We had five sessions over July, and with an average attendance of 19 I think we’d certainly call that a success. With lockdown ending and restrictions for travel easing towards the end of the month there were always going to be some well needed holidays taken.

As I’m sure there will be next month as well!

In the past, the doctrine had always been that, whilst training wasn’t mandatory, it was assumed you’d be there unless you told one of the coaching team otherwise. This occasionally led to very small numbers and the coaches having to react on the evening. So, for this season, players were asked to declare their availability via Pitchero.

On the whole the process went well with easily more than half the squad declaring their intentions before the evening each week. Of the 40+ players that we are hoping to see over the course of preseason, 14 told us their availability for every week of July and we hope more will jump on their bandwagon over August and onwards. Three players attended every session.

Just four players didn’t let us know their intentions for any of the sessions and one of them still turned up.

Players have always had the option of saying they will attend if they can, but they might not be able to due to work etc. Over the five weeks this was done 14 times, five times those players showed up, nine times they didn’t – that’s fine, as a coaching team we know we’ve got to have that flexibility.

Over the course of the five weeks, there were 30 times players didn’t tell us anything and still showed up. They’re a little harder to cater for, but far better that than telling us they are coming and then not showing up! This is the cardinal sin and fortunately only happened four times. Only twice, in the final session, were we told players weren’t coming but then they appeared.

Sadly 13 players have missed every session of preseason so far. I’m sure they had their reasons.

No names mentioned this month and no plans to for next month either, although we’d really like to see the numbers stay in the mid-20s and would encourage anyone who is hoping to play next season to come and join in, it’s the best time to get to know new faces and one or two new ideas that we’re working on.

Told us their availability for every week; 14 out of 43 (players) - 33%
Didn't tell us for any session; 4 out of 43 - 9%
100% attendance; 3 out of 43 - 7%
0% attendance; 13 out of 43 - 30%

It’s never too early to update August’s availability and we’ll release the stats after the final training session.