‘This one’s for the football purists’
Baffins start a run of attractive home friendlies
Manager Shaun Wilkinson believes Baffins Milton Rovers' upcoming high profile pre-season friendlies show the club is moving in the right direction.
Wilkinson encouraged any 'football purists' from the city and beyond to come down and watch his side take on former Brighton team-mate Adam Hinshelwood's Worthing at the PMC Stadium tonight (7.45pm).
Rovers also have home preseason fixtures with National League South Dorking Wanderers and step 4 sides Chichester City and Winchester City in the coming weeks.
Wilkinson particularly pinpointed the visit of Worthing, who have sat top of the Isthmian Premier Division in each of the past two pandemic shortened seasons, and Marc White's Dorking (July 27) as big coups for the club.
And the Rovers boss reckons having good relations with teams higher up the pyramid will only benefit the club in the long run.
Wilkinson said: 'Over the past two seasons I think they (Worthing) were top both seasons.
‘They’re one of the sides who have really, really felt the force of null and void.
‘You go and watch them play, they’re good, they pass the ball really well.
‘Football purists of the city, you want to see a proper team move the ball around, come and watch them.
‘The thing is it’s good to have good relationships with better clubs. They’ll bring a side down pre-season. They (Worthing) have got Dean Cox now who used to be at Brighton.’
Cox made over 100 pro appearances for Brighton, before going on to make over 200 in over six years at Leyton Orient. He recently signed for Worthing after three seasons with National League South Eastbourne Borough.
‘Baffins have never had clubs like this come to their
place,’ said Wilkinson. ‘Previous regimes could only attract lesser opposition so it’s good for the club.
‘We’re trying to grow the club on and off the pitch so being able to invite teams like Worthing and Dorking is a feather in our cap.'
Baffins continued their unbeaten pre-season so far with a 4-1 triumph at Hampshire Premier League side Fleetlands on Saturday.
Miles Everett, Jamie White, James Cowan and
16-year-old Liam Brewer were all on the scoresheet.
Wilkinson handed minutes to some of his squad who have not had as much playing time in other friendlies - and he praised Brewer for making his mark from the bench.
The Baffins boss said: '‘We’ve got real good strength, we’ve got a real good under-18s, this is why we brought them to the club - they used to be Fleur
De Lys - the future is looking bright with them at the minute.
‘There’s three or four in there (under-18s) that are good. Obviously we’ve got to pick our moments, so we took them Saturday and I wanted to see how the game developed.
‘We gave a debut to Liam, he came on and scored.'
■ Goalkeeper Konrad Szymaniak has secured a move to Baffins after a successful trial period.
Wilkinson has been running the rule over the former Salisbury stopper and has now tied him down for the forthcoming campaign.
Szymaniak featured in goal in the win at Fleetlands.
■ Fleetlands’ scheduled friendly with Bashley tonight is off due to a Covid case in the Coptermen ranks.