Former Chelmsford City defender Steve Ward has urged the club’s fans to get behind the Management Team and their players from the off as they embark on their first friendly at home to Stevenage on Friday, kick-off 7:30pm, looking to craft a side capable of competing for Blue Square Bet South honours.

Ward, who labelled his recent decision to swap Melbourne for a return to Canvey Island as “the hardest decision of my career,” believes it’s vital the Clarets build on the impetus of their third-placed finish last term and focus on their next goal immediately, starting with the arrival of Graham Westley’s newly-promoted Football League Two outfit.

“It’s going to be difficult because there are a number of ambitious clubs in the division and it will be very competitive,” he forecasted. “Apart from Newport County last season it was all much of a muchness plus there will be the likes of Dartford and Farnborough involved as well. But City really do have the young players to kick-on now.”

The popular centre half was dubbed ‘The Master’ during his four seasons at City, and he wished to pass on his regards to the fans who got behind him and made his spell at Melbourne such an enjoyable one. An unfortunate early booking means he will be on holiday when his ‘new’ employers face Chelmsford on 7th August at Park Drive, but he made time to reflect on his time at City and promised to return as a supporter.

He added: “I’m grateful to the fans, who have been wonderful to me. Now they have to make sure they keep up that marvellous positive support and get behind Glenn and Ben as nobody works harder than them to bring the club success on the pitch. As England fans we’ve got to be optimistic and that support really does make a difference!”

Recalling his choice memories at City both on and off the field was easy for Steve, who quipped: “The Essex Senior Cup Final win was my favourite moment in a footballing sense but I also really enjoyed the 1-0 win away at Truro City. There’s something special about scenarios like that and our backs were against the wall for the last 15 minutes. Off the pitch and in training? It has to be Ben Chenery’s face! We had a really good spirit and some cutting banter and Ben and Bertie Brayley were always at the heart of it!”

“This pre-season I spent two or three weeks thinking through my options but I knew this was a decision I had to reach earlier rather than later, and it was the hardest of my career. It was easier when I left Canvey because I knew a few of the other boys were coming over with me. Now Ash [Harrison] has retired I felt this was the start of a new era at City and I had a couple of options open to me so I chose to rejoin Canvey.”

Steve now sits on around 860 career appearances, and still harbours hopes of reaching 1,000, but he states he’s taking things one season at a time: “There are a lot of people there who I still know and at this stage I need that stability, but also a different kind of pressure for myself. It’s a good level in the Ryman League and Canvey is a well run club where everyone pitches in towards the ultimate goal, which has to be promotion.”

Adults can gain entry to the Stevenage game for £5, while concessions get in for £2 and Under 14s for free. Season Ticket Holders who secured their ticket prior to the end of June will be able to gain entry for free and can collect their season tickets at the turnstiles on their way into the ground or from the Club Office after 12:00pm this afternoon.

Supporters aiming to purchase refreshments in the Clubhouse before and after the game are advised that the downstairs bar will be closed due to a private function but the Don Walker Suite upstairs will be accessible to all via the players’ tunnel. A period of five minutes each will be required before kick-off and after full-time to allow the players and officials access to the pitch, as well as five minutes either side of half-time.

Maldon & Tiptree Friendly Rearranged: City’s pre-season warm-up game at Ryman League Division One North club Maldon & Tiptree, previously scheduled for next Tuesday night, has now been rearranged to take place on Saturday 31st July with a 3:00pm kick-off at the Wallace Binder Ground. This is to avoid a clash with the Leyton Orient match the following night and to spread the friendlies more evenly.

Essex Senior Cup Draws: The First and Second Round Draws for the Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex will be broadcast during the evening of Wednesday 28th July from the station’s New London Road headquarters. City are seeded until Round Three but the early rounds generate sides who will be involved at that later stage. Precise broadcast times will be publicised nearer the time on www.essexfa.com.