Pre-season bonanza (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Pre-season bonanza

9:16am Friday 11th July 2008 in

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KENDAL Town manager Lee Ashcroft has praised the fitness levels of his squad ahead of tonight's hotly anticipated friendly against Carlisle United, writes Arran Jolly.

Speaking before the first game of the pre-season friendlies, Ashcroft said: "I can't believe the shape the lads have come back in to pre-season training.

"There's been a few competitions to see who's the fittest, and some of them have really surprised me. The whole of the team have come back in unbelievable shape for this time in the summer."

With Carlisle promising to send a first team to the Lakeland Radio Stadium, tonight's game is an ideal opportunity for Ashcroft to test the mettle of his players as they look to earn a first team place for the upcoming season.

The manager said: "I do want to look at a few different things.

“There's certainly some players who have put themselves in the shop window during pre-season training.

"At the moment, we've got 20 or 30 players down at training and it's up to them to impress me enough to get in the starting 11."

Three players who have caught Ashcroft's eye and earned a place in the Kendal squad are local trio Gary Baker, Zac Clarke and 16-year-old striker Chris Ellison.

"People are always having a go at me saying there's not enough local talent in the side, but I was impressed with Gary Baker, Zac Clarke and Chris Ellison all last season and they've come back and impressed me further, so they'll certainly have some part to play on Friday night against Carlisle," added Ashcroft.

The Kendal Town manager also confirmed that while he's keen to see what the rest of his squad can do against League 1 opponents, he will also be trying to cause the Carlisle defence a few problems himself.

"I'll probably have a bit of a game, but there's a lot of pre-season friendlies to get through, and a lot of players I want to look at."

Kendal play Carlisle tonight, kick off at 7:45pm Town will welcome yet another high profile side to the Lakeland Radio Stadium adding to an already impressive pre-season friendly fixture list. Sammy Mcllroy is set to bring Morecambe F.C to Parkside on Tuesday, August 5, in another evening kick-off against League opposition for Kendal.

By the time the season kicks off proper, Kendal will have played a side from every professional division above them, bar the Championship, in their pre-season fixtures.

Speaking shortly after the match had been confirmed Town manager Lee Ashcroft said: "I've been waiting on two or three clubs but I've gone with the Morecambe game as they'll be sending a very strong side."

With the Unibond Premier Division fixtures also coming out earlier this week, Kendal fans got a first chance to see where they'll be spending their Saturdays.

Kendal will travel to Ilkeston Town in the first game of the season. While the manager would have favoured a home game to start the season, he remained optimistic about the fixture.

He said: "Well obviously we've got to play everyone anyway - but it would have been nice to play at home first. But it's a journey we've made a few times over the years and we've done well there. The pitch will be fantastic, and we'll go in high spirits."

While the fixture list threw up many familiar games, one of the newly promoted sides is causing plenty of excitement.

The manager added: "I think all the fans are looking forward to the FC United fixtures. The support that they have is unbelievable, so it'll be a great fixture for us to go to their place, and it'll be brilliant for the club when they come to us as we should hopefully be able to make a bit of money out of it, which benefits us as well."

Carlisle Newspaper, News & Star devoted a two-page spread to Carlisle's visit to Kendal after the news that Carlisle manager John Ward will be bringing his strongest side.

I'll be taking all my professionals to Kendal, everyone will get a game, so if people go along they will see the new boys for the first time." Ward says.

n Kendal town boss Lee Ashcroft, commercial manager Paul Maclennan, and several local first team players including local lad Chris Ellison, will be at the Sandylands multi youth games tomorrow helping out with the under 10's under 12's and under 14's football tournament.