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Pickering gears up

Simon Smedley
18/ 6/2008

ALLY Pickering has been busy getting his squad re-organisation underway at Woodley Sports.

Pickering, who was re-appointed last month as Woodley boss after Ash Berry’s departure at the end of last season, has been on the phone to and meeting a number of new players who have agreed to join him at Lambeth Grove next season.

Left-back Paul Collins has agreed to join Woodley from Yorkshire outfit Bradford Park Avenue, while Pickering is still in talks with former Mossley midfielder Ross Clegg and ex-Hyde and Bradford Park Avenue favourite Paul Gedman.

Last season’s impressive young goalkeeper Liam Higginbotham has agreed to stay with Woodley, while popular ex-players Danny Queeley and Gavin Salmon have told Pickering that they will re-sign for the club within the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, Woodley’s pre-season friendly fixture campaign gets underway on July 1 with a home game against Dukinfield Town.

Pickering said: "That game has mainly been arranged to give me a chance to take a look at the players who have said they will join us for pre-season training.

"All of last season’s squad will be given the opportunity to try and make an impact with us again next term, if that’s what they want."

After the Dukinfield game, pre-season training will begin in earnest on July 3, then on Thursday, July 10, Woodley host Glossop North End, before travelling to Abbey Hey on Saturday, July 19.

Stockport County play at Lambeth Grove on Tuesday, July 22 [7.45pm], then Woodley go to Leigh RMI on July 26.

A visit to Bacup Borough follows on July 29, then Sports welcome Atherton Collieries on Saturday, August 2 [3pm ko].