'Team here for right reasons' (From Andover Advertiser)

'Team here for right reasons'

12:00am Wednesday 3rd June 2009

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NEW Lions’ boss Andy Leader took centre stage on Tuesday evening at the Portway for an informal player’s get together ahead of pre season training which begins later this month.

More than 40 players attended along with the rest of the incoming management team which is now four strong. Working with Leader will be assistants Andy Darnton and Jason Braidwood, who played at the Portway in the early 90s under Steve Mellor, with player-coach Phil Andrews. Leader spoke about the facilities on offer at the club and said that he understood that the nucleus of last season’s squad would not be around as they would mostly follow Mick Catlin.

“My team will be here for the right reasons” he added “and I am excited at the prospects for the new season.” He also stressed that the budget at the club was very small and Darnton also added that ‘it was not all about money as training will be different and organised and we have fun along the way’.

There was a number of local faces in attendance plus many others from Newbury, Thatcham, Winchester, Havant and Waterlooville and Bournemouth and Leader was confident he could field a more than competitive side with those on show that evening.

Earlier the club announced that training would begin on Sunday, June 28 and a number of pre-season friendlies had also been pencilled in.

Both AFC Bournemouth and Bristol Rovers have provisionally agreed to send sides to the Portway although firm dates have yet to be confirmed but Eastleigh return to Andover on Saturday July 18.

Basingstoke Town will visit on Saturday August 1 with a 2pm kick-off while Lions go down to Laverstock and Ford on Tuesday July 28. There is also the probability of a game at Cowes Sports who have offered to fund a trip. Andover are also once again involved in the Dango Tournament at New Street.

l The club have arranged a fan’s forum for Tuesday, June 23 at 7.30pm where supporters can put questions to the new management team and have a beer and set their collective sat navs.

The Portway Cafe will be reopening upstairs at the Portway Suite on Monday from 6.30am to 2.30pm for breakfasts, lunches, sandwiches and rolls and the club welcome all..

As yet there is no player news other than Rory Williams and Mike Turvey signing for Gosport but one transfer which has not happened, contrary to information received, is that of Nic Turpin. Amesbury Town’s new boss Nic Horner pointed out to the Advertiser that the Andover-based striker has not pledged his goalscoring talents to Laverstock and Ford FC.

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