Football:
Town looking to go one better

NEARLY three-and-a-half months on from their disappointing 3-1 play-off final defeat against Biggleswade, Rugby Town begin their newly-sponsored Calor League season on Saturday, writes Jon Venner.

Town travel to Aylesbury United on Saturday before hosting Potters Bar on Tuesday and this return to Central Division competitive action comes on the back of a highly encouraging pre-season campaign which saw seven wins in eight games played on all surfaces.

Rugby are now the longest-serving current members of the Southern League structure, as they prepare to launch into their 31st consecutive season there.

Ironically their first ever game in the league was also a trip to United in 1983, when Valley won 2-1 thanks to a goal from Derek Owen and John McGinty's penalty.

Valley Director Mike Yeats looked forward to the new campaign, saying: "It was a great effort from the team last season and there was some excellent football on show at Butlin Road throughout the campaign, so to have promotion denied at the final hurdle was so cruel.

"However, it was great that so many of the townsfolk came along for the play-off games and hopefully some of them will be back again this time round to help push us on that stage further.

"We would also welcome any Coventry City supporters looking for their football fix. It's a real shame what is happening to their club at the moment and hopefully it can be ultimately sorted, but in the meantime if they want a substitute Sky Blues to cheer on, we've got a great facility here at Butlin Road for them to do so."

Manager Dave Stringer has worked hard to keep most of last season's squad at the club and goes into the 2013/14 campaign with just three main changes to his personnel.

Keeper Dave Bevan, full back Alex Austin and winger Fazel Koriya have been replaced by Niall Cooper, Lewis Bishop and Justin Marsden respectively.

Stringer's options have been boosted further by the return from injury of key men Craig Kelly and Sam Belcher - both of whom missed the previous run-in - with Robbie Banks also hoping to make a return before the year is out.

Town are currently fourth favourites with the bookmakers for the Central Division title behind Slough, Royston and newly-promoted Dunstable but, if they can recreate the form that saw them break their Southern League wins, points and goals for records last time out, then they should be in with a shout again, especially if striker David Kolodynski can once more hit goalscoring form.

Kolodynski registered 34 strikes in just 38 league appearances in 2012/13 and is now only one behind Robbie Beard in the club's Southern League goal chart.

The coach to the Aylesbury game (played at Leighton Town's ground) will leave the clubhouse at midday. For latest information regarding availability, contact Tony Mann on .

Admission to Town's home games will remain at £8 for adults and £4 for concessions this season - the sixth consecutive campaign that prices will have stayed at this level. Saturday matches kick-off at 3pm and midweek ones at 7.45pm.

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