Captain’s Column: Mark Roberts previews the Cheshire derby

Hello everyone,

I am writing these notes ahead of the weekend’s game against Grantham Town, so hopefully we are heading into this fixture full of confidence and aiming to make it two wins in a row.

Despite a difficult campaign, we know The Dabbers are a dangerous outfit with plenty to fight for, but nothing quite beats going toe-to-toe with a local rival, so we have to ensure that we prepare correctly and are ready to produce our very best if we want to come out on top.

I can remember this ground absolutely bouncing when we defeated them in the play-offs a couple of years ago, and as we approach the business end of this season it’s important to remember to embrace everything that goes with games like this because that’s exactly what we work so hard to be involved in.

Let’s not forget that it’s been a long time since we’ve had the opportunity to finish what we started, so whether you’re a lifelong supporter, or a casual fan visiting us for the first time, let’s get behind our local club and help us achieve something very special together.

That ‘togetherness’ is exactly why it means so much to me to captain this team and it speaks volumes of the spirit within our squad that the players who have departed since we began back in August are few and far between.

We have bags of ability and a wonderful blend of youth and experience, but to reach our potential as a group we must continue to raise the bar for each other and understand that we all have our own part to play in delivering success.

Focusing on adding to what we already do rather than ripping things apart flows right through to the management team, and this was evident when the gaffer brought my old centre-back sidekick, Dave Raven, back to the club as his assistant manager.

Obviously, Dave has his own ideas and way of working but the transition they’ve both made into their new roles has been seamless and the lads have responded in the most positive fashion.

We know how hard all the coaching staff work to create an environment which is consistently striving for improvement, and this ensures that when we do meet up on match day or turn up for training, it’s an exciting, enjoyable and ultra-competitive place to be!

Enjoy the derby,
Robbo