitting fifth in the Premier Division.
Thorogood will also be going into it with just over a week’s preparation with his new look side, though that’s a few days longer than he expected.
But he says he and the players can’t wait to get back in action, even if it’s behind closed doors.
“We were back in training last Thursday and I initially thought Saturday might come too early come for us,” he said. “But then I saw how the players were in that session and we’re in good shape.
“I know it’s a difficult place to go and that it can be an unforgiving place, so it’s going to be a tough game, but you don’t expect any easy games in this leagues.
“There could be 12 or 13 new players in the squad of 14 but it was needed as were very short of personnel.
“I’m pleased to get in players that have a bit more experience and it’s great to link up with some of the new signings who have played for me at step four level.
“Add to that some of the lads in the club’s talented youth system who have worked hard and have that work ethic to compete.
“The energy and tempo levels have got to be high and we’ve got to be hard to beat. We’ve also got to be a threat in front of goal and that’s something that the club has been lacking.
“It will just be nice to get out there, play some football and enjoy it.”
