Squad comes together for new season campaign

With the new season about to get underway, FC United manager Karl Marginson is upbeat and confident about his team’s prospects for the forthcoming campaign in the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier.

"After an excellent pre-season, I’m really happy with the way the squad has come together. We’ve strengthened in the right areas and as a result we now have competition for places in most positions which is very healthy," said Karl.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Margy said he was keen to keep developing his squad through the season. "We’re always on the look out to strengthen the squad further and there are still a number of players who we have an eye on," he said.

Talking about the squad that will start the new season, Margy said he was very pleased with the line-up he’s assembled so far. "For the first time for a while we also have some excellent young players coming through from the youth and college teams and it’s great to see the likes of Cedric Krou and Scott Cheetham knocking on the door of the first team. Players like Matty Boland, Kial Callacher, Connor Naughton, Theo Kidd, James Brookes and Sam Howell are all waiting in the wings and we’re looking forward to the next stage of their development as they progress. For some, where it suits them and the team, that development will include going out to other clubs to get more quality time on the pitch to help them grow and improve," Margy said.

The blend of youth and experience in the squad is something that Karl has always been striving for and although the job of assembling a squad is never finished, Margy said he was happy with where the team finds itself with the new season about to begin. "It’s always a challenge to keep everyone happy because every player wants to play games but I think we’re getting the balance right with the competition for places we have and the strengthening that we’ve undertaken over the summer," said Margy.

"We brought on board a number of new players for the pre-season and had a good look at them - and they at us - during our friendly programme. Inevitably, not everyone has stayed with us and unfortunately Christopher Curley and Paul Jones have decided to move on to seek playing opportunities elsewhere to fit in better with their aspirations at this level and their personal circumstances. We wish them all the best for the future," he said.

Margy said he was raring to go for the new campaign. "The players are buzzing and I know our supporters will be too. There’s nothing like the first game of the season and we’re looking forward to a large following making the trip down to Grantham to cheer us on," he said.

The FC United squad that will be starting the new season is listed below: -

Paul Armstrong
Kris Amadi
Charlie Anderson
David Birch
Scott Cheetham
Jake Cottrell
Rhodri Giggs
Daniel Grimshaw
Kyle Jacobs
Stephen Johnson
Adam Jones
Cedric Krou
Karl Munroe
Lee Neville
Michael Norton
Nicky Platt
Carlos Roca
James Spencer
Dean Stott
Matthew Wolfenden
Jon Worsnop
Jerome Wright

Article by Andy Walker