STROUD United are keen to kick-on this season.

New chairman Chad Schofield and boss John Dalton, backed by main sponsor The Crown & Sceptre, have ambitious plans for the Stroud League division one club, who play their home games at Stratford Court.

Schofield explained: “We’d like to establish at least one youth team, including ladies’ and girls’.

“We’ve had some real success at the club in recent years, with both teams winning cups and gaining promotion. There’s a lot of work that goes into the club on and off the field, and we’re always looking for people to come into the club whether they’re players, coaches or want to help us run the club.”

This year, Stroud United sadly lost one of the founders, John Fisher, who up until last season had only missed one game since the club’s conception.

“The loss of John Fisher has hit the club hard and was a low point in what’s been a bit of rollercoaster few years.

“Changing our name from Stroud Imperial to Stroud United gave us a chance to really focus on what we hope to become as a football club.

“At the moment we have teams in the Stroud League, the first team are the first division and the reserves are in division six. We hope to close the gap between these teams, but also progress the first-team into the Northern Senior and beyond.”