GARY HACKETT says Stourbridge are ready to make the step up to the National League North – but the boss reckons they face an even tougher fight to get there.
The Glassboys suffered play-off final heartache last season as they were beaten 1-0 at Spennymoor Town.
It was still a campaign to remember for Hackett's side, who knocked out Whitehawk and Northampton Town on their way to the FA Cup third round where they narrowly lost to Wycombe.
The Evo-Stik NPL Premier may have said goodbye to promoted clubs Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor, but Hackett thinks those replacing them will be just as good.
“We were very close to going up last season and were beaten in a very tight game by Spennymoor,” he told The NLP.
“We were ready to make the step up, but it was an unpredictable play-off final and it wasn't our day.
“We'll be ready to go again and are setting our sights high. There will be big pressure put on us and we'll be one of the fancied teams again.
“We had the biggest crowds in the division last season and that's something that can really work in our favour.
“It's going to be a really tough league. There have been some heavy hitters coming down in Altrincham and Stalybridge – it could well be stronger than last year and that was very tough.”
The Glassboys lost FA Cup heroes Dan Scarr to Birmingham City and Kristian Green to Solihull Moors during last season.
Top-scorer Luke Benbow and attacking midfielder Chris Lait have also moved up to the National League with Solihull, while skipper Tom Tonks is set to become the third Stourbridge player to move to Damson Park this summer.
Expectation
Hackett has been busy himself, however, bringing in midfielders Aaron Forde and Danny O'Callaghan, utility player Bobby Moseley and ex-Wolves youngster Brandon Ball.
Attacking full-back Aris Christophorou has also joined from Rushall Olympic, along with strikers Ryan Rowe from Leamington and the highly-rated 21-year-old Jordan Murphy – formerly of Walsall and Kidderminster – who finished last season at Worcester City.
Hackett added: “We've lost three to a club two divisions higher than us! It is what it is, but at least it shows we're doing something right – freshening things up stops you from becoming complacent.
“We like to get players and develop them. There is expectation now at Stourbridge, so we need to get players that can handle that pressure.
“The club is an easier sell now, but players still think they're going to come here and get paid a silly amount. We still work to a structured budget. Getting value for money from players is still important to us.”
And don't rule out some late summer recruitment at the War Memorial Athletic Ground.
Hackett added. “You get a lot of players trialling with League and Conference clubs that will be free further down the line, so we'll see who's available.”
