Woodham insists Windsor are already in good shape for the new season

If Windsor FC had to start their Combined Counties Premier Division North season tomorrow, ‘they’d be just fine’, according to new manager Mick Woodham - that’s how encouraged he’s been by the fitness and application shown by his players in the first few weeks of pre-season.

The Royalists held their third pre-season training session on Tuesday evening and are now limbering up for their first friendly against a team from Royal Holloway University this Saturday.

Woodham will miss Saturday’s match as he's currently away on holiday, however, the power of social media – and updates from his coaching team – should mean he isn’t completely out of the loop.

“We are well into our preseason. Our numbers have been good and the ability [of the players] is good. It’s been nice to work with familiar faces and some new faces,” he said. “We had our third training session on Tuesday, and we have our first friendly this weekend at Royal Holloway. It’ll just be good for the boys to get some minutes in and tick over.

“We will see if we can take anything out of the game. We aim to take something out of every session.

“If we had to start tomorrow, we’d be just fine, but there is a lot I still want to do so we will just keep plugging way.

“There will be a lot of movement in the next couple of weeks too where other clubs further up the ladder will start streamlining their squads. So, we will probably be in a position where we need to pick up another three or four [players]. But at the moment, I’m respecting, and I’m satisfied, with what I’ve got. I know all the boys I am working with and what they can offer.

“My message to the boys is ‘don’t worry about what is happening down the line, just focus on yourself and make sure you are giving everything you can at every session.’

“That way, they have got a chance to write their own stories. Our pre-season schedule matches were set in before I started. I wouldn’t have chosen to play Saturday if I had the choice for obvious reasons. But we have got to respect the opposition first and foremost. The coaching staff are well on board with what my plans are, and James Quinn will be leading the boys on Saturday. I can catch up when I get back and with social media, I am not far away.”