The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
New-look Netherton United aiming high again this season
New-look Netherton United have two aims this season... to win the Peterborough Premier Division and thus bring United Counties League football to the Grange for the first time, and to continue to develop young players.
The city club were leading an exciting race for the top-flight title last seasonwhenCovid-19 struck and, despite losing key men like Mark Baines and Robbie Ellis, they look just as strong this time around thanks to the return to the club of Ryan Wood and the arrival of some gifted young players like Andy Irvine and Alfie Ferguson.
“Thesquadisstronginevery area,” Netherton manager Jon Harrison said. “We’ve lost a few players, but we’ve made some great signings.
“You c a n a l ready s e e partnerships forming and t hey’re al l working hardfor each other, so as soon as we lose the ball we get it back andgoagain. That bodes
well for the season ahead.
“It has to be our aim to win theleagueandgainpromotion to the UCL, but along the way we would really like to bring 3/4 of our under 18s through to the first-team squad.
“I think our biggest challengers will be Moulton Har
rox again. Getting Bobby Patterson back is huge for them.
“Long Sutton and Uppingham are going to very strong and then you’ve got Parson’s Drove and Peterborough North End Sports who will both be either very strong or
nowhere near it.
“Stamford Lions have lost a few very good players, but I know (manager) James Sheehamwillmakethemcompetitive again so it’s going to be a tough league to win,”
Netherton start the Premier Division season at Ket
ton on Saturday.
They wound up their preseason programme with a 4-2 win over Barley Mow and a 4-1 win over Raunds. Irvine, Tom Randall, Eunis Lievins and Zack Fisher scored v Barlow Mow. Fisher scored twice against Raunds.