Pre-season training started this evening with a larger than expected turn out of over 40 players. All managers were present and Andy Ford the new first team manager introduced himself with a clear clean slate message then over saw a range of activities, supported by his assistant Phil Tobin.

Richie Bryant the reserves manager, Lewis Disson thirdteam manager and Dave Moreland U18's manager were on hand to add support and Presidnet Paul Humphries and Football Secretary Chris Woods also took time to cast their eyes over preceedings.

Andy said " I am please that so many players have turned out and I have apologies form others who I might have expected so I have to be pleased with the way things have started. There is a good mix of players and I will be speaking with the senior players to gauge their respond afterwards. I have a couple of discussions that I need to conduct but am hopeful that all those who attended tonight will sign on for the coming season"

The new Wessex League Division One season will start Saturday 9th August, fixtures will follow. Shaftesbury have been entered into the FA Cup again and this competition will start the following week on the 16th August. Lets hope we get a home draw against (at this level) a bid team.

If you have any views about the Rockies contact the web site and let us all know.

The new first team manager Andy Ford has wasted no time in setting his stall out for the new season and has arranged a challenging series of pre-season frendlies against quality opposition. All the games are at home and include Bashley, who beat us but did not bash us last year, and Liskeard who we nearly beat in the FA Cup before succumbing at home. Details are available under matches. These are 07/08 until the soft ware is updated.

Players, members and the wives enjoyed a boisterous evening as Shaftesbury FC celebrated their end of season awards. Sean Colohan collected his two awards to rapturous applause, as did Dave Cull, Aaron Martin and Gary Hayter. There were also awards for Bjorn Hann and Matthew Chant.

A week after the Shaftesbury Football Club selection panel sat through four hours of interviews Chairman Pete Stacey has announced that Andy Ford has been offered and accepted the role as manager. The quality of applications was high and the selection panel was also impressed with Steve Davies who holds a UEFA level 3 coaching badge. Andy and Steve are now in discussions about working together and the club hope that they can come to an arrangement. David Moreland who sat through the interviews said “If the club wants to step up to the next level then it needs to be thinking about ideas and analysis that the UEFA level 3 coaching badge brings. Andy has the manager’s role but if he and Steve can work together they have the potential of creating a new dawn for Shaftesbury Football Club"

Liss Athletic 1 v 5 Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury signed oof their Wessex league Division One campaign with  5-1 victory away to Liss. The win leaves the Rockies in twelth position on 51 points and a +10 goal diference

Shaftesbury 1 v 3 Laverstock & Ford

Shaftesbury ended their home campaign with a 3-1 reverse against the side destined to be division one runners up. In a fixture that was finally concluded the Rockies can have little complaints with the result. The previous two league games had been abandoned due to fog so it was with mixed trepidation that both sides assembled for this fixture after playing on Saturday. The home side was the first to make a threat. Playing up the slope Jason Blunn found himself in a goal scoring position but dragged his effort just wide of the far post as early as the second minute. Shaftesbury were taking the game to the visitors but when a promising attack broke down, swift play down the right saw a cross that was met, controlled first time and dispatched in off the post after seven minutes. Three minutes later poor defending allowed the visitors space from a corner for a tap in. Shaftesbury got back into the game after 15 minutes when top scorer Matthew Chant raced through and his pace allowed him the time to pick his spot from the edge of the area. However on the half hour a free far post header from a corner sealed the game for the visitors. The second half was played out and Blunn saw red following a clumsy challenge and a second yellow. After the game manager Malc Burt said “Last season we were one place above this team in the final league table. The only difference is money, they have brought a couple of players in and that is the difference"