Feeling good

Scott Allison says he’s ‘feeling good’ ahead of the new season, following an injury-laden campaign last term.

The winger-turned-striker, entering his sixth year at Borough Park, spoke about pre-season preparations, his brace while wearing the captain’s armband on Saturday and his own personal targets as the opening day looms.

On the past few weeks, Allison said:

I think it’s been really good, from a team and personal point of view. I’ve struggled in the past 18 months with injuries, so it’s probably the first time I’ve been fit and I’m feeling good.

I think what Danny’s trying to get us to do, it’s going really well and all the lads happy with how it’s going; and Saturday just summed that up.

It was a significant afternoon at Radcliffe for the ‘Ginger Messi,’ who scored two goals and was given the armband for the first time in a Reds shirt, due to Conor Tinnion’s absence, and described it as a ‘good feeling’ but knows leaders are required in various positions rather than just one man.

When you’re on the pitch, everyone’s supposed to be a captain, so it doesn’t really mean a lot but to wear the armband. It’s still nice to know Danny trusts me with that responsibility.

With just 10 days until the opening match at Borough Park against Pickering Town, Allison is setting himself the same targets as ever.

I always set a standard target of about 20 goals since I’ve been a striker.

One year, I got 34 – so that’s maybe the top of the barrier. Like I always say, I’d take one goal to win the league, so it doesn’t really bother me.

Reds will visit Lancashire side Atherton Collieries on Saturday at The Skuna Stadium, kick-off 3pm.