Cirencester planning pre-season friendlies (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester planning pre-season friendlies

ALTHOUGH their 2002-3 campaign has barely finished, Cirencester Town FC are already in the throes of organising a number of prestigious pre-season friendlies to be played at their Corinium Stadium this summer.

Town's general manager, Anna Kocerhan, has yet to finalise the details, but is hopeful of arranging matches against Swindon Town, Cheltenham Town, Newport County and a reserve team from Division One champions Portsmouth.

By way of celebrating their first anniversary at the new ground, Cirencester have pencilled in July 26 as the date to play Swindon in the first of this series of friendlies.

Looking at the overall picture since the move from their old ground, Cirencester Town chairman Steve Abbley said, "I'm reasonably pleased with the way things are shaping up after our first season in Kingshill Lane."

On the field and after a difficult beginning to the campaign, Brian Hughes, in his first season as manager, took the team to 14th place in the Dr Martens League.

Had his side won just one more league game, they would have surpassed Town's previous best points tally since joining the Western Division five years ago.

Nonetheless, most of his playing squad have already indicated a willingness to return to the fold for next season when, with the addition of one or two newcomers, Hughes will doubtless be looking to finish above half-way.

Two Town players who re-ceived due recognition for their endeavours during 2002-3 are James Hughes and Ben Fitch.

Hughes was voted Supporters' Player of the season while Ben Fitch was the Players' Player of the year.

Of James, who joined Cirencester at the start of the season having previously been at Bath City, Brian Hughes said, "Hughsie has been a very popular member of the squad this season and always gives his best.

"Ben is a product of the successful Football Academy, and again is very popular with players and supporters alike.

"He has scored some fantastic goals this season, not least the first one that he scored at the Corinium Stadium during the opening friendly match against a Tottenham Hotspur XI last July."