Daventry United trio make the switch to Racing

With none of last season’s first-team squad returning to Townsend Meadow for the new campaign, O’Callaghan and assistant Tony Clarke have been working flat out to assemble a new side in time for the opening friendly against Stratford Town on Tuesday night.

Paul Wilkinson has joined from Stockton but O’Callaghan has had to spread his net wider in order to bring in fresh talent, with Adam Creaney and Tommy and Ian Waldock, pictured, joining from Daventry United and Marcel Richards making the switch from Coleshill.

Former Coventry youth keeper Jacob Collett and ex-Northampton Academy product Jack Wise are also among the new faces, with several more players expected to be confirmed over the next few days.

And while the former Redditch assistant is happy with the progress made so far, he admits it will take time to fulfil his remit of making the Midland Combination side the first choice for players from the district.

“If I could, I’d have 11 local lads,” said O’Callaghan.

“But with Whitnash, Stockton and Southam all doing well, Racing Club fall down the pecking order.

“I’m hopeful of getting in four or five more local lads, but a lot of them are content and don’t want to test themselves - they’re happy playing with their mates.

“I’ve no problem with that, but if you’ve got anything about you, you should want to test yourself at the best level you can.”

O’Callaghan is still in talks with players at Southern League level

in the hope of bringing in two or three experienced heads, but says fans heading down to Hampton Road can expect to see a much more youthful outfit under his stewardship.

“It’s going to be a young side, but we’re not going to just be making up the numbers.

“Hopefully, they’ll learn quickly and we’ll set ourselves up to tight and compact, but with the ability to hurt sides as well.

“So far the commitment has been excellent in training and everything is going the way it should be.

“But you don’t build a football club in just six weeks.”

In addition to the home friendly against Stratford, Racers have finalised four more home pre-season fixtures, including the inaugural Castle Cup, which will see them do battle with Kenilworth Town on July 28 (3pm).

Racing Club friendlies

Tues July 10 Stratford Town (h) 7.45pm

Sat July 14 Redditch United (h) 3pm

Thu July 19 Priors Marston (a) 7pm

Sat July 21 Rugby Town (h) 3pm

Sat July 28 Kenilworth Town (h) 3pm

Tues July 31 Alvis (h) 7.45pm

TBA: Leamington, Oxford United