Wisbech ready and waiting
Wisbech Town are taking tentative steps towards preparing for the new football season – even if the coronavirus pandemic means they don’t know when that will be.
Manager Brett Whaley has been in regular contact with his players, plans are in place to start training and a boss has been appointed for the newly-formed reserve team.
An Under 13 youth team will also represent Wisbech Town next season.
The club understands that the non-league season may start in September, with pre-season games commencing at the end of July.
Former Leverington boss Lee Brooks is the man taking over the Fenmen’s second string and the club is in talks with the Peterborough and Cambs Leagues.
Whaley said: “Lee was in goal at Outwell Swifts last season and also played for me at March so he knows what my expectations will be.
“He is used to the level of football that the reserves will be playing at too.
“The whole idea of a reserve team is to benefit the first team so players can eventually challenge for a place in it.
“But it will take at least a couple of seasons to have any benefit as the gap between the two teams will be massive at first,” said Whaley, who hopes the team would start at Step 8 of the Non League Pyramid – the first team currently play in the Step 4 Northern Premier League South East Division.
But, until the two Cambs and Peterborough Leagues reconvene, no decisions can be made about where Wisbech Reserves will play their football.
“But the main thing is to get the team in place, and then have an Under 18 team for the following season which can filter through to the reserves,” he added.
The Wisbech manager has spoken to all of last season’s squad and all have intimated they will stay, apart from Connor Green, who had been travelling from Mansfield.
“But we cannot actually sign these players until we have a start date for the new season, so it is a very strange situation. They will tell me if they talk to other clubs and we will take it from there.”
He said that, apart from a horrid 20 minute period in what turned out to be the final game of the season (a 4-0 home defeat by Market Drayton), he was happy with his defence and defensive minded midfielders.
But he was looking to sign a goalkeeper, a couple of creative midfielders and another striker to complement Dylan Edge, Tiago Nassunculo and Jordan Macleod.
Now groups of up to five players are allowed to train with a coach – while keeping a safe distance from each other – Whaley said players are keen to get going again.
“Some have been doing a bit of work with (physio) Jonny Pearce and we are looking to get going at the start of July if all goes well. We will get together on a Saturday for training but probably give out our midweek fitness work via a video call.
“If people are still not allowed to travel together it would be unfair to ask everyone to drive here alone when they are doing work they could do at home.”
The club has also announced a new Under 13 side for next season. A club statement read: “We are looking for boys and girls to join us for weekly coaching sessions with the possibility to play competitively in the Mid Norfolk League during the 2020/2021 season. All abilities are welcome.
“Please contact our coaches Ady Cooper on 07585 919037 or Paul Clarke on 07594 829444 for more information and to register your interest.
“Training will commence as soon as we are able.”
