City kick off their 2024/25 league campaign on Saturday by hosting Anstey Nomads at Claines Lane, with ‘The Faithful’ hoping for another memorable campaign to rival last season.

2023/24 will live long in the memory of most City fans after the club ended a 45 year wait for a league title and subsequent promotion. It’s certainly been a quick turnaround, with barely two months between the final fixture in the Marsh Challenge Cup Final, to the start of pre season training for this campaign, but after a solid pre season and a good performance in the game (and a half!) with Walsall Wood, Chris Cornes’ side look in good shape.

Following the departures of Jamie Insall, Kyonn Evans, Kirk Layton, Lorcan Sheehan and Connor Gater over the summer, Cornes has been quick to strengthen his squad with quality players in a number of positions. Charlie Wise and Hayden Reeves have strengthened the back line, whilst the return signing of Nathan Hayward in midfield has been a signal of intent to the club’s goals this season.

Zac Guinan has also impressed in pre season in the front line, whilst Joe Bates and Will Owens have been signed in the past week to offer additional options and have really strengthened Cornes’ squad.

It remains to be seen whether business is done for the summer, but what is evident is that Chris has built a squad capable of being competitive at Step 4.

For this game we have three car parks available:

On site at the ground, which must be purchased in advance via the online shop;
The River School, with cash payable on entry;
And RGS The Grange, also cash payable on entry.

Supporters can enjoy our club shop this Saturday with new merchandise available to purchase, as well as collections and purchases of the new ‘Champions Review’ of the 2023/24 season, as compiled by Rob Bazley & Julian Pugh.