Pagham are the first team to make the trip over to Victoria Park for a league match this season and GFC manager Tony Vance said there is some payback to be had against the only side to beat his Green Lions twice in the division last season.
‘We haven’t got a clue about them, obviously things and teams change all the time at this level, but what I do know is they beat us twice last year, so we’ve got to make sure that we try and get some payback there,’ he said.
‘But I’m very respectful of the fact that they’re obviously in a decent position but this season I have no idea what they’re looking like.
‘We’re in pretty good shape, to be honest. Obviously there’s a few people away on holiday and stuff like that, but we’ve got a group ready to give it a go and what we’ve got to do is play the right game for that occasion.’
Unlike previous seasons, Guernsey FC had two pre-season fixtures this season – first against Sheffield FC for the Mike Thomas Trophy and then last weekend Leamington FC for the inaugural Ilum Davis Foundation Trophy.
‘It was good minutes for us. This year we’ve been lucky to have two competitive games which we haven’t normally had – it was a great way for us to go into the final week of preps,’ said Vance.
‘It’s massive, and obviously I talk about it all the time, but it just costs money and it’s always so difficult, so we’ve been very fortunate with the two games we’ve had.’
After missing out in the play-off final last season, Guernsey still have their sights set on promotion back to step four. Vance said the play-offs were the club’s realistic aim for the season ahead.
‘To win the league would be a tough ask for us given the issues we have to deal with, but let’s see.’
Guernsey FC v Pagham kicks off at 1.30pm today at Victoria Park.
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