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Millers are on the up

Simon Smedley
23/ 7/2008

NEW Mills boss Tony Hancock is not ruling out another promotion-winning campaign for his team next season.

Hancock spoke to the Express after his side - last season’s North West Counties second division champions - thumped UniBond League outfit Salford City 4-1 in a pre-season friendly game last weekend thanks to goals from new boys Rhodri Giggs [2], Peter Band and Matty Zajac.

Hancock said: "Prospects are looking very encouraging so far. We needed to strengthen the squad, and after bringing three or four new faces in we are looking good.

"It was a great result for us to beat a Salford side who themselves were promoted from our league into the UniBond in May.

"Hopefully the signings of Band, Giggs, Josh Howard and Paul Garvey are really going to help us push on again next season.

"The top two go up from the North West Counties first next term, and I don’t think that will be unachievable for us.

"I’ve had great backing from the board once again, it’s now my job to deliver the goods out on the pitch again."

Hancock is still in talks with another striker he’s after signing, while of the players who have already put pen to paper at Church Lane, Band is an experienced former Hyde United and Altrincham midfielder, Giggs is a dangerous ex-Salford and Mossley wide-man, and Garvey joins from Mossley.

Hancock has also snapped up talented left-midfielder Stuart Cook from Welsh side Connah’s Quay after successfully securing international clearance.

The Millers host Macclesfield Town tonight [Wed], then travel to AFC Blackpool on Saturday.

Their North West Counties first division campaign gets underway on August 9 with a home game against Formby.