Published: 03/09/2010 08:00
ATHERSTONE Town manager Dale Belford is full of praise for returning goalkeeper Richard Williams.
The veteran stopper returned to the club last week and played in the 1-1 draw with Rugby Town in the FA Cup Preliminary Round and the subsequent replay, which Rugby won 3-0.
Williams will be in goal again for tomorrow’s Zamaretto League Division One Central trip to Beaconsfield (kick-off 3pm), much to the delight of Belford.
He said: “It’s great to have Rich back. He is still a good keeper and is a friend of mine anyway. He was out of the Coalville Town side so I asked him to come back.
“He’s playing for nothing, which is a great gesture on his part. At this stage of his career he is keen to play for his local club.
“He lives over the road so his kids can come and watch him, which what the club should be about.” Williams’ return to Sheepy Road has seen former number one Nathan Woakes sent out on loan to West Midlands League side Dudley Town, where Belford’s former assistant Steve Hinks is manager.
Belford hopes Woakes will use the move as a catalyst to improve his fitness levels.
“Nathan hadn’t had a great start to the season. I wanted him to improve his fitness over the summer but I don’t think that happened.
“He’s a lovely lad but he’s got to get fitter if he wants to play at this level. He’s going to play for Dudley Town for a month so this is his chance to get in shape.
“If he does that then he still has a future with the club,” he said.
Belford feels tomorrow’s game represents an ideal chance to bounce back from the disappointment of FA Cup elimination.
“I think it is a good chance to bounce back. Before Tuesday we were four unbeaten and we’ll be looking to carry on from where we left off.
“In my mind we’ve had a great start to the league, we’ve not lost yet. Beaconsfield will be eager to get going, but we’ve got to be confident,” he said.
Right-back Robbie Banks is the only player definitely out of the game. He returned to the side this week, but his hamstring problem flared up yet again.
A host of other players have bumps and bruises, but the vast majority of them should be fit.
Belford admits it was a blow to be dumped out of the cup at the first hurdle. Victory against Rugby would have earned a much needed £1,500 in prize money.
“Obviously it was disappointing. Over the two games Rugby deserved to go through so I’m not going to bleat about it.
“It’s a blow to have missed out on the prize money but it’s not something we budgeted for. We had a tough draw and that was unlucky,” he said.
ADDERS FROM: Williams, Belford, Guiney, Moseley, Crawford, Amory, Weale, Bruce, Smith, Keen, Johnson, Jackson, Webb, Marlowe, Brown, Rendchen
The veteran stopper returned to the club last week and played in the 1-1 draw with Rugby Town in the FA Cup Preliminary Round and the subsequent replay, which Rugby won 3-0.
Williams will be in goal again for tomorrow’s Zamaretto League Division One Central trip to Beaconsfield (kick-off 3pm), much to the delight of Belford.
He said: “It’s great to have Rich back. He is still a good keeper and is a friend of mine anyway. He was out of the Coalville Town side so I asked him to come back.
“He’s playing for nothing, which is a great gesture on his part. At this stage of his career he is keen to play for his local club.
“He lives over the road so his kids can come and watch him, which what the club should be about.” Williams’ return to Sheepy Road has seen former number one Nathan Woakes sent out on loan to West Midlands League side Dudley Town, where Belford’s former assistant Steve Hinks is manager.
Belford hopes Woakes will use the move as a catalyst to improve his fitness levels.
“Nathan hadn’t had a great start to the season. I wanted him to improve his fitness over the summer but I don’t think that happened.
“He’s a lovely lad but he’s got to get fitter if he wants to play at this level. He’s going to play for Dudley Town for a month so this is his chance to get in shape.
“If he does that then he still has a future with the club,” he said.
Belford feels tomorrow’s game represents an ideal chance to bounce back from the disappointment of FA Cup elimination.
“I think it is a good chance to bounce back. Before Tuesday we were four unbeaten and we’ll be looking to carry on from where we left off.
“In my mind we’ve had a great start to the league, we’ve not lost yet. Beaconsfield will be eager to get going, but we’ve got to be confident,” he said.
Right-back Robbie Banks is the only player definitely out of the game. He returned to the side this week, but his hamstring problem flared up yet again.
A host of other players have bumps and bruises, but the vast majority of them should be fit.
Belford admits it was a blow to be dumped out of the cup at the first hurdle. Victory against Rugby would have earned a much needed £1,500 in prize money.
“Obviously it was disappointing. Over the two games Rugby deserved to go through so I’m not going to bleat about it.
“It’s a blow to have missed out on the prize money but it’s not something we budgeted for. We had a tough draw and that was unlucky,” he said.
ADDERS FROM: Williams, Belford, Guiney, Moseley, Crawford, Amory, Weale, Bruce, Smith, Keen, Johnson, Jackson, Webb, Marlowe, Brown, Rendchen
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