Swindon Town round off their pre-season campaign with a trip to Chippenham Town this evening.
The Reds are in action at Hardenhuish Park later for the final time before the new Sky Bet League Two season gets underway on Saturday – 7pm KO.
With the opening day trip to Carlisle just four days away, a number of first-team players will be rested this evening with U18’s Manager Alan McLoughlin taking a young side to face the National League South outfit.
The likes of Will Henry, Tom Smith, Jesse Starkey, Jordan Young and Scott Twine will all get the opportunity to impress tonight and Town Boss Dave Flitcroft wants to see his young players take their chance with both hands.
“I think it will be a young side against Chippenham,” he said.
“We are light on numbers, I think everyone knows that, so I don’t want to risk any players in this last week.
“I’m looking at trying to improve everyone at the football club and it’s a great chance for the young players to man up a little bit.
“We’ve got to start producing men to come to the first-team. We’ve got to start producing a microwave to develop the young kids so, when they come up to train with the first-team, they are physically ready, they are mentally ready and they know what is expected of them.
“It’s a good game for the young players.”
“It is going to be a big mental test for the younger players and there are going to be young pro’s in there who have been in and around the first-team, so it is important that they turn up and give a good account of themselves because all the first-team management staff will be in attendance."
Alan McLoughlin will direct proceedings from the touchline tonight and he’s looking forward to seeing how his scholars handle the step-up in quality.
“It will be a young team and there’s only going to be one or two first-team players involved in the game,” he told swindontownfc.co.uk.
“It is going to be a big mental test for the younger players and there are going to be young pro’s in there who have been in and around the first-team, so it is important that they turn up and give a good account of themselves because all the first-team management staff will be in attendance.
“The boys who will be involved will mainly be second-year scholars and there will be one or two first-year scholars on the bench, so I’m looking for them to just enjoy the game, be dynamic, be athletic and be a threat.
“We have to mix our play up and we’ll be playing a very good Chippenham side who were excellent last year.
“Mark Collier and Tom Jones have got them well organised and it will be a great challenge for our boys.
“I’m expecting a good performance.
“I hope they enjoy the occasion, there should be a good crowd there and it should be a good test.
“We want to give Chippenham a right good game.”
Tickets are available to buy on the gate tonight.
TICKET PRICES:
Adults - £10
Concessions - £5
Kids - £3
