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Rovers seek Sunday best
Story courtesy of Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers make a small piece of club history tomorrow when they play a Sunday fixture for the first time.
And manager Frank Northwood is hoping their fans turn out in force for the West Midlands League Premier Division clash with Oldswinford at the Moat Ground (noon).The game had to be put back 24 hours as a result of Gresley’s ground sharing scheme with Central Midlands League side Mickleover RBL.
Mickleover were drawn at home to Derby rivals Borrowash Victoria in the first round of the FA Vase and that fixture this afternoon took precedence over Gresley’s encounter with the Black Country side.
Northwood said: “It will certainly be different. I used to manage a Sunday team, but by 12 o’clock we were nearly at the end of the game rather than just starting it.
“We’re not sure what size of crowd to expect. Obviously lads who play Sunday League football won’t be there, but there are others who it might suit because they have something else on their plate on Saturday’s.
“At the end of the day we just hope that our regular fans turn out and get behind us because the all-important thing is the result.”
Despite dropping two points last Saturday at home to leaders Stourport Swifts, Rovers are handily placed to launch themselves back into the thick of the championship chase.
Northwood awaits the outcome of a late fitness test on striker Carl Rathbone before naming his side.
Rathbone suffered a dead leg in Tuesday’s friendly against Stapenhill, but Northwood is hoping an extra day’s rest will prove decisive.
Oldswinford will be making their first appearance since appointing Sammy Chung, the former Wolves, Stoke and Ipswich coach, as manager in place of Stuart Hall.
