Last season: 7th
Bels finished bottom of the table last season, having won only one of their 18 Priaulx League matches, and while Le Friec expects another tough season at the Track he thinks his side can improve this season.
‘We are very much going to struggle again, but it’s important that we are battling hard to close the gap,’ he said.
‘Other teams don’t have the problem we do, building people up after losses, going out and being beaten 10-0 and then having to go out again, but we are refreshed and are showing some promise.
‘The difference this season is that we have eight or nine new signings that can help us.’
There is a mix of experience and youth among the new signings and Le Friec said they have slotted in nicely during pre-season.
‘Zak Chatterton has joined us from Saints, he’s really experienced and won a lot with them, not so much this time around but last time under Leon Meakin, and what he can bring is communication and organisation,’ he said.
‘We have a young fit striker, Louis Pang from Vale Rec who has stumbled across Priaulx football really, he was playing in the Railway at Rec and I have heard glowing references about him from neutrals and other teams.
‘Ali Mechem has joined and played well in the Spirit Cup. He’s a strong centre back and talks, communication is key for me in the core of the team.
‘Reese Jackson as well, he played for the old Ormer FC team, he always has the ball at his feet like glue and has performed well.’
Bels have welcomed back some returning players as well which should bolster Le Friec’s squad this season.
During pre-season Le Friec said he has noticed some improvements in the Spirit Cup and Rawlinson Cup where they made it to the semi-finals. They were beaten by St Martin’s 4-0.
‘There was evidence of improvement in our semi-final against Saints,’ he said.
‘When we have our strongest side we have the ability to go toe-to-toe in the first 45 and it would be good if we could build on that and cause the top teams a challenge more often.’
While he has not got his sights set on any cups this year, Le Friec said success for Bels would be to finish higher in the league.
‘We have to be better than Rangers, that is a non-negotiable,’ he said.
‘We need to build together and back it up with wins, and if we can back it up with back-to-back wins – even better.’
Bels start their Priaulx League campaign against Vale Rec on 2 September at the Track.
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