Spalding United chief won’t dwell on FA Cup defeat ahead final pre-season game

Lewis Thorogood insists that Spalding United’s early exit from the Emirates FA Cup shouldn’t define their season before it has even properly started.

The Tulips, who 1-0 at Grantham Town in their latest pre-season friendly last night, were dumped out of the national competition 3-1 against Barton Town Old Boys last week.

Liam Hardy’s first-half goal was enough the settle the contest in Grantham’s favour at The Meres.

Spalding’s Pitching In NPL South East Division campaign doesn’t start until September 19, when they welcome Sutton Coldfield Town to the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.

Thorogood is adamant that he is doing all he can to transform the squad into one that is ready to compete for promotion, as per the instruction of the club’s new owners.

But he stressed that it’ll take time to implement the necessary changes given that most players have already pledged themselves to other teams.

“A week or so on from the FA Cup exit we’re all still hurting a bit,” admitted Thorogood. “It was disappointing for us all, but I don’t think that defeat should define our season.

“I’m aware that there are some people who hold that view, but I’m certainly not one of them.

“What I’d reiterate is that we build a squad here at the start of pre-season that was young, full of energy and that we’d expect to lose as many games as we’d win.

“With the takeover, the remit changed and I’ve been given the tools to try and build a team capable of achieving promotion.

“At the start of pre-season, bringing in the likes of Lewis and Joel Brownhill, Spencer Weir-Daley and Shane Clarke was beyond our wildest dreams.

“I’ve got a few more triallists coming in for the final pre-season games and I’m confident that, given time, we could build a strong squad.

“The difficulty that I’m facing as a manager is that the kind of players we want have already agreed to go elsewhere.

“Of course, we all know that some fall away after the first month of the season – but that’s some way away yet and we can’t work miracles.”

Spalding make the trip to Brigg Town for their final pre-season friendly on Saturday.

That clash will kick-off at an earlier than usual time of 1.45pm