SQUAD A MIX OF YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE
It's been all change at Lordswood over the summer. Many of last season's players have joined former boss Richard Styles at Tunbridge Wells. It meant new manager Darren Anslow having to completely rebuild the squad.
The former Chatham Town and Rochester United boss said: "We had no players, they all went to Tunbridge Wells, so we started with a clean slate.
"We've looked to bring in a mixture of experience and youth.
"We're not running with a massive squad, probably around 18 or so, but that could change depending on things like results in the FA Cup and Vase."
Luke Medley has come in to play up top and Anslow has experienced players such as Rob Gillman and Marlon Patterson in the squad, along with Jai McKinlay who was with runners-up Corinthian last season. He has been around the Ryman Leagues for some time but is still young.
They have pace with the likes of Jordan Samuel arriving from Welling Town and former Bridon Ropes player Tyler Anderson-Parr also joining the squad.
Among the youngsters is Motiejus Burba, an under-17 Lithuanian international who was formerly at Crystal Palace.
"It's always good to have that pace in the side, especially at this level," said Anslow.
"We want to be solid but we also want to have an outlet.
"Luke has been around it for years and we're expecting him to score at this level, we would expect him to score at the level above."
Anslow is realistic about the clubs prospects this season. They start on Saturday with a match against Glebe, one of the teams the Lordswood boss expects to battle it out at the top of the Southern Counties East League. Lordswood finished 10th last season under Styles.
"For Lordswood to break into the group just below those top sides would be progression for the club," said the manager.
"We have to be realistic and i'm sure the rest of the teams outside the top few are thinking the same.
"We need our senior players to help out the younger ones, who will have some inconsistency, we expect that, but it's about how we get through that."
Report taken from Medway Messenger