Cambridge City Men’s I head coach Grant Gilmour expects new-look side to take time to gel in Men’s Hockey League Division One North
Cambridge City Men’s I head coach Grant Gilmour has admitted patience will be needed before his side clicks into gear this season.
The 2021/22 campaign was tough going for Gilmour, who stepped into the role late last summer in place of Gareth Andrew amid a number of player departures.
However, under his guidance the largely inexperienced team rallied against the odds and retained their Men’s Hockey League Division One North status.
It has been another off-season of comings and goings at Wilberforce Road, although Gilmour is confident he will have a stronger group of players at his disposal once understandings are forged.
“Last season was really tough for us,” he said. “The side was half built with youth players which is pretty much unheard of at our level but they did so well, especially before Christmas.
“After that we lost a couple of our best players but the job was done by then and we’d only have been caught by some sort of miracle.
“It’s going to be tough again because we’ve had to spend a lot of the summer recruiting but we’ve now got in a few players with National League experience.
“I feel like the team is in a better place but it’s a brand new team and it’s going to take time before we’re firing.
“I expect the second half of the season to be better when we’ve got those understandings.
“It’s going to take patience from me and the players. We’ll be working on the tactics, when to press and things like that, but in the first half of the season it’s going to come down to desire and work rate while the ideas are sinking in.”
In terms of incomings, Conor Annand has arrived to bolster the frontline alongside Scottish player Duncan Rudd – formerly of University of St Andrews Hockey Club – and Letchworth brothers Connor and Rogan Pond.
City get started on Sunday (September 25) at home versus Olton & West Warwickshire, while the Women’s I start 24 hours earlier with a trip to their Canterbury counterparts.
