Darren Blackburn’s arrival at Star Meadow was significant as he guided Hollands & Blair to SCEFL Premier safety and as Blair start the new season today, the boss is only too aware of the task facing his side in the new season. 

Blair welcome newly relegated Phoenix Sports to Gillingham this weekend, and the manger told us, “Very much looking forward to it after a short break and a quick turnaround.

“It’s been busy, we have had a lot to get done in a fairly short period of time, but I am happy as to where we are at and if you’re going to have a first game of the season at home why not have one of the big boys and probably one of the favourites, it will be a tough test but it will give us a really good idea of where we are at!” 

“I think it was easier coming in when I did last season. I think when you have a pre-season with a new team and you have to get players fit quickly, get new faces in, you have to try and convince some old faces to stay as well as loads of other admin to be done.

“The position we were in when I came in, I don’t think if I had changed anyone in the team, no-one could have argued because of the position the Club was in. Fortunately, we had a good few months to get us out of trouble where it was quite positive as we did so much better in the second half of the season, but equally there were still some results that weren’t ideal.” 

“Like all teams we have lost a few players and had to consider what we need which we had a strategy for that, but equally, as is always the case in pre-season, players come along at the last minute when they become available at the last minute and we’ve had two or three of those join us for training, and we’d be foolish not to consider.

“If I’m honest it is really frustrating to have to leave it so late, having worked at Step Four for the past few years, it is different. Most of the lads that contact me at that level will probably be there or there’s abouts but at Step Five it’s a lot more open and unpredictable, and you get people wanting to give it a punt. But then there are those as well who are with you all summer and are brilliant in pre-season when maybe not expected to.” 

“Any Club that has any sort of budget comes with a level of expectation that comes from the fan base, doesn’t matter how big or small it is the board – as you’re paying money to players to do a job on a Saturday afternoon.

“So, you must work the money as best you can, and you have to get the best players possible for the budget. So yes, you do have to play the waiting game, and you might not get the players that you want, you want a left back and nothing, but right backs are out there.

“I have stayed in contact with several Step Four managers, and they have been brilliant and that’s been good and nice, and I know that the players that they will send me will be of a good standard.” 

One addition Blackburn has made is to his back-room staff which has seen Ian Draycott arrive at Star Meadow in a player-coach role. Blackburn told us, “I spoke to him after the end of last season about what his thoughts were to this season, if he was going to keep playing or move into coaching.

“We felt and he agreed that with his legs he could still contribute on the pitch to what we are trying to achieve, and he has great experience as well after playing in the levels above and is just what we need. He knows the game and we get on really well. He had other offers, but we are delighted that he’s come to Blair.”