Sittingbourne go into their final pre-season game this weekend with boss Ryan Maxwell reflecting on what he has so far seen as the Brickies continue to prepare for the new Isthmian South East season in ten days’ time. 

“The process of pre-season is ending for us,” Maxwell said, “And it is now a time of analysis, it is a time of building, maybe fitness and the relationship side of football.

“We have one more friendly before the “real” stuff starts, but overall, I think that is has been one of the better pre-seasons that I have had as a manager, certainly in terms of the quality of the games that we have played.

“The squad itself is in great shape physically and unlike last year we have no injuries! You always hope as a manager that you can get through pre-season in one piece – we did not last year, and it cost us!

“There’s been nothing but positives this time around so far with a week to go there’s still time to get some work in on the training pitch, the signs are positive and the coaching that we have been delivering to the players is certainly sinking in, so I am really pleased!” 

“The players who we have retained did not really need too much analysis going into this year as we knew them very well.

“The new players are the one who you’re finding out and getting to know them what makes them tick and how they react to certain things I think we have learned an awful lot; we’ve got a great group, superb attitude and their desire and work ethic, and they are the things that I really look for first and foremost.

“They are humble with it, I don’t have any egotistical people around me anyway and there is certainly none in this group; they are all keen to work and work hard for each other and I’ve definitely learned that they have the right characteristics that I need and want to work with this season to be successful!” 

Because the Brickies finished third in the table last season, they have avoided the Extra Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup this weekend and host Bromley’s under 23s at Woodstock, although Maxwell admitted, “I do not think it would have really mattered or made a difference.

“We’re OK and are able to really focus on us, so whilst I will be watching the result and can’t wait for us to compete in the competition (Sittingbourne will be away to the winners of the tie between Tunbridge Wells and Farnham on August 18), we have the extra week to use to get everything in place for the visit of Broadbridge Heath on Saturday week.” 

“There is still time for one or two to see if they can make that starting side or are they better coming into the game, we are still analysing all of that and there certainly will be several players who play this weekend who will play in the first league game. We are in good shape physically and I am incredibly pleased about that!”