Daniel Moore explains hectic Hebburn Town pre-season as Blyth Spartans friendly confirmed
Hebburn Town will face eight pre-season friendlies in just 28 days as they prepare for a first season in the National League North.
Hebburn Town manager Daniel Moore has explained why he is preparing his side for a challenging and hectic pre-season schedule ahead of a historic campaign in the National League North.
The Hornets secured a first ever season in the second tier of the non-league game by claiming a shock Northern Premier League Premier Division title win last month as a home win against Rushall Olympic on a historic final day of the campaign saw Moore’s men crowned as champions.
Plans for the new campaign have been quickly pieced together and the on-field action will resume with a home friendly against Warrington Rylands on Saturday, July 4. Also on the schedule are home games with Heaton Stannington, Hartlepool United and Anstey Nomads, as well as visits to Carlisle City, Bishop Auckland, Stockton Town and Morpeth Town. There was a late change to the schedule as a home game with Ashton United was cancelled and replaced with a trip to Northern Premier League East club Blyth Spartans on Saturday, August 1.
Moore is currently working hard to add new signings to his ranks following the departures of Olly Martin, Gary Martin and Arron Thompson over the last fortnight and there is hope some deals could be secured before the Hornets squad kickstart their preparations for a historic year with a return to pre-season training next month. That will precede a busy period of pre-season friendlies with nine games in the space of just 28 days - and Moore has stressed the hectic schedule will benefit his players as they prepare to take on the likes of Morecambe, Darlington and South Shields next season.
He said: “It is a busy pre-season but it’s been put together for a good reason. We have to factor in players going on holiday and that means we won’t get our strongest team out until the back end of pre-season. The first five or six games will be about getting minutes into lads and that’s the way we have always done things since we have come to the club. Every player will get 45 minutes in each of those games, there will be a gradual buildup and when we get to the last two or three games we will look at putting together our plans for the first game of the season.”