Alex Cole reflects upon the summer and assesses the squad for the new campaign.
The Euros are over, football didn’t come home (again) and full focus is now on the domestic campaign ahead, as the Iron look to go one better and clinch promotion back to the National League this term.
The Iron are preparing for this campaign in stark contrast to recent years, as we approach following a steady recruitment drive where the main emphasis was to try and retain the core of a squad that came so close last season.
To a large extent, the club has managed to achieve this despite the well-publicised budget cuts. The departures of fan favourites Reagan Ogle and Jacob Butterfield were the only universal disappointments, whilst Danny Elliott leaving for Macclesfield divided opinion.
With most of the playing squad retained, fans backing the club with healthy season ticket numbers and an outstanding kit launch, it has been a largely positive summer across the board.
As much as it’s great retaining a lot of the squad, we also love a new signing. So let’s delve into some of the new additions to the squad. Carlton Ubaezuono arrives from Chorley with an impressive goalscoring record, having notched 15 goals last season in the National League North as the Magpies also fell short in the playoffs.
A fast and exciting winger/striker the 26-year-old could prove to be an excellent addition to the squad, as we look to take the goal-scoring burden off Danny Whitehall. The early signs are positive as he is finding the back of the net regularly so far this pre season.
Defender Brad Nicholson was recruited following his departure from playoff winners Boston United. Nicholson was excellent in their playoff success against the Iron and his experience of that will no doubt help the squad if we’re faced with a similar scenario this upcoming year.
Versatile in his position, he can play left back as well as left centre back which is where we believe he will be used for this upcoming campaign with Andy Butler appearing set to shift to a back three formation. Left-footed CBs are rare at this level, but important for providing the side with balance, so to have one at our disposal is invaluable.
Midfielder Max Brogan arrives from Solihull Moors having played a cameo role in Tamworth’s promotion last season. With an eye for goal and bundles of energy, he has stood out in the early part of the pre-season as he looks to nail down a starting place come the trip to Brackley on the 10th of August.
Joe Rowley arrives from AFC Fylde following a successful trial period. The midfielder is yet another one who has experience winning promotion from this level and with real technical quality on the ball, will look to begin to fill the boots of the outgoing Jacob Butterfield.
The recruitment mandate this summer has been clear. Players have been recruited who have had real experience of being successful at this level, whilst also being versatile to play across several positions. The club has stated they are looking to work with around a 20-man squad for this season which means players will have to fill in at different points throughout the campaign when injuries and suspensions inevitably start to take their toll.
If Andy Butler does go with a back three as expected at this point, I’m intrigued to see how he utilises the forward players within the squad. Callum Roberts does his best work out wide, isolating and taking on players.
Danny Whitehall is one of the first names on the team sheet, and it would be great to get players closer to him to ensure he doesn’t get isolated. Carlton Ubaezuono often played wide for Chorley, but it would appear both he and Butler see him as a striker this season.
Alfie Beestin has also featured as a striker in pre-season which is interesting to say the least. Funnily enough, there was a period during the lockdown season when he was chipping in with his fair share of goals and I remember pondering whether we had him mis-profiled all along.
Kian Scales, who returned from an injury sustained at Gainsborough last week this evening, has been playing as a right wing back at times during pre-season so far. With decent quality on the ball and an impeccable work rate/energy level, I can see this working well for him and us throughout the season while adding another string to his bow.
With regards to future incomings, I would be surprised to see much else given we’re in and around the 20-man squad mark mentioned when Butler was first appointed. So it might be a case that anything else that does come, will be in the form of loans to bolster the squad.
All in all it has been a nice and quiet summer for a change. No boardroom antics, no CCJs, no HMRC, no embargo. Just a football club going about its business professionally and diligently. All of this has become foreign to us in recent years, so credit must go as always to the current board for restoring order within the club and giving us the fans, something to be proud of.
If you haven’t got your season ticket yet… then what are you waiting for?! We so very nearly lost this great club of ours last year, the memories and everything we’ve stood for would’ve all been flushed down the drain.
This is our club, our community and as we enter this special 125th year we’re in such a positive position to go ahead and attack it with everything we’ve got because when we do that, we’re a pretty special club.
Up the Iron
Alex
