Southern Yate determined to keep up the good work

MARK Thorne weighed up Yate Town's “challenging and exciting” position back at the elite level of Southern League football and urged: “It’s imperative we dig in and stay put this time”

- Simon PARKINSON

One of the chief driving forces as chairman for the Bluebells’ resurgence over the two seasons since their Premier South relegation tumble, Thorne believes the South Gloucestershire club are in “positive shape” to commence their campaign tomorrow at home against Southampton-based Sholing.

Yate reinforced their ranks with the summer acquisitions of Gloucester City central midfielder and central defender respectively Dayle Grubb and Dan Ball, both 33.

Skilful midfielder Rex Mannings, 25, who enjoyed a loan period with the Bluebells in 2023, returned to South West Interiors Stadium as manager Darren Mullings’ first close season signing, having also had spells at high levels of non-League with Bath City, Frome Town, Weston-super-Mare and Chippenham Town.

Mullings didn’t stop there, hauling in defender Charlie White and midfielder Charlie Moody on loan from Bristol Rovers, who also supplied them with versatile under-18 defender Wil Turner on a similar short term arrangement.

Yate’s highly-rated goalkeeper Aaron Sainsbury, who finally succumbed to a longstanding hip condition in January by undergoing surgery, is back in business between the sticks.

His club did bid farewell to utility man Will Christopher and young winger Stan Wyatt to Melksham Town and Larkhall Athletic respectively but otherwise have kept the bulk of last season’s Division One South — championship-winning squad firmly intact, with Joe Guest skippering them once more from the heart of midfield.

It's not all been plain sailing at Lodge Road over the summer, as Thorne explained: “We had four preseason games cancelled by our opponents for various reasons, which wasn’t great. In the end we played four times, three of them at home which were well supported.