URCHINS TO KEEP THEIR GOAL TWINS
AFC HORNCHURCH manager Jim McFarlane says the club have agreed terms with deadly strike duo George Purcell and David Knight, writes Luke Fry.
The partnership scored an impressive 53 league goals between them last season and will remain at the club for another year.
The Urchins competed against wealthier clubs for the strikers’ signatures, and McFarlane praised the club for securing the pair.
“We have to make up for a lack of money as good players attract interest from (other wealthier) clubs,” the manager said. “That’s not just me, that’s the club for making it such a great place to be at.
“They are happy here and we are thrilled they are staying. Hopefully, they can be just as productive next season.”
Having lost to Harlow Town in the Ryman North play-off final in May, McFarlane admits that, on reflection, his side could have no complaints about that last result. “We didn’t deserve anything and we were second best all game,” he said.
“If we had have performed like we did in the semi-final, it would’ve been closer.We just never got going.”
Looking forward to the new campaign, McFarlane stressed the need to spread the goals around the team:
He added: “We have to score more goals from different areas. It’s one thing that I’ll try to address, to take the pres- sure off the strikers. Centrebacks should be getting six to ten a year and midfielders ten goals each.”
The club will play preseason friendlies against Hythe Town, Grays Athletic, Leatherhead and Billericay Town.
They travel to Hythe on July 23, Grays on July 27 and Leatherhead on July 30, rounding off their preseason at home to Billericay on August 5.