Pitchero Non League

John Maggs

....One South club this summer.

Manager John Maggs and assistant Ian Payne have had busy few months since former Crawley Town and Horsham boss Maggs took over from Darren Guirey in May.

The Anvils have eight new players, a new captain in forward Fraser Logan and the recent addition of 'Gatwick' to the village club's name.

Down travel to Merstham for the opening game today, and skipper Logan has high hopes for his team.

"With the squad we have, we are looking at the play-offs and I think John Maggs would agree with me," the 27-year-old said. "We will definitely be looking to push up the league this season. We got off to a terrible start last season but if you look, hardly any of that team remain.

"The club have come a long way in just a few years and we might not be one of the bigger names, but when you look at the players we have available then the play-offs is a possibility."

Those players include new additions like former Southampton centre back Craig Richards, former Charlton Athletic youngster defender Rhys Coleman and impressive young midfielder Scott Watson.

But it is Canadian keeper Tony Di Bernado who has impressed Logan.

"The new keeper has really fitted in well and stamped his authority on the defence," Logan said. "Last year it was a bit of a joke how many goals we leaked. We could go to the top teams, confident that we would score but no matter how many we scored, we would concede more.

"That is something we are hoping to sort out this season and the additions of players like Craig Richards will help as well. Craig was at Whitehawk with me and I'm surprised they let him go really."

It isn't just on the pitch that things are changing at the Anvils either, the grass itself has had some attention.

"They have been working hard to make it a better surface to play on," Logan said.

Tags: News | Crawley Down Gatwick

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