BIG STEP EXCITES PITSEA’S SMALL
Essex champions already set for big kick-off
BOWERS & PITSEA manager Rob Small is excited at the prospect of leading the Essex Senior League champions into their firstever season in Ryman Division One North.
Following an FA Vase semifinal defeat to Morpeth Town, the club successfully navigated a demanding series of 15 games in 33 days to pip rivals Basildon United to the title and promotion last season.
The ambitious Small, 31, is relishing the opportunity to build on last season’s achieve and a chance to manage at Step 4.
“It’s hard to describe, to be honest with you,” he said.“It’s an amazing feeling because it just feels like a real significant step to a really challenging and well-organised level of football.
Remained
“To have earned the right to manage at Step 4 with a championship and a promotion is something I’m pleased about.
“We’re really excited to be doing it and with a club that’s never done it before. It just adds to the romance. I think, realistically, you have to say at the end of the season if we remain in the division, we’ve done OK.
“Clearly my appetite is to go above and beyond that, as are the players, but it would be naive to get too carried away.”
July denotes the start of preseason and, unlike other clubs at this level, Smith believes his side are in something of a unique situation.
With many clubs running the rule over triallists and potential signings, Bowers have completed their transfer business.
Small feels this should ben- efit the club ahead of the new season.
“I think we’re in a unique position as we’ve got a group of players that have stuck together for two seasons,” he said. “We’ve brought in the players we want and we’re opening our training schedule with the squad of players we’re going to work with at the beginning of the season.
Plethora
“There’s not going to be a trial process, there’s not going to be a plethora of players on trial.
“We’ve got our squad and we can begin very early trying get our message to the players about what we expect.
“Hopefully, that might give us some sort of competitive advantage at the beginning of the season. It’ll certainly give us a head start against a lot of clubs that will be working to build teams. Obviously how successful that will be remains to be seen.”
Saffron Walden’s James Thomas, Basildon United pair Ben Sartain and Bradley Warner, Brentwood Town captain Martin Stokes and Thamesmead Town’s Mark Gorbell have joined the club as they embark on their first campaign at this level.