St Mary’s return for Hutch (From Dorset Echo)

St Mary’s return for Hutch

8:50am Friday 10th July 2009

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IAN Hutchinson will return to St Mary’s Field tomorrow when Weymouth and his former club Bridport take to the pitch for the first time this summer to contest an eagerly anticipated pre-season friendly (3pm).

The Terras’ assistant-manager stepped down as boss of the Bees last month to become part of Matty Hale’s coaching staff at the Wessex Stadium and he is looking forward to seeing his old and new side in action.

He joked: “Hopefully I won’t get pelted with any tomatoes tomorrow in what I am sure will be a very good run-out for both teams.

“There are a great bunch of people down at Bridport but they knew that if anything came up at Weymouth then it would prove very difficult for me to turn down.

“It will be good to see the chairman down there and the players, who I am sure will be looking forward to taking us on. They really are a loveable bunch and it will be good to catch up with everyone in the bar after the game.

“As for the match itself, it will be good for the lads to get 90 minutes under their belts. The games will come thick and fast now and they will provide Matty and I with great opportunities to take a look at a few trialists and sort out the ones we want.

“At one stage this friendly was touch and go due to the drainage down at St Mary’s but the staff down there have done a tremendous job and I am looking forward to it a lot.”

Weymouth will also take on a Yeovil Town XI at the Wessex Stadium next Tuesday before travelling to Poole Town the following evening (both 7.30pm).

Ticket prices for the game against the Glovers will be £5 for adults, £3 for senior citizens and students, and £1 for children.

Hale added: “Tomorrow the team will be made up of a mixture of trialists and young players that deserve an opportunity from last season’s youth team.

“Amongst the trialists there will be lads playing that have Blue Square South and League experience, and there will also be a couple of strikers that we are looking at.

“It is a great chance for players to go out there and show us what they can do following a good first couple of weeks in training.

“The lads that have already signed on will feature over the two games next week against Yeovil and Poole and I must say there have already been a lot of improvements and good performances in training which have been very encouraging.

“Hector Mackie, in particular, has been superb. He is looking fit and has been working hard in what has been a demanding first five sessions.”

Bridport boss Trevor Senior is unlikely to field any new faces in his line-up although Jamie Fry could make a welcome appearance following his return from travelling.

Senior said: “I am sure Ian’s return will bring with it a bit of interest and it is an opportunity for our lads to test themselves against higher opposition.

“Weymouth will no doubt field several trialists that will be looking to impress and I am sure it will be an interesting contest.”

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