The pre-season is in full swing at Cranbrook with manager Jon Martin having had his players back together for two full sessions.

What has pleased the Cranbrook boss is that a number of new faces have appeared at the sessions, though he is always delighted to welcome even more new blood to the thriving football club.

Martin says; “On and off the pitch things are moving at pace. The clubhouse has not been signed off just yet, but it does look like it is getting the go ahead and should be with us, and in use, by the start of next season.”

He continued: “As for the pre-season sessions, they have been well attended with around 15 players attending and half of them are new to the club! That is very encouraging.”

In terms of players committing to the Cranbrook cause, Martin has secured the services of a new striker. He says: “I have made one new signing so far and it’s a striker who has committed to play full-time this coming campaign. There is also a ‘top quality’ central midfielder who can also clearly play in a number of other positions. He has not committed just yet, but I am very hopeful he might.”

There is one thing that is frustrating Martin, something he explained saying: “I am still looking for maybe one or two quality additions to the squad.

“The problem seems to be that there are a number of talented footballers now living in Cranbrook, but, though they live in the Town it seems its either a case of them still being with the home town clubs of where they moved from, or simply do not want to drop down a couple of divisions!”

He continued: “I do know that there are players living in Cranbrook who are taking on 50-mile round trips to play for Division Two or Three sides who, quite frankly, are no better than a lot of teams in the Division Four where we shall be plying our trade next season. That said, it’s a free country and it’s the players own choices of where they want to play their football, and, if we are to retain last years squad and add a couple of players of quality to strengthen the squad and create good competition for places, then I shall be very happy.”

Cranbrook’s first pre-season game is on Saturday week (August 4) when they entertain Silverton and six days later they play a Friday night (August 10) game at home to Alphington Reserves before a Monday, August 13 game at Tedburn St Mary and finally a Saturday, August 18, trip to Bishopsteignton Reserves.