Promotion is a must for Windsor & Eton

Windsor & Eton FC assistant manager Jim Melvin is confident the Royalists are in shape and ready to play a high standard of football as they bid to win Southern League Division 1.

A trip to Gosport Borough awaits Windsor tomorrow (Saturday) and they are raring to get the season underway after a long pre-season campaign.

“The team is looking significantly fitter than last year,” said Melvin. “The boys have given so much effort and we’re playing good football. But playing nice football is great, but winning is even better.

“Gosport won’t be easy, but we’ll be going down there with our strongest team.”

Melvin believes that the Royalists have a strong enough squad to challenge for the top spot and automatic promotion. He said: “I want to win the league. People say to aim for the play-offs but if you do that and fall short you get nothing. If you aim for the championship and fall short then you’re in the play-offs.

“We’re going to try and win it. We’ve got a good set of lads, a good team spirit and good direction. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go into the season full of confidence.”

Meanwhile, nothing less than promotion to Southern League Premier will be good enough for Windsor this season, according to vice-chairman Kevin Stott.

The Royalists’ board had hoped for promotion last season when they brought manager Keith Scott to the club in place of Simon Lane, but a final day defeat consigned Windsor to eight place and six points off the play-offs. This time however, Stott is certain they will not fall short.

“The expectations are that we will either win the championship or get promoted via the play-offs,” stated the vice-chairman.

“Given the resources, the budget and the infrastructure, anything else wouldn’t be a successful season.

“As well as promotion, a decent run in the FA Cup and FA Trophy is also expected.”

Stott explained that chairman Peter Simpson and the Windsor board are 100 per cent behind the manager and back him to deliver the goods after assembling a healthy squad during the summer.

“That (promotion) is what Keith wants, what Jim Melvin wants, what the board wants and what the club wants,” confirmed Stott. There is a belief in him and support from the board. Keith and Jim have a belief which is passed on to the players.”

Of the new arrivals to Stag Meadow during the off-season, Stott said: “Keith talks about the spine of the team and I think we have that now. If we play to our potential then we’ll do well.

“Providing we are consistent, we can get promoted.”