HEREFORD manager Josh Gowling feels the opening month of National League North games will give his squad a flavour of what the league has in store.
After opening their season with an FA Cup tie on Saturday, October 3 the Bulls will head to Southport in their opening league game three days later. October sees Hereford make away trips to Southport, Guiseley and Spennymoor Town, while they will host York and Bradford Park Avenue.
“It’s nice that the fans have got something to look forward to that’s the main thing,” said Gowling.
“A couple of people have said it’s not a nice start but I think it’s great. Some of the lads haven’t played at this level but if you look at the fixtures those four or five fixtures probably encapsulate what the league is about from top to bottom to middle.
“It will give the lads a really good insight into the league.
“For us it’s one game at a time FA Cup first and then going into Southport away. The lads are focused and we’ll get there.
“For all levels really you’ve got your squad and you go into the season and probably have a look in the first 10 games if there are areas to improve on.
“It will show up some things and that’s where you can probably delve into the loan market and look at things there.”
Currently Covid-19 guidelines and advice are only allowing Hereford to expect a reduced capacity of 1,325 fans into Edgar Street.
The club are currently offering fans season ticket renewals in four phases starting with fans in the Meadow End and Len Weston Terrace.
The opening day of renewals saw terrace season ticket sales pass 150.
During Tuesday night’s 3-1 defeat at Halesowen Town the Bulls fielded 13 trialist in their squad.
Gowling hopes that the squad is coming together ahead of the league campaign.
“Obviously we want to get our squad sorted soon,” he added. “We’ve lost two in the last week or so just for financial reasons they didn’t want to stay, which is fine, so we’ve had some new faces in.
“We’re getting there, speaking to a few players, so the squad is coming together. We’ve spoke to a few of the trialists and a few decisions have been made.
“Obviously there are some fresh faces in today so we will look at them and look at hopefully getting something sorted in the next couple of weeks.”
