Saints ended last season as runner-up in the Priaulx League. It had all looked rather more promising after claiming the Spirit Cup, Rawlinson Cup and Martinez Trophy in pre-season, but they did not lift any more silverware despite making it to the finals of the Guernsey FA Cup, Stranger Cup and Jeremie Cup.
They retained a slimmed down Spirit Cup and made the final of the Rawlinson Cup, but lost to Sylvans, and will now face North in the Martinez Trophy tonight.
‘We’re looking forward to the new season.Obviously last season didn’t end the way we wanted it to with us coming second in the league and second in a couple of the cups,’ said assistant coach Sam Ashplant.
‘It was tough on myself, Ben [Hunter], and a lot of the players. We’ve started pre-season all right, but we also know we started pre-season well last year and obviously didn’t follow through, so this year we’re more focused on the Priaulx and those big trophies in April or May time.
‘We know we can compete with the top teams in the table and our goal is come April to have that Priaulx trophy back at the Saints clubhouse.’
St Martin’s squad for the new season remains largely unchanged, but a few players are pushing to get into Guernsey FC squads.
‘Not too many people have left, we’ve got some people going to GFC – fair play to them – and we’ve got a few coming back like Louis Hunter, but he is also pushing for GFC,’ said Ashplant.
‘We know we’re in a bit of a development phase having lost a few players to GFC over the last few years.
‘We’ve had Frazer [Maginnis] for pre-season, but unfortunately he’s off to Australia in a few weeks. Our squads largely remain the same from last year, there won’t be too many changes.’
St Martin’s start their new Priaulx League campaign on Saturday 5 September when they will host Rangers.
First five games
Saturday 5 September
Priaulx League – Rangers, 2pm, BPL.
Saturday 12 September
Jeremie Cup – Rangers, 5pm, BPL.
Saturday 19 September
Priaulx League – Sylvans, 3pm, St Peter’s.
Saturday 3 October
Priaulx League – North, 2pm, Northfield.
Saturday 17 October
Priaulx League – Bels, 2pm, Track.
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