Manager Paul Taylor has been fine-tuning his Bishop's Stortford side in preparation for the new Ryman Premier League campaign against Billericay on Saturday.

They completed their build up with three games last week and Taylor is satisfied that his team are ready for the big kick-off.

This will be another season of upheaval for Taylor and his troops. They will begin by playing all their home games at Boreham Wood before their new ground is ready in the new year.

"It will be quite difficult until we can actually play at home again," admitted Taylor. "Most of our money is going towards the stadium at the moment so financially we're quite restricted and it's a case of hanging on."

"We haven't got a reserve side so I have to get cover for the first team without being able to offer squad players a game each week."

His side have travelled around this summer for a series of friendlies, and despite some set backs, Taylor has been satsified with the form that his nomads have shown.

"The only time we lost heavily was against Canvey Island," he said, "but that was with a lot of absentees against a very strong side.

"Apart from that, we've had some good results and the team is coming together nicely for the start of the season."

Taylor has looked at several trialists over the summer, but the only signing he has made so far is central defender Paul Clark from Sutton United on a month's loan.

"I hope to make him a permanent signing," Taylor said. "He's only 23 but has had a lot of experience with Sutton and Carshalton."

Another young player, Gary Henti, has caught Taylor's eye during his time with the club and he hopes to make him an offer sooner rather than later.

The Blues only avoided relegation on the final day of last season, and Taylor is well aware that this year will be another test.

"Realistically, we're not going to win the division," he said. "What's important is that we stay up. We need to get up there and make sure we're safe all season. Any success in the cups will be a bonus.

"We're capable of finishing higher than last season, but long term, it will be a season or two before we can start to take the club forward again."

Taylor has spent the past week preparing his squad with three friendlies in the space of six days.

On Tuesday, a Dave Greene hat-trick was just enough for a 3-2 victory over Tilbury Town and this was followed up with a comfortable 2-0 win over East Thurrock United on Thursday evening.

Their original opponents, Ford United, had pulled out, but Thurrock agreed to a speedily arranged match which was decided by goals from Peter Clifford and Steve Conroy.

Saturday's game at Wivenhoe Town saw the return of influential midfielder Tony Comerford (pictured), coming back after a calf injury kept him out of the earlier fixtures.

However, despite his presence, Stortford put in a lacklustre performance and could only manage a 1-1 draw thanks to a scrambled goal from Ian Smith.

Stortford follow up their first league home game against Billericay with a trip to Slough Town on August 25.

That game kicks off at 7.45pm. A coach will leave Bishop's Stortford Rugby Club at Silver Leys in Hadham Road at 4.15pm.

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