Many of you may already be aware that Barrie Pilgrim has stepped into the shoes vacated by Jamie Kimpton at the end of last season. He joins his son Steve as the 2nd member of our DOR team. He is far from unfamiliar with the role having previously helmed the rugby side of Anselmians some 12+ years ago.

I guess I must have ingratiated myself with him towards the end of last season as we shared a lift back from the Rossendale away game. Having made myself comfortable in the back seat I speculated that he was the brother of Steve Pilgrim! It was clear, as we chatted, that he was a straight talker and in possession of a clear understanding of what did and didn’t work in the modern rugby game. The heavy defeat that day brought into sharp focus the strength of teams in Regional 1 North West and the improvements that we would need to make to be competitive. I imagine he was already strategising ahead of the start this campaign.

Exchanging messages with him and Steve in the last few days throws some light on some of the changes we will see this season.

First and foremost, Steve and Barrie have been busy, during the off season, creating a 30 strong Saints squad. They say that, by design, they have organised three very tough pre-season fixtures for our 1’s. Announced on the website this week, we will be playing National League sides Lymm and Chester as well as a select team from our Championship neighbours, Caldy.

It had become apparent to them that the squad was nowhere near fit enough to compete for the full 80 minutes – so the lads came into pre-season very early – the uplift in team fitness will no doubt serve them well in the final quarter of their matches. They tell me that ‘we are training and working hard with the objective in mind to go out, be competitive and make our club proud’. Steve and Barrie acknowledge that level 5 is tough containing, as we well know, some excellent teams.

On the coaching and team management front, Fraser Smales returns as head coach along with Degsy as forwards player coach – terrific news I’m sure you’ll agree. The coaching team also welcomes a very familiar face back to the club in the shape of Chris Pilgrim – son and brother of the DOR team! Chris has taken up his role as backs coach. Speaking about Chris, SP and BP, say that ‘his wealth of knowledge from his professional career will be invaluable’ – what an asset he will be. Rounding out the on-field management team are Chris Wells who continues as Saints Manager and ‘The Fonz’ who will be back as Physio. Jack Sanders has been brought in as statistician/analyst. On field, Will Grabe remains in situ as captain and Harrison Crowe has been appointed as vice-captain.

Barrie and Steve give a special mention to a doughty group of individuals and one in particular; ‘Taff continues as our impressive and fair touch judge, and I would like to say a special thanks to the tractor boys, and to Taff in particular, for their hard work and the dedication they pay to our fabulous grounds. I can assure them our players really appreciate the work they do!’

I’m developing a sense that detailed preparation will be bywords for the way we go about business this time out. Another hint at that is that all away travel will be by coach with the exception of the games at Wirral and Park when the team will meet at the club for a light pre match lunch before heading to our respective opposition’s ground.

Maintaining close ties between our 1’s and 2’s will be essential if we are to weather the rigours of what will be a long, tough season. Peter Bowden and Dan Jenner will manage Anselmians 2nd XV. Steve and Barrie singled out The Mavs for a special mention, ‘they are an incredible, tightknit outfit and an extremely well-run operation. We are all rightly proud of them as a group of men and wish them well for another impressive season.’

Barrie rightly states ‘I see no weaknesses in the league so it will be a long, hard season. Good luck to all our teams but remember, quoting Benjamin Franklin, ‘by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail’.’

As we close the conversation Barrie and Steve sum up the sentiment around the squad, ‘we will try our hardest but if we do not succeed it will not be for the want of effort. The club is in a good place and it’s up to us to push it on.’ I’m sure that as volunteers, members, players and parents of M&J’s we will all be willing to ‘roll up our sleeves’ and help in any way we can to that collective effort.

We have every reason to be optimistic for the season ahead and the club’s growth in the future…….

Come on Annies!