We’re back! Somehow, we find ourselves only a couple of days shy of August, which can only mean one thing – the return of domestic and local football is imminent.
Indeed, if you’re a follower of Heacham FC, your team already has its league campaign underway with the Eastern Counties League returning last weekend.
So, after taking all of that into account, today sees the return of my weekly columns, just ahead of the 2025/26 season.
As has been the case now for the past few years, I’ll be providing my personal views on all things football, mostly, but not exclusively, the local game, where King’s Lynn Town, Downham Town and Heacham all face intriguing seasons in their respective leagues.
From time to time, I’ll also take a look at some issues nationally, as well as airing anything that you, the readers, feel needs airing and debating.
Please do drop me a line at markhearle@gmail.com and I will do the rest. That’s the housekeeping complete, so onto this week’s column.
As I mentioned last month, there is so much to like in the way King’s Lynn Town have gone about their business over the summer break – both on and off the pitch.
It’s probably been one of the busiest closed seasons I can remember in recent years, with a dozen or so new squad arrivals, an amazing uptake of season tickets and the green shoots of local business seemingly wanting to become involved again at The Walks.
In his short time at the club, head coach James Rowe has already galvanised the club’s supporters solidly behind his team and ideas following Adam Lakeland’s removal from The Walks’ hot seat days after the Linnets had been knocked out of the National League North play-offs.
The nature of his dismissal hadn’t sat well with a number of the Lynn faithful after a relatively successful campaign last term, and the fact that it had been Lakeland who had saved the club from almost certain relegation the previous season.
Rowe could have easily copped a little flak on his arrival from those said fans, but he cleverly set out his stall from day one, distancing himself quickly from any previous history, and has gone on to build one of the most exciting-looking Lynn squads for a few seasons.
Rowe also stated it was his new boss TSI’s wish to bring down the average age of the club’s squad and to develop young talent at the same time, with the first wish already being achieved.
The early days of tenure have been good.
Only last week, Rowe issued a statement, via the club’s official website, where he updated supporters as to where the squad were in terms of their pre-season development and how pleased he was with those fans in the initial support of him and the team to date.
I’ve said on numerous occasions before that the club’s management and fans must be as one and petty infighting does no good to either party – Rowe’s sign off ‘stronger together’ tells you all you need to know in my opinion.
This new Linnets team looks like one that will entertain with a few more options for goals than in recent times and a team the fans will get behind quickly with the season opener just over a week away.
Nothing much should be taken from any pre-season; it really is just about fitness and getting back into the old routine, having been away from it for a few weeks.
However, the way the team have gone about their business to date, it’s understandable that some already feel a good season may be ahead.
One summer signing who will not be involved with the Linnets when the season kicks off on August 9 is youngster Fletcher Toll who, it was announced, has signed a ‘long-term loan agreement’ with Step Three Stamford by the club last Friday.
The striker was one of the first signings of the summer announced by the club, but hasn’t been a regular feature in any of Lynn’s warm-up fixtures during the summer.
I do not doubt that Toll is one for the future and the move to Stamford will only do him the world of good.
The club from the Peterborough area are managed by Graham Drury, who, I feel, is one of the best level three managers in the country.
I remember Lynn’s encounters with Stamford in the Southern League as always being tough games with Graham continually barking orders from the sidelines, demanding his side’s total commitment throughout a game; he demands effort constantly.
Toll will learn much from the experience and will continue to train full time in the week with Lynn’s squad, an arrangement that looks like a real win-win for me.
Overall, the club looks to have done a good thing with a young player still learning his trade at a very good level and receiving good quality coaching on two fronts.
As I mentioned earlier, it appears that local businesses are also beginning to get back onside with Lynn FC, none more so than West Norfolk Council, in a move which has seen the Lynnsport facility in North Lynn become the club’s new training base a few weeks ago.
On the back of that deal, a few other ones have also been announced, which will see various shirt sponsorships and coaching delivered into local schools.
It’s this kind of unity that will be needed not only for this season, but for the ones in the future if the club is to level out and move forward in a better way on all fronts.
TSI’s early days have been busy as they seek to appease and calm various fronts.
To date, their work has, in the main, been well received and applauded.
They will also need James Rowe’s ‘stronger together’ mentality in the months ahead as they continue their work.
