With the first pre-season game just around the corner, it’s been a long time since Vill Powell had laced up his boots ready to manage a game of football at The Yorkshire Payments Stadium and it’s something he is certainly looking forward to come Saturday.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been chomping at the bit to get back out there in the dugout, I’m buzzing for Saturday. What the pandemic has done though is given me more time to think and plan for the upcoming season so from that perspective, it’s made me more eager and keen to get back in there so I’m really looking forward to Saturday. It’s going to be a good spectacle good to get back in the dugout with the lads.”
“The lads are looking incredibly fit. We’ve started back as normal now as we didn’t want the lay off time that the lads have had have an impact on us so we will have had a longer pre-season than most clubs but we’ve ensured that that they aren’t overused or that they burn out. We planned our pre season well and it’s showing on the lads fitness so I’m really confident we are going to be competitive.
The main focus of pre-season has been to get our message across to the players about how we work at Brighouse. We’ve got a couple of new signings so far and we wanted to show the new characters what is expected of them.”
It will be the first time that ex Burnley forward John Francis will be stepping into the Brighouse dugout and Vill was keen to stress how much of an impact he’s going to have on his learning.
“He’s going to be alongside myself, Stacy Reed and Leon Wainman. He comes in with a lot of experience and knowledge of this level and he’s going to add more quality as to what we are doing. I’m always looking for ways to improve what I’m doing whether that be staff, equipment, how we train and what we do and John is part of that. He’s a great addition to the team, he’s shown his qualities already and long may that continue!”
Saturday’s game against Sheffield FC will be the first time the club has faced them on a football pitch since the play-off semi final win in which Brighouse won 3-1 but Vill has keen to stress that they are still a strong side.
“They’ll be a different team to the last time we faced them, they’ve had some new lads in there. Gav always has a competitive side with lots of quality so we have to respect that. It’s early days, the first game of pre-season so they will be some players blowing out early doors but they’ll still be a good side who will cause us lots of problems.”
“We’ve got a good mix of players this pre-season compared to last season. There’s a good bond of characters in the dressing room so I’m really pleased with what we’ve got and it’s there for all to see. Everyone gets on with each other really well and it adds to the atmosphere of the training sessions and of the club.”
“Looking ahead to Saturday, we’ll be looking to give players a good amount of playing time each including the trialists we have at the club at the minute. I’ve got to have a good look at each of them because they have come to the club in areas I’m looking to strengthen and they’ve looked good so far but the only way I can give a true assessment of them is on the football pitch so they’ll play as much football as I feel is right to get a good assessment and then we will make a decision.”
Saturday’s game against Sheffield FC is live from The Yorkshire Payments Stadium at 3pm. Unfortunately due to government guidelines, this will be a behind closed doors game but the game will be broadcast live on Brighouse Town Radio which our link is below and we will have updates on our Twitter feed. #OneTownOneTeam
https://mixlr.com/brighousetownfc
