With the season proper about to start, Whitley’s new management team have been reflecting on their preparations and looking forward to the challenge of the first competitive fixture, at Garforth in the FA Cup.
Both Tony Fawcett and Derek Forrest have clearly enjoyed pre-season, despite the challenges thrown up by Covid-19. As Derek pointed out, training started with socially distanced groups of five before building up to the full squad sessions. Tony commented “I’ve really enjoyed pre-season, from putting the plan together with Derek to watching each player work really hard to make sure they’re ready for the start of the season. Training has been excellent, well attended and filled with loads of quality.”
Many of the usual facilities have been unavailable due to the restrictions but the duo paid tribute to everyone at the club for all the planning and organisation that has gone on behind the scenes to ensure that training and pre-season games have been able to go ahead.
The first four games were played behind closed doors and “it wasn’t the same without the fans. They are valued so much by ourselves and the players so it was great to meet and get to know some of them at the two games they have been able to attend.”
Both men were pleased to see the team win all six of their pre-season games but they were more focussed on performances and the improvements being made by players as individuals and as a team.
Looking ahead to the first competitive game, the FA Cup tie in Yorkshire against Garforth (stadium pictured) Tony explained “Like most teams who are playing sides from a different league, we don’t know a great deal about Garforth, but we know we’ll have to be at our best to get a result.”
It’s a trip to a side Whitley have never met before and it is unlikely that many fans will be able to make the journey with a supporters coach proving unviable given the restrictions currently in place.
“A 100 mile journey on a Tuesday night for our first game of the season may not be ideal, it’s a challenging start” said Tony, “but as with the trip to Penrith for the league game four days later, it gives us a chance for some really good team bonding. To be honest, I’m just excited to get going.”
Derek expressed similar sentiments, saying “I can’t wait for the real challenges to start now and an FA Cup tie in Yorkshire under lights excites me. I’m looking forward to building towards the club’s success for everyone involved at Whitley Bay!”
