The first of an exclusive two part interview with the chairman
In the first of our two part interview with Andy Pilley, the Fleetwood Town FC chairman discusses the Club’s exciting pre-season schedule and the recent Football League fixture release day.The Cod Army have been paired against Southend United on the opening day of the League One season, as Town continue the trend of starting the season on home soil.
But before the meet up with Phil Brown’s men on Saturday 8th August, Fleetwood Town have an exciting pre-season schedule to look forward to which includes a trip to Germany in July and a home double header against Burnley and Getafe.
Speaking to the Fleetwood Town website, Andy said that the whole Club is pulling in the right direction and he can’t wait for the football to resume for the Cod Army.
“To be going to Germany is a great bonding exercise for the lads, but more importantly, fitness, they’re in a camp which is second to none, it is somewhere where Premier League clubs will go.
“To play Borussia Dortmund B is fantastic, and to get an opportunity to play a team with that set-up is really outstanding.
“Aachen as well is a club with a really famous history and that will be another really good game for us.
“Moving onto the more local ones, we’ve got our friends at Fylde just down the road which will be good. I get on really well with their chairman David Haythornthwaite, and he’s a really ambitious guy.
“Burnley is a huge one as they’ve never been to Highbury. I expect the ground to be very full that night with a good atmosphere.
“We’ve got quite a quirky one with Getafe, a La Liga team, who only two years ago played Tottenham in the Europa League. It’s very exciting and it can’t start soon enough for me.
“I’d urge everyone to come and watch the new players we’ve got in, and watch how much the existing players have improved during pre-season.
“The supporters need to understand, as does everybody associated with the Club, that we’re all pulling in the same direction.
“The people behind the scenes have done a fantastic job getting these friendlies and what’s going on at Poolfoot is off the scale.
“We have a remarkably exciting future for this football club, and it does literally keep me awake at night, so it can’t come soon enough.”
Moving onto the 2015/16 League One campaign, Andy discussed the opening day clash against Southend, the three local derbies away from home inside the opening two months and the hugely anticipated meet up with Blackpool.
He continued: “It’s ironic the way it has worked out, but we’ll welcome Phil Brown and Southend, who are a very good side to Highbury.
“Again we’re very pleased to be at home, it gives the fans the chance to see our new signings from the off and I’m sure Graham and the lads will want to start here at Highbury.
“They’ll be no pushovers at all, but it’s certainly not the worst fixture we could have had, so we’ll give it our best shot.
“If I had a choice, a home game is exactly what I would have wanted. I’d much prefer to be here than having to travel and do them miles on the first day.
“You’ve got to play everyone home and away regardless, but it’s nice to be at home on the first day and certainly the last day too.
“I’m sure the fans will thank the players for their efforts whatever the outcome come the end of the season.”
“We’re not going to be using much petrol. We’ve got Oldham, Bury and Wigan, so we’d expect to see the Cod Army travelling in real force and really getting behind the lads, as we need them to do in these local derbies to earn lots of points.
“The Blackpool fixture is one I’m really looking forward to, as it will be an incredible day for everyone associated with the Club.
“For me personally, Steve, and a lot of the people, we’ve got close links with Blackpool and it will be great to see Fleetwood at Bloomfield Road, but even better if we could win.”
Join Fleetwood Town for the next part of our fantastic adventure. Season tickets remain on sale, for full information please call 01253 775080.