Spalding United are ready for their step into the unknown

Spalding United are ready for their step into the unknown.

‘The Tulips’ play the first National League North game in their history on Saturday when travelling to Manchester to face Radcliffe FC.

Spalding United players Dion Sembie-Ferris (left) and Dan Jarvis (right) with shirt sponsors Dave and Jo Lane from DALROD.

placeholder image — Spalding United players Dion Sembie-Ferris (left) and Dan Jarvis (right) with shirt sponsors Dave and Jo Lane from DALROD.

Jimmy Dean’s men warmed up for the big day in style with a 1-0 win at National League South side Chelmsford City, a team managed by Mark Cooper with another former Posh boss John Still acting as director of football.

That completed a successful pre-season campaign which included just one loss to a slick Coventry City Under 21 side. Spalding have since signed midfielder Sam Straughan-Brown on a month’s loan from Doncaster Rovers. He has National League experience from stints at Peterborough Sports.

Manager Dean said: “I was pleased with the performance and the result. Ultimately the result doesn’t really matter, but winning is a great habit to have.

"It was the perfect pre-season game for us right before the new season against another step two side and we got better on the ball the more the game went on. We scored a good goal and hit the woodwork twice so we could have won by more.

"Pre-season has gone well. We could have done with playing some higher level sides, but we will get ready for Saturday by training right and travelling right.

"Radcliffe is a big test. They have a manager who has won National League North with Salford and they had a good season last time before falling away a bit at the end. They have big strong experienced players.

"We certainly won’t get away with any complacency this season. If we are complacent we will be in a relegation fight and that’s something we need to avoid.

"We will be aggressive, but we also want to show our quality with the ball while being composed and clinical.”

Tosin Olopade scored the Spalding goal at Chelmsford. Radcliffe are3 managed by Bernard Morley.

**Spalding have a new kit for a new era. DALROD are the new shirt sponsors and their representatives David and Jo Lane commented: “We're incredibly proud to become the main shirt sponsor of Spalding United.

"This partnership is about far more than football. It's about supporting a club that genuinely makes a difference within the community. The work carried out by the club, from youth development to community engagement, aligns perfectly with DALROD's own values, and we're excited to be part of the club's journey."