Just to let everyone know, the Reserves are to play:

Belper Town Reserves/U19's on 21 July 2007
Notts County Academy on a date TBA

This is in addition to Ilkeston Town Reserves.

Contrary to what has been said, two things, firstly Barton away. The first team was made up of a few reserves who tried their hardest against a good side. It was a valuable experience for these players and they put in honest and decent performances (I also travelled and watched them along with all the Reserve Team Manangement). The reserve players were all 18 years old and have good careers ahead of them. I will always insist that my players play with fight when representing Heanor Town first team, or reserves. Secondly, training on Thursday's isn't a 'laugh' as the 'bleep' test this week will show. All invited to test their fitness.

Danny,
Good to see you and your management team at Barton, all the young lads who got a run out looked to have promise and one or two looked to fit in well already with one or two possibly wanting a good dinner or two to put som meat on their bones, as Fossey would say.

The number 4, Bryant I think his name is, looks the part already but looking at the name, he has good connections anyway.

I like the fact that you have already organised pre-season matches already and you are continuing training through the closed season. I like organised and forward looking people they are the ones who generally succeed.

Good luck to you and your team!!

P.S. Can you still manage to keep goal? You must be one of the best keepers to have donned a Heanor shirt in the last ten years not that we need a keeper!!!!

Steve, thank you for your comments, they are really appreciated. As a reserve team we are trying to blend in young and old and want the emphasis on attracting good young players from local football and playing a fast attacking brand of football.

The lad you refer to did well, like they all did, and our aim is to provide players for the first team, simple. However, they still have lots to learn that's the reason why we will still train through the summer. I am trying to tie up a connection with an Academy to help keep the young players coming through but more on this later. We have our pre-season schedule already in place and we have contacted Burton Albion, Gresley Rovers, Eastwood Town and Pickering Town for friendlies before the start of the season. Pre-season will officially start on 27 June 2007 and most of the lads who have turned up for training and the Dunkirk game were given a letter about this and have had their weights logged for comparison when we start back. The rest will get them at the presentation. I am hoping to organise the Pickering game for when the reserves have a weekend away on 17/18th August - we are off to Scarborough and it would be nice to see some fans up there. We intend to have a club meal on the Friday, followed by a game on the Saturday and 'beach' football on the Sunday morning!

As for me playing again, well I don't think so. Nine years at Eastwood Town was enough and I have fond memories from my time there. I enjoy the coaching now and get greater rewards from seeing players improve. We have some real young talent who will go onto a higher standard of football. I did really enjoy my time at Heanor though, hence my agreement to join them. I think the fans here are some of the best around and it would be nice to see some come to the reserve games to cheer the lads on.

C'mon you Lions!!

19 players were at training tonight. Well done.

Burton Albion Reserves/U19's have agreed to play a friendly against us. Date to be announced.

Beacon FC - Saturday 11 August 2007 (arranged)

Danny, when you expecting our season to start? that should be the second week of the season!

If that's the case we will have to bring it forward. Waiting for the fixtures. Must have my Unibond head on!

We will keep it like that until I can confirm start date.

Season didn't start until August 23rd last season, why would it be any different?

danny, i cant honestly remember when the season started. i thought it was either 1st or 2nd weekend of august. and james, never heard of you, who are you my friend...

A player with too much spare time

you one of the new guys? if not, come kimerley 2 train

I already do

Another frendly has been provisionally arranged with Gresley Rovers Reserves for 12 July 2007. So, presently we have:

12.07.07 - Gresley Rovers (a)
21.07.07 - Belper Town (a)
28.07.07 - Ilkeston Town (a)
11.08.07 - Beacon FC (a)

Burton Albion - TBA
Notts County - TBA
Supporters XI - TBA

I have tried Eastwood Town but my old manager hasn't got back to me! Obviously these games are subject to change but I just wanted the fans to be aware of where they can come and shout us along.