Rye hoping to repeat last season’s feats

Rye will be without key duo Pete Brown and Ben Short during the coming season

Last term was the best ever for the New Roaders as they came sixth in the league and overcame local rivals Hastings & Bexhill to claim the Sussex Shield title - the first piece of silverware for the club in over a decade.

Senior player Gary Edmunds hopes that this term will be a continuation from the impressive 2012/13 campaign, starting with a trip to Crowborough II on Saturday.

He said: “Last season was very good, as we did very well in the league. Hopefully we can finish in a similar position this season, but unfortunately a few players have left us because of work and university commitments.

“Pete Brown and Ben Short have left, which isn’t ideal. But, Lee Thomson has returned and he will be a strong addition to the squad.”

Edmunds and his team-mates are not sure what to expect from their opponents this weekend.

He said: “They’re a bit of an unknown quantity if I’m being honest, we can’t be sure of who will play for them. However, their first team have a game on Saturday as well, so we should be able to make a game of it.”

Although Rye did not play any friendlies during pre-season, the club did hold an internal competition for family and friends.

Edmunds added: “We tried a few new things out on the pitch, but it was just good to get the families involved, and to have them down at the ground watching.”