Sandy believes pre-season friendly programme is perfect for AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Boss Elliot Sandy is very happy with his team's programme of planned pre-season friendlies as AFC Rushden & Diamonds prepare to return to training this week.
The Diamonds players return for pre-season on Thursday night ahead of the new Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division campaign, and there will be new faces as well plenty of familiar ones turning up for duty.
Sandy has been a busy man over the summer months so far, bringing in the likes of James Clifton, Max Prickett-Reed, goalkeeper Charlie Woods, midfielder Freddie Robinson and Rhys Thorpe.
The bulk of last season's squad has also been retained, and Sandy is looking forward to getting down to work, admitting that pre-season is all about one thing.
"Pre-season is all about testing yourself, but the main thing is fitness, it's a simple as that," Sandy told @AFCRDTV.
"It's about getting that work in, and we have a good mixture of friendlies.
"We have Rushden & Higham (on July 4) where it all starts, which eases our way back into things and should be a good day and a good battle.
"Then we have Rugby Town who are really going for it at Step 5 and have signed some really good players, so that will be a real challenge.
"We then play Step 4 clubs, Step 3 clubs, and then Spalding who are now Step 2, and they will all bring different types of games.
"For example, against Spalding you'd expect to be under the cosh a bit so then it is working on our shape to be more defensive.
"Then against the likes of Rushden & Higham and Rugby, with all due respect to them, it might be a bit more of a chance to show our attacking prowess, but it doesn't always work like that.
"Pre-season is for what it is, but it gives the new lads a chance to bed themselves into the team.
"For a player it's not very enjoyable, but they work hard for a reason.
"I have also told the players, it doesn't matter if I have known you for 10 minutes, two years or 10 years, it is a clean slate for everyone. If you perform well you play, and that's how it should be."