Reavell sets sights on more progress for the Hornets

Stuart Reavell is confident Debenham LC can continue to progress up the Thurlow Nunn League First Division table next season.

Ahead of his second term in charge at Friends Meadow, the Debenham head coach believes his squad are capable of improving on last season’s seventh place finish.

“We started pre-season training early on the 16th of June and have been able to keep the majority of the squad from last season,” Reavell said.

“I’m hoping we can build on last season.

“We’ve gone from finishing 15th to 12th to seventh and are hoping to compete again this season.”

Debenham began their pre-season friendlies with a 2-0 win at Suffolk and Ipswich League Leiston St Margarets on Saturday, with Shaun Thorrold and Tom Fenner both on target for the Hornets.

Reavell’s side then lost 3-2 in their next friendly away at newly-promoted Anglian Combination Premier Division side Scole United on Tuesday night.

And heading into their first home friendlies of the summer against East Bergholt United (tomorrow, 3pm) and Felixstowe and Walton United (Tuesday, 7.45pm), the Debenham boss is looking to make more strides towards getting ready for the upcoming campaign.

“I want us to keep playing fluent football,” Reavell said. “Pre-season is about testing the water and making sure the players are comfortable in the position you are playing in.

“We didn’t get out of the blocks in the first-half against Scole and were put to the sword. We had a chat at the interval and came out and held them in their own half and scored a couple.”

Following the departures of Rob Kemp (retired) and Reece Clarke (Long Melford) this summer, Reavell has bolstered his squad with four new signings.

Left back Nile Francis and central midfielder Jake Gathercole arrive from Hadleigh United and Walsham-le-Willows from the league above, while Michael Beaton (Leiston) and Ryan Ellis (unassigned) have also joined the club.