FOREST Green midfielder Corby Moore is hoping to seize the opportunity of his new six-month contract at The New Lawn with both hands.
Tied up till the end of 2015, the former Southampton product will be looking to make an impact on the first team squad after a first introduction to life in Nailsworth in the final months of last season.
The 21-year-old signed a short-term deal with the club in January after impressing during a lengthy trial process.
However, a bad illness reduced him to only one first team appearance, in a 5-3 win over Southport, and now he’s eager to get up to speed now he’s back to full fitness and part of the team for the new Vanarama National League campaign.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “It’s another opportunity for me to prove myself again in football and I’m happy here. I’m delighted really to sign a new six-month contract and hopefully prove myself.
“It’s a really good club here and I’m really enjoying my time so far. Hopefully there are many good times to come.
“Hopefully I can kick on this season, start playing a few more games, and impress the manager. I hope I can kick on and get more experience under my belt.”
The squad return to pre-season training in the first week of July after the 2014-15 campaign ended at the Memorial Stadium in defeat against Bristol Rovers in the play-off semi-finals in the first week of May.
Moore, like many of his teammates, are looking to get ahead of the game having already started their pre-season workout before the tough challenges begin under the guidance of Fitness & Conditioning Coach, Neil Withington.
“I’ve had a little holiday and after that you get back to running. I’ve done a couple of weeks of running in the gym,” Moore added.
“So I’ll just be going running in the gym now till the start of pre-season.
“I’ve been working a lot and hopefully I’ll come back in pre-season with good fitness.”
A fifth place finish last season was the club’s highest ever recorded finish in its 125th year, and also earned us our first ever involvement in the fifth tier play-offs.
Expectations will no doubt be high as supporters hope the team can mix it with the best in the division again, although Moore doesn’t feel that expectancy will weigh down on his teammates.
“I wouldn’t say there is that much pressure – I think we are good enough to do it anyway.
“I think we proved that last season and hopefully we can do it again this season and hopefully get promoted this year.
“We’ve got a good enough team to do that and hopefully we can kick on and do that.”
Although it’s a lengthy break for the players, and the fans, between the end of the season and the build up to the next campaign, there can be no denying that the prospect of attacking a new season brings excitement.
That’s exactly the case for Moore who is relishing the opportunity to throw himself back into the rigours of another season at The New Lawn.
“I’m really looking forward to pre-season this year so I can prove myself. I want to show what I’m about and I think it will definitely help me for the new season,” he commented.
“You always keep an eye on what the club is doing over the summer and the players that are coming in. It’s exciting to see the new players come in and to see what they bring.”