Bognor's focus is firmly on 2021-22 push for glory

Robbie Blake is confident the current Rocks squad can make a big push for success next season.
Bognor - pictured celebrating an FA Trophy goal against Tooting - were in fine form before the 20-21 season was halted / Picture: Trev StaffBognor - pictured celebrating an FA Trophy goal against Tooting - were in fine form before the 20-21 season was halted / Picture: Trev Staff
Bognor - pictured celebrating an FA Trophy goal against Tooting - were in fine form before the 20-21 season was halted / Picture: Trev Staff

The team enjoyed a good run of form shortly before the 2020-21 season was halted. But with the Isthmian premier’s second successive curtailment having since been confirmed, they’ve not been able to show their full potential.

Bognor have no plans to get the squad together for training once outdoor sport resumes next week – there are no league or cup games to work towards now until next season.

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They’ll get together again in June or at the start of July, and despite the strength of the current squad, Blake is hopeful he and manager Jack Pearce can recruit a few new faces in the summer.

“Whether you’re happy or not, I think you always need to look at ways to improve,” Blake said.

“Hopefully, we can get somewhere around the same sort of squad of players with a couple of additions and compete at the highest level next season.

There’s no guarantee all players will want to stay next season, but Blake is confident in retaining the majority. Bognor’s progressive and attacking brand of football is an excellent platform for young players to showcase their talents to clubs higher up the footballing pyramid, as defender Ethan Robb discovered when recruited on loan by Brentford for the remainder of 2020-21.

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Blake hopes Robb’s dream move to the Championship club’s B squad will show his players what can happen if they perform well at Nyewood Lane.

“Ethan’s move to Brentford is a stark reminder to our players that, if at first you don’t get a professional contract, you should never give up on your dream.

“He’s taken on board a lot of information from Jack and I think the system we played really suited his development. Football League clubs are watching us and seeing that we do play good football – and it’s not just Ethan who’s had interest from these teams,” Blake said.

Meanwhile Pearce said there was no point getting players back in training until the start of pre-season.

They may meet up for some ‘pre-pre-season’ work in June.

But there IS action at Nyewood Lane this Saturday – volunteers are invited to help with a spruce-up of the ground, starting from around 9.30am.

Details from Dave Robinson on 07876 497929.

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