DESPITE the disappointment of again just missing out on promotion to the Premier Division of the Southern League at the end of the 2013/14 season, Rugby Town returned from the league’s recent annual awards event in Torquay with a bumper haul of silverware.
In addition to the trophies recognising their runners-up finish in the Central Division, Valley also scooped the Fair Play Award salver – with David Kolodynski topping the divisional goalscoring chart to earn himself his second ever Golden Boot.
Unfortunately the birth of second child meant the striker was unable to attend the presentation ceremony, but the rest of the Town contingent enjoyed a glorious sunny weekend on the South Devon coast.
# Valley’s preparations for the forthcoming campaign continue to progress well, with a number of last season’s squad now having signed league registration forms for 2014/15 – including Lewis McBride, Justin Marsden, Jamie Towers and Richard Blythe.
Four ex-Valley players also look set for a return to Butlin Road for the new season, after Sam Youngs, Mason Rowley, Lewis Bishop and Marcel Simpson also signed forms for the club after joining up for pre-season training.
Youngs, Rowley and Bishop all featured for Rugby last time out, with Simpson a part of Billy Jeffrey’s squad for just over a year from October 2008.
The potential return of Youngs from Redditch provides a much-needed boost to the centre of Dave Stringer’s midfield, whilst the signings of Rowley, Bishop and ex-Daventry man Simpson should hopefully compensate for the departures of defenders Ellis Myles and Nathan Haines.
# Town’s first two warm-up games on the Butlin Road astroturf pitch are planned for the coming week, with The Bell (AEI) and Alvis the opposition on Saturday (5th) at 1pm and Tuesday (8th) at 7.30pm respectively. For latest information on this matches, visit www.rugbytownfc.com
