Chelmsford City`s head coach Glenn Pennyfather has added five players to his new-look squad ahead of this weekend’s Blue Square South opener against Bath City, including sought-after midfielder John Martin, and has issued a plea to the fans on
The Clarets’ boss, who looks forward to his first competitive match in charge after Jeff King moved into a director of football role, completed the registrations of forwards Bertie Brayley and Jason Hallett who formed part of last season’s squad, while also adding promising young central midfielder Ryan Carolan, formerly of Crystal Palace as recently as last season.
Two newer faces, however, come in the shape of ex-Stevenage Borough and Grays Athletic playmaker Martin, who Pennyfather sees as a real coup of a signing by the club, and tall Witham Town forward Rob Edmans.
Martin has been a highly-respected player at the top level of the non-League game for a number of seasons, while Edmans impressed Pennyfather during the sides’ pre-season friendly on Monday night which led to him staking a claim for a starting berth with the Clarets on Saturday.
Pennyfather now hopes the squad he has assembled will benefit from the full support of a vociferous home crowd, claiming: “The crowd don’t realise how much of a massive part they play as the twelfth man for us. I say in my programme notes every week that their positive lift and encouragement is a huge boost for the players as there’s nothing better than a pat on the back. The players know they have to do the business on the pitch and the individuals we have here are desperate to do well for the club.”
He also added that last term’s central defender, Steve Robinson, and triallists Nav Arain, Daniel Charge and John Frendo will all be seeking clubs elsewhere for 2009/10, while four existing players will miss out on Saturday. Midfielder Ollie Berquez continues to nurse a broken bone in his foot while captain Dave Rainford is suspended after a dismissal last season. At the back, centre half and goalkeeper Ashley Harrison are unavailable for the fixture against a team who did the double over City last season.
Bath are expected to test Chelmsford again this time around and will be looking to improve on their own eighth-placed finish which has been secured in consecutive seasons. Pennyfather will be fully aware of their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the Melbourne encounter, but admits to being less knowledgeable about which songs will be lined-up for him from the terraces. When asked if he had any preference as to his nickname with the supporters, he quipped: “It’s always a difficult job with the name I’ve got! I’ve never really had a nickname so I’ll leave that one in the hands of the fans! As long as it’s not Big Fat Glenn and they’re cheering on the team that’s the main thing!”
