South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | August | 5
From the Gazette, first published Friday 5th Aug 2005.
MANGOTSFIELD United are homing in on the new season on the back of serious changes both on and off the field and there is a buzz of expectation at the club, writes Gordon Evans.
Mike Richardson, former Brislington chairman, has taken over as Mangotsfield chairman and two new directors have joined the board - former Bristol Stadium owner Clarke Osbourne, and Martin Preedy, a tax specialist.
One thing that hasn't changed is the club's five-figure sponsors, Shield Environment Services, who have signed up for a further two years.
On the playing side, Danny Hallett, Gareth Loydon, Mike Meaker and Matt Locke have moved on, while a host of new players have come in to supplement last season's young players - Rob Cousins (Bath City, Yeovil, and England non league level); Tom White (Bristol Rovers and Yeovil); Alex Ball (Team Bath); Simon Charity and Ellis Willmott (Chippenham); Luke Prince (Team Bath); Luke Corbett (Cheltenham Town); (Lee Howell (Merthyr Tydfil, who played over 400 league games for Cheltenham); and two other young Merthyr lads, Ryan Dorrian and Chris Whitcombe.
"There are something like 20/21 in the squad at the moment," said manager Martyn Grimshaw, "but it will obviously thin out to some 16/17 players as the season progresses."
He added: "We have a good balance of youth and experience and everyone is very excited at the moment. This is the first time the club has been involved at this level and we don't just want to play, we want to do well and compete with the big boys, and not just rest on our laurels."
Another telling comment he made was: "Only keeper Danny Greaves is guaranteed a place at the moment, the rest is up for grabs."
Mangotsfield will start their Southern League Premier Division campaign with an away game against Rugby Town on Saturday, August 13.
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