Spalding United make their much-anticipated return to Evo-Stik League First Division South action on Saturday – and nobody is more relieved than boss Pat Rayment.
The Tulips kick off with a 210-mile round-trip to Sutton Coldfield Town, who are the only side in the league to play on an artificial surface.
Rayment rates the opener as potentially one of the most difficult games his side will face all season. But he’s just relieved to be back in competitive action after a pre-season he’s described as “absolutely horrendous”.
“I’m a bit speechless about pre-season,” said the former Peterborough United professional. “From teams letting us down to players being unavailable, it has been absolutely horrendous.
“I’ve barely been able to get the guys all together on the training field too, so we’re not going into Saturday full of fresh ideas.
“Luckily, we have very good players and they are clever enough to turn up on Saturday and get a result.
“To be honest, I’m just glad to be playing competitive games again so I can forget about this nightmare.”
Rayment is much more upbeat on Spalding’s chances over the coming season, though.
Having come up as UCL Premier Division champions there is an air of optimism around the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, with back-to-back promotions very much on the agenda.
Saturday’s opener at Sutton Coldfield (3pm) and Tuesday’s home bow against Brigg Town (7.45pm) are the Tulips’ first games at step four of the non-league ladder since they were relegated from the same division way back in 2010/11.
Their demotion marked the end of a dark period for the club and they were often the butt of many a joke in local footballing circles.
Nobody is laughing now, however, with Rayment’s charges billed as fourth favourites for the title. That would place Spalding in the play-offs at the end of the season – and nobody would be that surprised should that be the case come May.
“Saturday is a very, very hard start for us,” added Rayment. “But we’re not concentrating on anyone else, it’s all about us.
“We shouldn’t fear anyone in this league. I can promise you, this is a totally different scenario than when the club last played at this level.
“It’s refreshing to have left the UCL behind and we’ll be up against more experienced teams, coaches and players.
“It’s a different experience for us and as a club we have different aspirations now. What happened before in this league has no relevance to this season.
“The minimum aim is to set a club record and finish in the top ten.”
The Tulips are missing first-choice strikers Andrew Tidswell (holiday) and Mark Jones (knee), but will have a new face in the squad.
Talented Sleaford Town winger Mitch Griffiths, who won the UCL Premier Division with Holbeach United in 2013 and played under Rayment during his time with Deeping Rangers, signed forms at the Sir Halley on Thursday.
- Kern Miller’s late header earned Spalding a 1-0 win at Horncastle Town in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday.
