18/09/2026
Few words from our captain tomorrow
1. How would you describe the manager and what he demands from the players?
Ray is someone who sets high standards and expects everyone to give 100%. He demands commitment, discipline and hard work from the lads, He wants everyone to take responsibility and work for each other.
2. What’s training been like this season, and do you feel the sessions are helping improve the team?
Training has been really good this season. The sessions have got a good intensity to them and you can see that starting to come through on matchdays. The lads are competitive in training, which keeps the standards high.
3. What do you enjoy most about the manager’s training sessions?
Probably the competitiveness. Nobody wants to lose in training. It brings the best out of everyone and means you’re constantly pushing each other. I think that competition is a big part of why the squad is improving.
4. How is the atmosphere in the dressing room at the minute?
There’s a really good atmosphere and a lot of togetherness in the group. Being unbeaten and sitting top of the league obviously helps, but I think the atmosphere has been good from the start.
5. How do you think the team has performed in the league so far?
I think we’ve performed really well. To be top and unbeaten is a great start, and the lads deserve a lot of credit for that. We’ve shown that we can win games in different ways, but we also know we can’t get carried away. Every team will want to beat the league leaders, so we have to keep the same standards going forward.
6. What’s been your favourite game of the season so far and why?
I’d probably say Middlestone Moor at home. They won the league 2 year ago beating us twice in the league and once in the cup so to beat them shows how far we’ve come since then. Everyone had to contribute and work for each other and those are the games you enjoy most because you know you’ve earned the result.
7. What does the manager say to the lads before a game?
He basically reminds us to stick to what we’ve worked on during the week and to trust each other. He wants us to be confident but also to understand that we have to earn the result. The message is usually about starting well, working hard for each other and making sure we leave everything on the pitch.
8. How important is competition for places with such a strong squad?
It’s massive. When you’ve got a strong squad, nobody can afford to switch off because there’s always someone pushing for your position. It keeps everyone hungry and raises the standards in training. At the same time, everyone understands that it’s about the team, so even if you’re not starting, you still have an important role to play.
9. What do you think has been the biggest strength of the team this season?
Without a doubt, our togetherness. We’ve got quality throughout the squad, but I think the biggest thing is that everyone is willing to work for each other. We don’t rely on one or two players. Everyone contributes, and when we’re all pulling in the same direction, we’re a difficult team to play against.
10. Finally, what are your thoughts going into tomorrow’s game and what will it take to get the three points?
We’re going into it confident, we’ve played them many times before but tomorrow is another game and none of that guarantees anything. We need to start well, match the opposition’s effort, stick to our game plan and take our chances when they come. If we show the same work rate, togetherness and desire we’ve shown so far, hopefully we can get the result we want.
