AFC FYLDE v KETTERING TOWN
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Saturday August 6th 2022
Mill Farm
Kick-off - 15:00
It has been a real time of change at Kettering Town this summer. A new management team is in place as Lee Glover takes charge of the team following the departure of Ian Culverhouse.
And Glover has had to pretty much build a squad from scratch with only Rhys Sharpe, Gary Stohrer and Decarrey Sheriff remaining at the club from last season. So far no fewer than twelve new players have arrived at Latimer Park with another new face set to be added to the squad later on today. Many of the new signings have come in from a lower level so can't really be judged as players at this level. Saying that has this batch of new faces got the blood pumping in anticipation?, probably not and along with that the new manager has not held a managers position in over fifteen years then a season of struggle is expected by many inside and outside of the Poppies fanbase.
As for Saturday's opening fixture I'm not too sure that it could have been any more difficult. Away to AFC Fylde who are the favourites to win the league title, who have a full-time playing squad and probably have the biggest budget in the whole division as well as arguably the league's best player in Nick Haughton. You could argue this game is a free hit for The Poppies and the pressure will most definitely be on Fylde who will want to kick the season off by showing why they are being tipped to win the title.
Kettering's season will not be defined on results against sides such as Fylde. If as many expect Saturday ends in defeat it does not mean that our season is over or relegation is definite. How Kettering fare against sides that are going to be in and around the relegation zone will map out the season. As a club we massively overachieved last season on the pitch and because we hit the heights of a play-off push it can be expected that we should be looking to do that again. But it's not as simple as that. That squad has been stripped apart as players have moved on for new challenges or bigger pay packets.
Am I personally happy with the Lee Glover appointment?, No not really. I think it was a rushed appointment and the job should have been advertised. But it wasn't and Lee Glover was appointed. As fans all we can do is back him, give him a few games and take it from there. The same with the squad, Is it the best squad we have had on paper?, No far from it but until we have played 5-10 league games it's hard to judge.
As supporters all we ever want to see is 100% effort, commitment and passion from those representing the football club we follow. Team spirit is a big thing in football so let's see what spirit this side has. Let's give a few games to allow this new squad to gel. We are going to have a few bad times along the way. I think that's a given but as it stands today, before a ball has been kicked in anger we all have our opinions on how we think this side will do but the truth is none of us know.
#UTP Match Prediction - AFC Fylde 3 Kettering Town 1
Three of the new faces - Ben Sault, Brad Gascoigne and Andre Wright
