The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Gary King has been named the new Spalding United captain after Adam Jackson left to join Holbeach United.
Striker King, who is the Tulips’ top scorer this season, re-joined the club from Cleethorpes Town last summer and has made a big impression.
Stalwart defender Neal Spafford, who has been a mainstay in the team since signing from Wisbech Town a few years ago, is the new vice-captain.
Their first task will be helping boss Chris Rawlinson and his Tulips improve on their dismal away form this season.
They’ve picked up just eight points from 14 games on the road this season, with their last victory being a 2-1 triumph at Romulus back in September.
This Saturday sees the 13th-placed Tulips travel to a Carlton Town side that are four places and five points below them in the table, albeit with four games in hand.
Carlton memorably beat the Tulips 4-3 at the Bill Stokeld Stadium last season and also enjoyed a 2-1 win at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field in November.
Rawlinson admits that Spalding’s away form is “dreadful” and accepts that it “has to improve” if they want to climb the table.
He said: “I don’t see a massive difference in our performances away from home. But our results have been dreadful, they simply have to improve.
“Carlton’s pitch is a bit like our own, so we should feel at home there – as they proved when they quite comfortably beat us earlier in the season.
“Not many of the team that lost there last season are still here, but I certainly have a few bad memories from that game. I remember (then boss) Dave Frecklington being livid!
“It’s a game we can look to take something from as we bid to reach that magic figure of 40 points to stay in this league.”
Carlton have won their two games so far in 2018, scoring nine goals in the process.
Rawlinson hopes to have Ben Davison back from injury and is tracking a replacement for his departed skipper Jackson.
