Wrens Bosses Delighted With Draw

WRENS managers Lee Wilkinson and Billy Millar have expressed their delight following Saturday's opening pre-season 1-1 draw with a Mansfield Town XI.

And they are hoping that the occasion, which included a successful fun day, will be the start of a new special relationship between the two clubs.

Saturday's match drew a bumper gate of 1,005, the biggest crowd at Kirklington Road since Easter Saturday, 1982, when the ground record attendance of 5,071 was set for the FA Vase semi-final against Barton Rovers.

And Millar paid tribute to the organisation of the day as well as to the players who took part.

He said: "It was always going to be a big occasion, and we needed to test our ability to handle such a situation, because maybe at some time in the future we will need to handle a big FA Cup game.

"Everyone both on and off the field has done their job. Team-wise there was not a bad player anywhere on view.
"All those who turned out for us have now signed, but we're still building and looking to add people to the squad.”

They were: goalkeepers Joe McCormack and Neil West; Rob Paling, Jamie Goodacre, Cameron Fearon, Steve Kennedy, Ricky Hanson, Lee Cooksey, Joe Ward, Danny Simpson, Craig Mitchell, Adam Jones, Kyle Gee-Pemberton, Lee Briggs, Olli Wood, James Fanfarillo, James Forbes and Austin McIntosh.

Millar continued: "We said we would like to watch players before signing them, and the newcomers were excellent.

"This season we need to be more of a footballing side, and we did play some very good football. But this is why so many of the players from our Northern Counties East days have moved on. They were the right players to play to a style to get us out of that league, but now we're in the Evo-Stik we need to finish better than third from bottom."

Wilkinson added: "Everything is geared to the start of the season proper on 13th August, and we will be trialling more players between now and then. Six or seven new players have come in, and they will be playing in different roles as we look to build our best 11 ready for then.

"So to some extent we were the same as Mansfield who had a lot of players on trial themselves, but you look and think 'are they really that far above us?'

"A few of our lads really stood out and I would not be surprised if Mansfield don't come knocking at the door for some of them."

On the subject of the development of a relationship between the clubs, Millar enthused: "A partnership with the biggest club in our locality can do us nothing but good. If we can build on this occasion and establish ourselves as a good footballing side then I hope there will be no problem in Mansfield allowing players to come to us, in a way they did with Glapwell last season."

Meanwhile both managers paid tribute to the part played by new commercial manager Steve Peat in setting up the day.
Wilkinson said: "All credit to Steve for setting it up. The aim is to raise the profile of the club, and as well as all the other activities going on it gave our players the chance to taste the big occasion, playing against League standard players in front of a big crowd."

During the day the adopted charity, the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, raised a total of over £170 for their funds.

The pre-season preparations continued at Clay Cross on Tuesday night when the Wrens beat Central Midlands hosts Parkhouse 5-1 despite some enterprising play by the home side who will certainly be among the leading lights at their own level this season.

Players who took part in this match, who had not figured on Saturday, were Chris Timons, Gareth Bally and goalkeeper Eddie Dunn. Danny Simpson got the only goal of the first half, with Bally, Ricky Hanson and a brace from Ollie Wood after the break. Timons marred a man of the match show by putting through his own goal for Parkhouse’s consolation.
The Wrens have no match on Saturday, but are next in action on Tuesday of next week (7.30pm) when they make the short trip to Clipstone Welfare.

>>Skipper Hales hangs up his boots

GOALKEEPER and last season's captain Mark Hales has announced his retirement from football ... at least for the time being.

Mark has been part of the club since the summer of 2006 and has been first choice goalkeeper through three promotions to the present level.

But he cites a constant struggle with a knee problem over 40-50 game seasons as the reason for his decision, although he added that his retirement is not necessarily for ever and he expects to be about the place and training occasionally with the Wrens.

He said: "Its been a great few years at the club, seeing it change so much and being a part of what was Rainworth’s best period since the FA Vase run.

"Personally, I would like to thank Billy for my time there (and having the opportunity to lead the side last year), Lee and Darren, all the players present and past and finally the backroom staff who work tirelessly to make Rainworth one of the best clubs, with the best facilities, in the area.
"Also a special mention to the supporters who have always been great to me, especially the Hawleys, who have travelled the length and breadth of the country to support myself and the Wrens, come rain or shine!"