IT’S been a pretty short summer for City’s squad to bask in their glory after lifting the Southern League’s Premier Division title.
Just 66 days after receiving that massive Championship trophy at a sun-drenched Treyew Road on Easter Monday, they have returned to training as they prepare for their biggest test yet – life in the Blue Square South.
Last season’s title win earned City a record fifth promotion in six remarkable seasons and the question supporters will be asking now is whether Lee Hodges’s squad can make it six promotions in seven?
Realistically though, that is highly unlikely and a safe mid-table position will surely be more than acceptable come the end of April.
But there is no harm in dreaming.
Last season’s championship-winning campaign started badly with a 3-0 home defeat against Chesham United, but ended in glory, with City clinching the title and automatic promotion with a game to spare with a comfortable 3-0 win at Banbury United.
It was only City’s second season at Step 3 and they will surely need at least a season to adjust to life at Step 2.
But the squad, who have enjoyed so much success in recent seasons, will be out to prove they are up to the challenge.
Only Alex Jeannin has left from last season, with the rest of the squad signing up for another campaign.
Manager Hodges has added from the reserves the talented young Cornish pair of midfielder Cody Cooke and defender Kieran Conibear-Trathen to his first-team squad.
Both will no doubt be given their chance to impress in the pre-season friendlies, starting with today’s visit of Yeovil Town.
Hodges has so far not made any new signings, but there is still time before the big kick-off at Chelmsford City on Saturday August 13th.
Last season, Hodges achieved success in his first full season in charge with minimal changes to the team that had finished a mediocre 11th in the table the previous season.
Barry Hayles was an inspired signing at the end of September and the veteran striker’s 19 League goals in his 29 appearances, five of which were as a substitute, were crucial to City’s success and at the age of 39 the former Premiership forward will surely still have a key role to play.
Winger Dan Smith was the only other new face, scoring seven goals in his 36 League appearances, eight of which saw him come on from the bench.
He will be hoping to improve on that this season and will be eager to prove his worth in the friendlies.
But that applies to the whole squad, which will again be captained by Jake Ash, because as Hodges showed on many occasions last season he is no respecter of reputations.
If you were playing well you kept your place in the starting line-up – and it was a policy that paid massive dividends.
City’s points’ haul in two fewer games, following the withdrawal of Windsor & Eton, was 25 better than the previous season as they won the League by four points from Hednesford Town.
They had ten more wins and lost seven fewer games.
They scored 13 more goals, but most importantly conceded just 35 goals compared to 65 the season before.
At home, after the previous season’s struggles, when City lost seven times and won only seven times in front of their home supporters, he turned Treyew Road into a fortress, taking 50 out of a possible 60 points, with the side suffering only two League defeats.
It was an impressive first season for the likeable Hodges, whose own playing career is very much in the balance because of a long-standing groin injury.
He is experienced enough however, to know that the new season will bring some difficult times for both him and his squad.
But you would back him and his tight-knit squad to cope and add another successful chapter to the City’s success story.
RHOD MITCHELL
Deputy Sports Editor (Cornwall)
West Briton