Defender Rikki Smith says a close season overhaul of the playing roster has put Inglewood United on the cusp of an exciting new era. Although one of the local scenes longest serving clubs, trophy success has eluded Inglewood for much of its six-and-a-half-decades with just one League title and two State Cups in the cabinet.
Coach Michael Garcia is determined to add to that silverware and in doing so has revitalised the squad for the coming campaign. Former Welsh youth international Mark Pritchard and Grenada defender David Cyrus top an impressive list of recruits which Smith believes can change the club and propel them back to the top of the table.
“Things are looking promising” Smith commented. “We’ve signed quality players and it’s great that a number of the players coming in know each other as well as those already at the club, it’s like we’ve all been playing together for years. We’re like a little family already, and you need that sort of unity to be strong all season and win games and trophies.”
“I’ve heard the ‘Inglewood is a sleeping giant’ comments for quite a few years now so it’s time to stop the talk and start delivering. The committee are delivering off the pitch so it’s time for us players to start delivering on it, beginning with Night Series which we will be doing everything to win.”
With around two dozen players vying for a place in the line-up, Smith says the tempo at training is on the rise as the Night Series draws nearer. “We’ve got a great mix of youth and experience and training has been intense,” said the veteran of 154 Inglewood appearances. “Everyone knows they’ve got to perform or risk not playing.”
“The coaching group have laid out their expectations for the season ahead and working hard is a big part of it. The Gaffer (Garcia) is a very modern thinking coach, everything at training is based on game-related situations with work built around short sharp intervals. It’s the fittest I’ve been for a few years and so I’m expecting big things of myself and the team this year.”
