RADCLIFFE Borough assistant manager Paul McGuire has high hopes the club’s young squad will kick on this season.

Boro finished the last campaign in good form, winning four of their last five Evo-Stik Division One North matches to secure safety in the division.

And having kept the vast majority of the squad together over the summer, McGuire believes they will be better prepared for the upcoming campaign.

McGuire told the Radcliffe Times: “The lads finished last season strongly and we have kept much of the same squad.

“There are young players in there but they learned a lot last season and have come back in pre-season looking in good spirits and keen to do well this year.

“They all look hungry and it’s pleasing to see as we start the build-up to the season starting in the middle of next month.”

Boro kicked off their pre-season friendly programme against near neighbours Bury last night in the traditional meeting between the two at Stainton Park.

McGuire knows it is early days as far as preparations go but was nonetheless happy to have a good test against a strong League Two outfit added to this summer by Shakers boss David Flitcroft.

McGuire added: “It is always a good test for our lads.

“It was the first game so it was good to gauge the fitness of the players.

“Ideally, you would like to play Bury a bit nearer the start of the season with a few games under the belt but it is still a worthwhile outing.

“We have other games coming up against teams around our level like Vauxhall Motors, Mickleover and Newcastle Town which are just as important.

“The aim is to be ready to start well because that is not something we have managed in recent seasons.

“We know it will be a tough league again this season with teams like Salford City, who have had a lot of investment, and Darlington still in there.

“But we are confident we can do well. We have a good base to build on.”

Darlington will not only provide a test in two league meetings but are also Boro’s first opponents in the FA Trophy in October when they visit Stainton Park in the preliminary round.

Boro have also been handed a home tie in the preliminary round of the FA Cup against either Atherton Collieries or St Helens Town.

While happy to be the hosts in both, McGuire admits the down side in the Trophy is facing one of the better teams so early.

He said: “It is a great draw and will attract a decent crowd with the away following Darlington have.

“But you always want to have a good run in the cups and being drawn against one of the bigger teams so early is not ideal. We played well against them at home last season so hopefully we can be positive again.”