NPL Division One East
Craig Rouse has identified the need to strengthen the depth of his Pontefract Collieries squad before the new season kicks off in ten days’ time.
Since his return to the club in January, Rouse has totally rebooted the Colls side and put his own stamp on it.
Many of the heroes of the past have come back – such as Jack Greenhough, Vaughan Redford, striker Eli Hey, magician Kane Reece and Mikey Dunn – so the Ponte line-up looks very competitive.
However, a recent outbreak has opened Rouse’s eyes to potential shortcomings.
“I still feel we need to make a couple of additions to strengthen the squad to give the lads some support,” Rouse told Non League Yorkshire.
“You can’t read too much into pre-season and get carried away because it is false but we had won every game (up to mid-July).
“We then had an enforced ten-day break as we had a positive case and we’ve had close contact in the changing room so everyone had to isolate.
“Ever since then we have been down on numbers because people have tested positive later or had knocks and niggles.
“We’ve been away from regular football for a while so you’re going to get muscle injuries.
“We have almost run with a depleted squad for three or four weeks.
“I think we have learnt over the last couple of weeks that we have needed to add a few bodies to (the squad).
“We’re really happy with the squad we have built but it is about having support so when we do have two-or-three players away, it doesn’t weaken us.
“We want to make sure the depth of the group is stronger.
“You want more competitiveness as well.
“I want players on their toes and knowing they have to perform.”
Most of the side committed themselves to the Colls back in February shortly after Rouse’s much-heralded ascent to the throne.
The Colls played matches in April and May and Rouse agrees those two months have been very beneficial.
“We wanted to use the period to retain the boys we wanted from last season and bring back the (old) lads back to the club and recruit some new ones,” he said.
“We wanted to use that period to bed everyone together and let them get to know each other and get into the winning habit.
“It worked to our advantage because it allowed us to get in and start building something.
“It was a really important period and it allowed us to come into pre-season with almost a familiar group and we’ve obviously added to it since and we’ve kicked on.
“Hopefully when the season starts it will bear fruition.”
The Colls struggled last season under former Rotherham United midfielder Andy Monkhouse.
Monkhouse had to start from scratch with his squad having only inherited a few.
Through no fault of his own, the bond between the supporters and players was struck and that meant no feel-good atmosphere.
Rouse has had the luxury of the clubhouse being open for business during the pre-season friendlies and he is pleased with how the club is progressing.
“I felt sorry (for last season’s management team) for having to try and build a new side in the middle of a pandemic and not being able to socialise together,” he said.
“It was a tough scenario (for Andy Monkhouse) in his first management position.
“Bringing local players back to the club was something we spoken back in the previous spell with the club.
“It brings a feel-good factor to the club and once you do that you can lift attendances by 50 or 60 people.
“We want to get that feel-good factor back and the local factor back so that the place and the crowd were lifted.
“Hopefully we can continue to grow that.
“The crowds have turned out for the friendlies and we have been able mix with supporters in the last few and get in the clubhouse.
“Some of the players have played down there for years and they have a connection with the supporters so it obviously gives you a base to start from.
“So we’ve seen the feel-good factor back in the supporters and hopefully we can continue to give them something to cheer about.
“Everything has been moving in the right direction.
“The pandemic has been frustrating for everybody but as a club it has allowed us to get off-field work started.
“There’s a lot of projects going on at the club and things are getting completed so the off-the-field it has been a really positive time.
“For us on-the-field it has been a really good time and we managed to build what I feel is a really competitive squad.
“Hopefully we will prove that when the season starts.”
Pontefract kick off the season with the mouth-watering local derby with Ossett United at Beechnut Lane.