Steelmen look for a kickstart in the Trophy

Gary Mills has his own special history with the FA Trophy and he is hoping the competition will help kickstart Corby Town’s season this weekend.

The experienced manager’s reign at Steel Park has got off to something of a false start after an FA Cup exit at the hands of Mildenhall Town in a penalty shoot-out was followed by a 1-0 home defeat to Aylesbury United on the first day of the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central campaign last weekend.

The Steelmen are now facing a trip to Soham Town Rangers in the first qualifying round of the Trophy on Saturday.

Mills has won the Trophy twice as a manager, both times with York City in 2012 and 2017, and he knows the magic that can be created by a good run in it.

However, the only aim for this weekend is to get Corby’s season up and running.

“First and foremost, we want to win a football match,” the Steelmen boss said.

“We have lost an FA Cup tie on penalties and we lost in the league last week so, whatever the competition was this week, we have got to go and win a game of football.

“I love the FA Trophy, I think it’s a great competition and you have seen this year with Concord Rangers getting to the final that it’s possible to get there if you get the right draws and you win games when you need to.

“I have had a bit of success with the competition. We all know where the final is played and why wouldn’t you want to go and play there?

“It’s an opportunity for us. We have a couple of away games coming up so it’s important we go away and get a result and get people smiling.

“The most important thing is that I pick the right team to go and win that game.

“It’s not me just saying it but I have only been here a few weeks and I have probably learned more in the last two weeks than I did in the first four.

“You saw the pre-season games and how we played and what we were about and that has gone missing for two games.

“So it’s down to me with these players to get it right for the club.”

Mills confirmed efforts to add fresh faces to his squad had, so far, hit a wall but he reiterated that he will only bring new players in if they are better than what he already has available.

He added: “I have been speaking to a few players and unfortunately, for one reason or another, they haven’t been wanting to come.

“I want to bring a couple in who I know but if I am going to do that they need to improve what we have got already.

“I don’t want to be one of those managers who goes and signs a couple just because it looks good. They have to be the right players.”