Soham Town Rangers aiming to play 'front foot' football after last season's Step 4 relegation

It is no great secret that the last few seasons have been tough going for Soham Town Rangers.

Up against established Step 4 clubs with superior budgets, the Greens have had to scrap for every single point.

They did so admirably, but last summer’s lateral switch into the Pitching In Northern League Midlands Division proved to be an obstacle too far.

Travelling time increased greatly, players departed and even a mid-season switch in management was unable to halt the slide towards relegation.

But in the long term could that have been a blessing in disguise? The disappointment of demotion has since made way for optimism as Soham prepare for a first season in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division since they were crowned champions in 2008.

And for Lloyd Groves, who has stayed in joint charge alongside Matt Clements, he is looking forward to the prospect of being able to send his side out to play on the front foot.

“For years Soham have done really well to punch above their weight and the previous management team did a great job of stablising the club at Step 4,” he said.

“Last year was extremely tough after the league switch, but we still didn’t want to be relegated. Clemmo and I are not in this to be losers and so it was disappointing to go down.

“But pre-season has been bright, we’ve kept about 80 per cent of the lads from last year that we wanted to stick around and we’ve been able to add some real quality.

“There is a good vibe about the place, whereas last year understandably we were down in the dumps.

“Hopefully we can enjoy finding ways to go and win games. We’ve spent a long time on the back foot but now more often than not it will be about getting on the front foot.

“It’s far from an easy league – there are some tough sides and some big budgets, but hopefully we can be a side that will be feared.”

Among the batch of summer incomings is the arrival of the Brown brothers – Luke and Alex.

Both have played for the club before and they return from higher-league clubs with Luke having been Stowmarket Town’s leading goalscorer last season in the Isthmian League North Division, while defender Alex played at Step 3 for Hitchin Town.

Commenting on the addition of the siblings, Groves said: “Luke is a fantastic signing. He’s been with us before and he also played for Clemmo at Godmanchester.

“His goal record is fantastic and he’ll get the headlines, but bringing in Alex is just as much as a coup for us.

“He was defending well at Step 3 last year and he’ll also give us a bit of flair going forward.

“What’s most pleasing is the fact they made contact with us. They wanted to be a part of something exciting and we managed to convince them that Soham was the right place.

“It’s great to have got both of them over the line – signing both was a no brainer as soon as the chance came along.”

Soham will end their Step 5 exile on Saturday when the new season gets under way with the visit of Walsham-le-Willows to Julius Martin Lane (3pm).

The Suffolk side, who have a number of young players within their squad, impressed on their way to a seventh-placed finish last term under Trevor Collins’ management.

Meanwhile, Soham’s Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round tie at Thetford Town – originally scheduled for August 6 – has come forward a day and will now take place on August 5 with a 7.45pm kick off.