Bognor coach: Lockdown and fundraisers have got me itching for Rocks return

In just over a fortnight, Blake will lead the squad’s first pre-season training session as the club build up to a new season in new surroundings.

Blake has been blown away by the crowdfunding drive which has secured £50,000 towards major ground improvement works going ahead between now and the start of the season.

The former Bradford, Burnley and Leeds striker says the support the club’s fans and the wider community have shown for the Rocks in the lockdown has served to sharpen bosses’ desire to produce a successful side.

Blake has cut a frustrated figure since football was halted by the coronavirus pandemic and the shutdown of sport that followed.

He is champing at the bit to get the Rocks squad back together and prepare for another Isthmian premier division promotion bid.

It will be a squad with a few changes from last year’s line-up, though.

As reported last week, top scorer Dan Smith has joined Eastleigh, with a tribunal set to rule on the amount of compensation the Spitfires have to pay Bognor. And now left-back Kristian Campbell, who returned for a second Nyewood Lane spell a few weeks before the premature end to the 19-20 season, has joined National League South side Tonbridge Angels.

The Rocks have already secured the services of ex-Pompey forward Brad Lethbridge for the new campaign after his release from Fratton Park, while goalkeeper Amadou Tangara, midfielder Tommy Leigh and left-sided utility man Ashton Leigh are all on board.

Blake said the process of talking to others from last season’s squad about rejoining was well under way but he expected one or two move on and some new faces to arrive.

He said: “There’s a lot of uncertainty in football at the moment.

“No-one knows for sure when the season will start and a lot of clubs don’t know what they can offer players.

“I’m confident that as the weeks go by we’ll have in place a good, talented squad that can do well in the Isthmian premier again.

“We’ve not trained as a group yet. We’ve been keeping in touch with players and they have their own programmes to follow and are doing well with them. We get back together on August 3 and I can’t wait – it’s been a long time.

“We’ll play a few pre-season friendlies and be ready for the league to start, whenever that may be.”

Blake said the departure of Smith created a big opportunity for Lethbridge to shine. “We’re disappointed for Brad that he’s come out of the professional game but if he knuckles down and takes the right advice and works hard, there is a tremendous player there. I’m excited that he’s chosen Bognor to make the next step in his career.

“There’ll be an onus on him to lead the line but we mustn’t rely too heavily on Brad. We need all parts of the team to contribute goals and assists.”

Blake and manager Jack Pearce have heaped praise on those who helped the club’s £50,000 fundraising be reached hours before the scheme closed on Monday.

The money will help pay for the summer’s Nye Camp revamp and Blake said: “It’s absolutely incredible. So many people deserve so much credit for all that’s happening off the field. It will only make us more determined than ever to succeed on the pitch. It shows what an amazing spirit there is about the place.”