Goole AFC manager Mike Carmody believes playing in April and May has helped his side cope with disruption in pre-season.
Despite the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division campaign opener with Thackley being just over a week away, Goole have only taken to the field twice in pre-season.
However, having done nearly all his recruitment in the spring – signings such as Carl Stewart, Sam Cable and Luke Williams – Carmody reckons the pre-pre-season has been beneficial.
“We have played two pre-season friendlies and had two cancelled for different reasons,” Carmody told Non League Yorkshire.
“The first one with Bishop Auckland was covid issues – more precaution as teams were waiting for results.
“The Glasshoughton game which was due to be played last night (Tuesday) was purely cancelled as they didn’t want to play on a Tuesday and then Pontefract on a Friday night in their cup game – I can understand that.
“I suppose myself and Jacko have been really lucky as we were able to play four or five friendlies after we came out of lockdown.
“That made us able to establish the players we wanted.
“It has been disruptive but you have to manage it the best you can and hope we can get Saturday’s game at Rossington on and maybe one more before the season starts.
“All teams are in the same boat. You just have to be ready for when the season starts, but I think it is going to be disruptive for the next few weeks until when or if it settles down.”
The Rossington game is currently the final act of Goole’s pre-season campaign and Carmody admits he does not feel playing few friendly fixtures is a bad thing as his lads have trained well regularly.
He said: “Some teams have played seven or eight friendlies and I question ‘is that too much’?
“I don’t know? Do you pick up injuries? I don’t know?
“We had five friendlies booked in and we thought that was enough.
“Unfortunately with the current situation, for one reason or another it looks like we’re only going to be playing three.
“But maybe we can squeeze another one in.
“We have actually been really lucky as the lads who have been waiting for test results haven’t been around our group.
“We have trained a lot so although it is not as competitive as pre-season games we have put the lads through their paces.
“We’re not far away. We would have liked to have played some more games, but you can only do what you can do.
“The lads are up to speed and I feel we have a good group which I’m really pleased with.
“Never-say-never that you bring some more players in, but we’re certainly not actively looking to bring people in over the people who have been with us in pre-season.”