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LukeBlackledge


Blackledge makes ring return at Villa Park


r . On board: Pictured from left are, Brent Wood-Townend, Roberto Bonaminio, Simon Garner and and Callum Hoctor


Clitheroe boxer Luke Blackledge returns to the ring at the weekend as he bids to restore his reputa­ tion.


in,.- i


By Dan Black Daniel.black@jpress.co.uk Twitter: @DanBlack84


Simon Garner believes the


***• Blues are better equipped for life in the Evo-Stik First


ing his squad ahead of the, 2014/IRrairipaign_______


A dismal run of form at the back end of last season exposed a na­ ivety and inexperience within the Shawbridge ranks, but the Clitheroe boss has moved to ad­ dress that.


Garnerhas retained theserv- i t f


ices of Danny Morton, James, Walker, Danny Wilkins, Alex Pal­ ly, Oli McClean, Ross Dent, Dan­ ny Brady, Dom Mulkerrin, Adam Freeland, Charlie Collinge, Scott Byrom and Brynn Potter while adding to new faces, inclusive of


former Claret David Lynch. Marauding right back Mike


Aspin.versatileleft-footerBrent Wood-Townend, former Bam- ber Bridge midfielder Roberto Bonaminio and left-sided mid­ fielder Callum Hoctor provide the necessary experience and nous needed in the eighth tier of the English football league pyramid. Meanwhile, defender Ste­


ve Mercer returns for a second spell, forwards Liam Hutchin­ son, Richard Burns and Pete Dunkerley have signed while former Rovers and Manchester


CityyouthplayerLiamHoylehas been snapped up. After returning for pre-sea­ son, Garner said: “We’ve done


five sessions so far and it’s been good. There’s a lot of new lads integrating with the old ones


and it’s looking like we’ve got a good group. Everyone is work­ ing hard. “I’ve brought in the experi­


ence I’ve been talking about for months. It’ll will be a huge help


for the new season and for the lads with less experience at this level. The lads from last year have got 20 games or so under their belts now as well so that will stand them in good stead. “We lacked experience last


year and we were a bit naive but I’ve brought in the players I feel necessary to address that. I’mre-


ally happy with howpre-season is going.” The Blues face a Blackburn


Rovers XI at Shawbridge on Sat­ urday, kick-off3 p.m„ as the pre­ season schedule gets underway. And Garner is eagerly anticipat­ ing a return to action in a bid to


build on recent fitness drills. “Up to now it’s mainly been


physical work,” he said. “They haven’t seen much of the ball yet. We had a good session at Clitheroe Castle at the week­ end. We’ve mixed it up so far with aerobic exercises, long dis­ tance runs, circuits, sprints, hill


runningand short, sharp bursts. “We’ll be doing bleep tests


and then we’ll start working on the tactical elements, shape and how we want them to play. That will develop during games in the coming weeks.”


'


Garner added: “I’m looking forward to the weekend fixture.


It’llbeBlackburn’sdevelopment squad and they have some talent-


edyoungsters. Connor Mahoney could feature and Jordan Pres­ ton, who spent time here last season, might play. It’ll be a re­


ally good test and a good chance


toseethenewsignings inaction. “It’ll be good to get back to


playing football. There’s noth­


ing better than getting on a pitch and playing competitively. It’s the first of many games at Shaw­ bridge and we’re all looking for­ ward to it.”


• The Blues, who will be spon­


sored by Littletown Farm for the new term, haVe been drawn against Seaham Red Star or Liv- ersedge on home soil in the pre­ liminary round of the FA Cup on August 30th. They’ll host Droylsden in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy on Octo­ ber 18th, and will travel to face either Curzon Ashton or Run­ corn Linnetsinthefirst qualify-


ingroundoftheFA Youth Cupon the week commencing Septem- ber22nd.


The Clitheroe Advertiser & Times is published by East Lancashire Newspapers Ltd at Bull Street, Burnley BB111 DP (Tel: 01282 426161, classified 01282 422331) and printed by Newsprinters TKnovwilnul 1 2000). Festered asanewspaperatthe Post Office. Reproductionoftho contents ofthisnowspapcrisnotpermittedwithoutthepriorconsenfoftho^ubfel^^


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When enduring the first indelible blemish on his professional record the 23-year-old was still able • to polish his burgeoning profile as he pushed high­ ly-touted Scandanavian fighter Erik Skoglund all the way in Denmark. But Blackledge was


forced to rebuild fol­ lowing a controversial draw with Alistair War­ ren and a disheartening loss to Rocky Fielding for the Commonwealth Su­ per Middleweight title on the undercard o f Frochv Groves I at Manchester’s Phones 4U Arena last No­ vember. His first appearance as ■


part of Alex Matvienko's stable resulted in victory over Jody Meikle at Colne Muni in April, and now he’ll look to continue that upwards curve against Darren McKenna in the Holte Suite at Villa Park on Saturday.


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