Hopefully we can do ourselves justice, says Welling United boss Jamie Day

The Wings sealed the Conference South title last season and open their Skrill Premier campaign with a trip to Welsh giants Wrexham on Saturday.

Day has put his players’ through their paces during pre-season and he cannot wait to get started against one of the biggest club’s in the division.

“I think it’s been a steady pre-season,” reflected Day.  “We’ve worked on a few things and tried a few different systems and changed our play slightly a little bit.

“I’m pleased with how we’ve done. It’s been a slow progress.  Over the last week or so we’ve upped it a little bit and I’m happy where we are.”

Day added: “I’m not the greatest fan of pre-season. I think it has its benefits of what we need to do to prepare for the new season. That’s the aim of it and that’s what we’ve done and we’re looking now to the start of the season.”

That start cannot come much together than playing Wrexham at The Racecourse Ground.

“It’s a fantastic achievement to get there,” admitted Day.

“To get Wrexham first game is a tough ask. They’re a massive club with a lot of history and they’re a club that should be in the Football League, which is their aim at the start of the season.

“We know it’s going to be really tough, but we’ve got to go to places like this. We’ve prepared right. We’re staying overnight which we think is the best preparation and hopefully it works in our favour.

“I think you look at the jump is a big one and you’ve got the bulk of the Premier League now are clubs that all feel they should be in League football and we’re one of the other clubs that are in the league, probably six or seven who haven’t been in the League and are a few distance from it on and off the pitch, so we’ve got to enjoy this season. We’ve earned the right to be there and we have to do the best we possibly can.

“It’s going to be a tough season, one we’re looking forward though and hopefully we can do ourselves justice.

“It’s going to be a tough game. They’ve got a lot of ex-League players and are full time. They’ve got a massive advantage but we’ve got some very good youngsters who potentially can step up and could play higher.  This is their first step up playing at a better level.

“They might need time to adjust but hopefully we can go there and be confident on the ball and try and pass and play like we’ve done in pre-season and hopefully defend well and see where it takes us.

“I’m not stupid enough to say we’re going to be favourites to win the game but we want to give ourselves the best chance against a very good outfit who are looking to get promotion.”

Welling United remained unbeaten at Park View Road during their title winning season in Conference South and welcome Cambridge United next Tuesday night.

Day wants his side to keep Park View Road a fortress and for supporters to flock through the turnstiles through thick and thin.

“It will be nice,” said Day. “I think that will be key on how we do this year. We need to make sure our home form’s good and try and pick up points away from home when we can.

“The first month is extremely tough. Cambridge have spent well and brought some new players in and they feel they should be near the top of the league this year going for it.

“It’s not going to be an easy game but we’ve got home advantage and hopefully we can make that count and put in a good performance.

“We need a lot of people to come through the gates to cheer the team on whether we’ve been winning or losing.

“For us to have a good home record will be key as well supporting the boys’ through thick and thin which they have done since I’ve been here.”

Day’s aspirations for the season ahead are simple.

“I think first and foremost we need to stay in the league,” he said.

“We have to be realistic. There’s a lot of big clubs who feel they should be in the league or higher so they’re all competing and I think there’s possibly two leagues within the league and we have to do well in the league that’s in the lower half of the table.

“We want to finish as high as we possibly can and we’ve told that to the players.  We have to be realistic and see where our club is and we’ve got enough to aim for.

“If we finish midtable that will be a massive achievement. First and foremost we have to do enough to stay in the league.

Day admitted managing Welling United in The Skrill Premier is his biggest challenge to date.

“Yes, I think so,” he said.  “Since I’ve been at the club we’ve always had a progression so we’d like to do the same again. It’s a different progression this season.

“Our aims have changed slightly so for me if we do stay up that will be a massive achievement for a club this size and for me if we can do that it’s as good as winning the league last year.

“That’s our aim. Hopefully we’ve got enough to do that.

“I think when you step up to a new league playing new teams and new grounds it’s like the Third Division now. They’ve got some massive clubs with big gates and there will be a massive gate on Saturday, which will probably be more than the boys’ have played against so it’s a new experience.  All the boys will be looking forward to it.

“I’m looking forward to testing myself against very good managers who have managed in the League so it’s a challenge for me as well as the players.”

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com/wp

Wrexham  v  Welling United
The Skrill Premier
Saturday 10^th August 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Racecourse Ground, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AH