Lincoln United
Lincoln United’s manager Sam Wilkinson has been speaking about the club’s pre-season work. The Whites are preparing for the Northern Premier League-East season that begins on 14 August 2021.
Wilkinson said: “Pre-seasons been going pretty well, we’ve been training Tuesdays and Thursdays. We work on a lot of things, fitness being one because we haven’t played in a while. We train for about two hours doing a lot of technical work to get the lads on the ball and physical work to get ready for the season.
“It’s going well but we’ve got a few players injured. We’ve got Callum Chapman and George Aspen who need operations which is a blow. Simon Biggs got injured training between lockdown and the start of pre-season. He’s hopefully going to be available back fit in September. It’s not gone brilliantly due to injuries but we’ve had some young lads step in.”
We’re starting to get to where we want to be and learning how to defend against better teams like Boston and limit their chances. We still have room to improve and we have everyone back and fit we’ll be able to get a bit of consistency in the team.”
The Whites have some young additions to the team like Lewis Smith and Tobias Liversidge. Wilkinson commented: “The new young lads have fitted in well, not well-known names but local, hungry lads who want to do well for us. We’ve got some young lads coming from our development squad who played for our under 18s like Max Baker. He’s fitted into our pre-season games excellently. Andy Janssen scored in his last two games for us- he’s come back fitter than anyone. It’s a credit to the club having a couple of players come from our development squad and have come into the squad and done well. The squad looks good and if we get everybody back fit, I think we’ll do well.”
The team do have experience having players like Kallum Smith, Harry Millard and Matt Cotton. Wilkinson said: “We’re young but I wouldn’t say we lack experience because they’ve played lots of non-league games. The young squad brings a freshness and brings the best out of the experienced lads as some of them need that energy, positivity and no fear. The experienced lads can help the others along.”
Training with Covid hasn’t been easy, the manager said: “It’s a nightmare, we’ve missed a player every match as they’re isolating. We still have to be quick out of the changing rooms and the lads have their own water bottles. It’s a massive pain and I hope it gets better because it will affect us- it’s not ideal for anyone but we try to prepare the team the best we can. We hope to have a full season without interruptions.
“We want to progress, the changes to the team have meant a new way of playing and the lads have got to grasp that, we’re not where we want to be but we’re showing signs of keeping that steady progression. The age of the squad is an advantage, they work their socks off and give everything. I’m sure by the 14 August we’ll be ready.”
Lincoln City Women
Lincoln City Women have high hopes for the upcoming season, with promotion to the Northern Premier Division set as the target.
The imps will aim to build on a successful start to the previous 2020/21 season. Winning three out of the five games played before the league was declared null and void for the second year running.
Only losing to Wolves 3-2 in a close game, who were subsequently promoted at seasons end.
Preparations for the season include a packed preseason schedule, including ties with Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Stoke City.
LincSport spoke with forward Jess Rousseau on the team’s expectations. She said ‘‘I definitely think promotion. If we don’t, I think we might let ourselves down a little bit.’
‘With the stopping and starting it’s hard to keep fit, it breaks the gel of the team. So, getting a full season will help to build the foundation of the squad and the push for promotion.’
Speaking on her personal goals for the year, Rousseau added ‘I’d like score a few more, and do what I need to do to help the team win games.’
City will begin the season with a trip to Sporting Khalsa on August 15th, before returning home to face Leek Town at Lincoln Moorlands Railway on 22nd. The Newark Road Ground was recently announced as the new base for the Lincolnshire side for the foreseeable future.