Wilkes: Storks are ready for take-off

Steve Wilkes is looking forward to establishing Padiham as an EVO-STIK League club when the new campaign kicks off next weekend.

Following their successful debut in First Division North last term as North West Counties League champions, the Storks manager, pictured, believes he’ll have the tools this time around to really make an impression on the league table.

The 47-year-old first took the helm at the Arbories Memorial Sports Ground in 2004 before leaving in 2009 to manage Runcorn Linnets. He returned in 2012 to win promotion in his first season back and is sure the return of a number of key players from long-term injuries and the arrival of some new faces over the summer will lead to another successful season.

Speaking ahead of hosting a Blackburn Rovers XI this Saturday in a late test for his Storks squad, he said: "This season we'd like to try and really establish ourselves as a Northern Premier League club. Last season was tough due to the injury situation. We lost two players before the end of August who never kicked a ball again all season.

"Centre forward Ben Allen, who'd scored 41 goals in our promotion winning season, was also injured on Boxing Day and he never kicked a ball again last season either. But we have improved the squad with six or seven additions and we have gone for a more physical side because last year that was what we struggled with most of the time."

He added: "We are a footballing side but hopefully we've ditched the nicey-nice football and added the right blend of physicality with good footballers. Like every other club, we'll be aiming for as high a position as possible. There are some big teams in the league this year but we are ready and looking forward to our second season at this level."

Image courtesy of www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk