Westbury United gear up for new season

THE start of the new season is approaching fast and at Meadow Lane, confidence is high, with a strong team that has its  sights firmly set on being champions.

The club welcomed Swindon Town FC to Meadow Lane on Saturday 15th July to a crowd of over 200 who were treated to an end-to-end match which finished 1-1.

Westbury United manager, Neil Kirkpatrick was pleased with the performance and is looking forward to the start of the season.

“It was a great day for the club and it was brilliant to see a good crowd there to support us,” he said.

“I was really pleased with the performance. The first 20 minutes we let them play too much and we weren’t closing them down but once we got into the game, we had a lot of possession and some great chances – we should have won really.

“The squad is strong and we have competition in every position, so the lads have to work hard to get their place in the final 11. We’ve signed a few great players which has strengthened the team; if we have an injury or suspension, we know we’ve got a good player to put in.

“The start of the season couldn’t come soon enough – we’re ready and looking forward to it. I hope we have the support of the local fans and they come and watch us as much as they can.”

Chairman, Matt Bright said, “We were delighted to welcome Swindon Town to Meadow Lane and it was a great day. It was really nice to have the Westbury United Youth Team lead out both teams; they were really excited before hand and did a great job.

“The lads, management and committee were delighted with the performance. Swindon were a very fit and fluid outfit and brought their game for sure. Westbury nearly won the game with a late effort and definitely finished the stronger team.

“Everything is gearing up nicely for the start of the season. Our aim this year is to win the league and by retaining the current team and adding some quality in important positions, the squad is exactly where we want it to be.

“There’s been some exciting changes at Meadow Lane as well. We’ve spent a lot of effort on giving the ground a new lease of life. We’ve painted the wall which surrounds the entire pitch, we have new astroturf outside the dug out, we have new goal nets, we’ve now got a physiotherapy room and the changing rooms have been fully refurbished. We have also given the club house a spruce up with new flooring and seating – we want it to have a more family-friendly feel, so people can feel comfortable bringing their children along to the games.

“We’re really proud of all the hard work that has gone into making the ground look smart and professional and we hope to see a lot more local people on the sidelines this season supporting the lads.”