Telford aces target a push for promotion
Telford and Wrekin have their eyes set on promotion this season as they begin life in the newly-created Midlands Three Division, writes Matt Maher.
Alex Johnson will once again captain the team for a campaign which gets under way at Bloxwich on Saturday (push back 1pm).
A restructure of the National Leagues, due to come into force next year, means four promotion places are up for grabs this term.
Telford and Wrekin, who finished fourth last season, hope to be among the contenders, having retained almost all of their squad.
Liam Flynn is the only big-name departure and could even return for the second half of the season.
Former skipper Sam Mallett has returned after a year away at Olton and West Warwick, while the club are still pushing to make a couple of new additions prior to the weekend.
Club spokesman Jon Woodrow said: “Last season’s debutants Matthew Thomas and Noah Higginson will be keen to emulate the progress fellow youngsters Matt Hadley-Moore, Ammar Ahsan and Joe Grogan made last season, by establishing themselves as first-team regulars.
“Andy Balmer has also returned for a second season at the back alongside veteran Chris Heath.
“The team will again be captained by Alex, fresh from his summer playing for England Over-35s Masters.
“He’ll be looking for 15-year-old Barney Bithell to display the skills that have seen him earn an England under-18 call-up and Dominic Ashley to continue where he left off last season, scoring goals for fun at short corners.”
Telford and Wrekin experienced mixed fortunes in pre-season, being beaten 3-1 by Old Halesonians and then recording a 4-1 win over Bridgnorth.
The latter two teams meet tomorrow when Bridgnorth travel to Old Halesonians to begin their Midlands Two campaign.
Both teams will be hoping for better this season having suffered relegation from Midlands One last term.
Bridgnorth finished bottom of the table with just three wins and will be aiming to be among the contenders as they look for a swift return.
Shrewsbury, who finished one off the bottom in the West Midlands Premier last season, begin life in West Midands One by hosting Market Drayton in a Shropshire derby.
Push back for the game at Roman Road is at 3.30pm.
Ludlow travel to south Birmingham to take on Bournville seconds in the same division, which is now the sixth tier of Midlands hockey.
