With only two days to go until the start of the new season, most players can’t wait to finally get going, and new Cheltenham Town right-back Jack Barthram is no different.
Following his summer switch from Swindon, he’s happy with how pre-season has gone; “I’m feeling confident, we’ve had a good pre-season. We can still improve but I think the boys are ready to go.
“I’m pleased with my pre-season, I feel very fit and strong and I am looking forward to the season starting” he added when discussing his personal efforts during the off season, including a string of performances in what appears a settled back four.
With 14 new players brought in by manager Gary Johnson since last season some feared it could take time for the players to gel, but Jack doesn’t think that will be a problem, “The atmosphere is very good, there’s a lot of banter flying around and everyone’s loving each other”.
For new players it can sometimes take a while to adjust to working with a new set of coaching staff, however Jack is revelling at the opportunity, “Working with Gary and Russell has been great. I’d already heard a lot of good things about them both. I’m only five weeks into working with the guys here but I can’t wait to keep working with them for the rest of the season to keep improving”.
Following the club’s relegation, the former Spurs youngster has only got eyes in one direction in terms of the club’s final league position come April 30th next year, “We’ve got to get promoted haven’t we! So at least in the top five but I’m looking for that number one spot!”
Jack and the rest of the squad don’t have long to wait now until the action gets back underway, with the first game in the National League coming this Saturday away at Lincoln. Let’s hope Jack’s ambitions can be matched on the pitch and we see the Robins back in League 2 for next season.
* Cheltenham travel to Lincoln City for their first Vanarama National League match of the season on Saturday (3pm).