Geoff snaps up a top ten for Blues

Macclesfield's director of rugby Geoff Wappett admits he can’t wait for the new campaign to start – but says the pre-season programme is one of his favourite times of the year.

Refreshed after his summer break, the Priory Park coach has been busy rebuilding his squad ahead of the big kick-off in National League One on September 1.

"I’m looking forward to the first game against Blaydon, I can’t deny that," he said. "But I do enjoy pre-season, you’re not trying to sort out things for the next week or repairing something from the previous game.

"You can lay down the principles of what you want to achieve, it offers a good foundation for the season."

And as he’s expecting another gruelling campaign for the Blues, who’ll be aiming to improve upon last season’s sixth-place finish.

Macclesfield have lost the services of a number of players, including Mulchrone brothers Charlie and Fergus, and stalwart Ross Winney. But Wappett has been clocking up the motorway miles and minutes on his phone in his bid to put together another competitive squad.

Ten new faces have joined the Blues’ pre-season training which began last week, and Wappett is hoping for at least one more new signing before his team play their first ‘friendly’ – an internal game that he insists will be full-blooded – on August 11.

"I’m delighted with who we’ve brought in so far," added Wappett.

"We’ve signed Matthew Rhodes, a half-back. He played for me at Rotherham before he joined the marines. He’s also played at Cornish Pirates and he’s a very experienced, sharp, intelligent player. I think he’ll form a good half-back partnership with Tom Eaton.

"We’ve got more experience with Dave Marwick, a Stockport stalwart and former Cheshire captain and England Counties player. He can play anywhere across the back five."

And adding to the veterans is Andy Walker, a half-back recruited from down the road.

"Andy’s a young lad who’s come down from Scotland and he’s been impressing at Wilmslow," revealed the Blues coach. "Another great young prospect is Tom Cruse, he’s another Cheshire player who’s been playing at Stockport. He’s a hooker by trade but he’s equally gifted as a back rower."

Pace comes in the form of Wilmslow speed merchant Matt King, who plays on the wing or at full-back, and

Wappett has snapped up another former Rotherham man, centre Elliott Brierley.

"We’ve got some good experienced lads in and also young players who are very able guys and perhaps still have it to prove," said Wappett.

"Winger David Hague from Glossop played in the Durham University team that was unbeaten for two years, so he’s obviously a good prospect and it’ll be interesting to see how he progresses.

"In the pack we’ll have Joe Clowes, who was at Leicester academy. He’s still young and even though he was let go by them, he left with a big recommendation. He looks a really hardworking lad and a real prospect.

"We’ve got a big lad in Kirk Robinson, who’s a number eight and he’s an athlete. He’s got all the physical attributes, we just need to work on his mental attributes. It’s up to us to bring that to his attention but he’s young and still malleable.

"Another exciting prospect is Sam Marland. He came to us last year straight from Myerscough College, he looks an exciting prospect and he’s eager and determined.

"He’s been playing in Italy for the last year and for one reason or another it didn’t quite work out for him there so he’s back and he could be a real surprise. He’s pacy and he’s a fantastic goal kicker so I’m looking forward to seeing him in action.

"All our hard work looks to be coming to fruition now and I can’t wait to get started."

The Blues’ pre-season games are: