PRE SEASON REVIEW AND A PRE MATCH BREW

It was a surreal and rather strange feeling as pre season commenced way back on the 25th June, a wave of change had started at Prestwich Heys with the new management team of Lee O'Brien and James Hampson taking the helm and it was almost a completely blank canvas when we took to the field against Manchester League side Bolton United. As the players took to the pitch the Heys fans stood looking at each other saying who?, what? erm.... as very few players from last season had returned mainly goalie Russ Saunders, full back Nathan Emery, midfielder Danny White and defender Scott Cullen took to the field At this stage everyone else was a trialist and a squad of 25 lads who had barely met let alone played together. We recover from a goal down to grab a last minute winner for a 2-1 victory against a well organised Bolton side in monsoon conditions in that second half on a tight plastic pitch.

Blackpool Cricket Club pre match v Wren Rovers The following Saturday was a trip to Blackpool Sports Centre to play West Lancs League side Blackpool Wren Rovers on a hot sunny day and a few of us make the trip finding the cricket club up the road for a pre match pint. We battle hard on another tight plastic pitch and a 0-0 draw suggested it was a good work out but the players were struggling to get creative freedom to play and we were all desperately wanting to see us play on grass. Of the new faces one or two were starting to stand out like midfielder Connor Berry, defenders Kai Haigh and Aaron Chalmers who is our new captain since Brad Sixsmith departed for Bury AFC and after several beers back at the hosts clubhouse after the game which included a karaoke session and more drinks back in Whitefield the fans got to meet some of our new faces a good night was had by all. Things on the pitch were looking more lively the week after as we beat Ramsbottom United who are a league above us in the Northern Premier League Division One West 3-0 with all the goals coming in the second half in an impressive display with signs these group of players were starting to gel as the visitors looked shell shocked as they trundled off at the end.

West Lancs league side Eagley FC were easily dispatched 6-2 two days later with the management almost fielding two teams one in each half which had been a theme in these early games such was the size of the squad but it was two days later again on 13th July where we really started to feel that this new group of players had a true feel of bite and determination which would be needed for the following season when we played Manchester League side Walshaw Sports in a tournament hosted by Tottington FC Heys were awful in the first half going in 2-0 down at the break as Walshaw wanted it more and battled hard but after being read the riot act by Lee O'Brien at half time and several changes in personal we grab a last minute 3-2 win with new Striker Mitch Bryant and Connor Berry the stars of the show and you thought, yes this is what we want to see a Heys side with guile and determination especially against a side who were over zealous to say the least.

A few of us at Tottington for Walshaw game

The Walshaw win meant we should have played Elton Vale on the Saturday but for whatever reason they pulled out 24 hours before the game and we had to hastily arrange a friendly with Midlands Premier League side Whitchurch Alport who kindly stepped at the last minute having also been let down for a fixture that day. I wake up at 10am on the day of the game after hearing fellow Heys fan Simon way planning to get the train on his own I make a last minute decision to go and so with a bacon butty half hanging out of my mouth as I exit the front door I get a taxi and tell the driver to 'floor it' and somehow join Simon on the 1130 train from Piccadilly.

A rare outing for my shorts in the heat at Whitchurch Alport

Simon keeping cool with a Moretti pre match v Whitchurch Alport Its the start of what is now the infamous 'heatwave' and we arrive at 1220 and after a quick Moretti in the town centre we head to the ground. Our hosts have an impressive set up with a great ground and clubhouse, and we are soon queuing for another Moretti on tap and take our place on the terrace in the heat and after shading the first half we make changes at half time and concede a couple in the second half to lose 2-0 for our first pre season defeat, but its a great work out against a good side and we learnt much more than we would have done against Elton Vale, and if anyone gets a chance to visit Whitchurch Alport's ground then do it as its well worth a visit. Speaking of nice set ups the following week we make the short trip to Wythenshawe Amateurs in Division One North, who also win the prize for early kick off of the season with a midday start. Pre match pints are instead a pre match brew as I take to the terrace and our lads are again put through the paces newly signed Ash Cata puts us 1-0 up, our neat passing play looks good but one mistake at the back meant an equalizer for the hosts and its 1-1 at the break.

Wythanshawe Amateurs away

We press on in the second half and another new face comes of the bench and impresses in young Kaidan Barlow playing wide left cuts inside to put us 2-1 up and looks strong throughout with an eye for goal.

We keep the pressure on a disallowed goal and a missed penalty don't prevent us from a 2-1 win and talk in the clubhouse after the game is one of excitement and optimism for the upcoming season.

Our final game was Monday just gone as an amazing first half display saw us rattle in 5 goals without reply against Division One South side New Mills. Dazzling displays from Declan Fitzgerald, Connor Berry, Callum Nicholas and Kai Haigh gave the visitors no chance and we added a sixth in the second half before a late consolation meaning the score finishing 6-1.

But for me the most important thing on the night was seeing full back Nathan Emery (below) complete his first full 90 minutes since coming back from a horrendous leg injury that occurred early on last season v Runcorn Town. I spoke with him after the game and he felt fine and raring to go after gradually being eased back in during pre season, it is brilliant news to have him return as he will be a key player this term.

So that's it pre season done but what have we learnt so far?.

We know we have a squad that looks like a unit with strength both wide and in the middle of the park so expect names like Berry, Haigh, Nicholas, Chalmers ,Barlow to become familiar to you very quickly when the season starts along with established names like Cullen, White, Emery and Saunders also don't forget we have Greg Daniels due back in October from injury.

I'm sure over the coming weeks Lee and James will be looking for one or two more to finalise the squad. It's time to be excited for 2022-23 so get yourselves down to Adie Moran Park and join us on away days as we look to hit the ground running in the North West Counties Premier League