A SEASON in which Slimbridge have achieved many new milestones notches up another first on Saturday when Salisbury FC, managed by footballing legend Steve Claridge, make a visit to Thornhill Park for their Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West encounter.

And Slimbridge manager Leon Sterling has taken another step during the past week and will have his new signings, who joined last Friday, ready to face the big test this weekend.

Slimbridge anticipate the match will bring one of their biggest gates of the season at Thornhill Park.

Club spokesman Tim Blake explained: “I think it’s safe to say that the first two games we looked for when the fixtures came out were the visits to Thornhill Park of Hereford and Salisbury.

“We are expecting a far larger crowd than usual on Saturday, and urge our supporters to arrive early at the ground, as we expect everything to be far busier than usual. “It will be a pleasure to welcome Steve Claridge to our club. Everyone is aware of his long professional career, playing at the highest level, and it’s great that he is now contributing back to the grassroots game through his involvement with Salisbury.

“I don’t know anyone who has anything but massive respect for Steve and all he has achieved, including of course, nearly fifty appearances in the Premier League with Leicester City.

“And of course, he subsequently went on to have a successful career in the media as well, so we’re all looking forward to Saturday immensely.”

After a start to the season which saw the Swans flying high in the league table, their inability to put the ball into the back of the net since then has left them floating just below the mid-table zone in 14th place.

Before Sean Lawson put the ball into the back of the Swindon Supermarine net last Saturday in the FA Trophy Preliminary Round, Slimbridge last scored when Jack Twyman struck in the 1-1 home draw with Wimborne Town on September 10.

And, despite the Swans going through a bit of a sticky patch at the moment, Blake says that everyone at the club remains positive.

He added: “We’re under no illusion as to how tough this league is, and what is required to continue to operate at this level.

“If you’d have told me in 2007 when we were preparing for Gloucestershire Northern Senior League football that we would now have played a competitive game in front of nearly 2,500 fans against Hereford at Edgar Street, be preparing for a trip to play Bristol Rovers at The Memorial Stadium, welcoming Steve Claridge to our ground, and continuing to compete at Southern League level, I would have thought you were mad!

“For a village of just over 1,100 people, to be playing at this level is a massive achievement, and would not be possible without the hard work of too many people to mention by name. We’re all very proud of the lads on the pitch, Leon Sterling and Freddy Ward (assistant manager) and what they are achieving for the club.”

Sterling strengthened the squad before the visit of Swindon Supermarine and Tuesday’s visit to Mangotsfield United in the league.

And the signing of former Cirencester, Cinderford, and Gloucester City striker Lee Smith is a massive coup for the club, with Smith being highly sought by many local sides following his release from the Cirencester Town squad.

And Smith made an immediate impact on Saturday when he set-up Lawson’s goal in their defeat to Swindon Supermarine.

Also joining the club are midfielder Mike Oliver, who has been playing for both Bishops Cleeve and Cheltenham Saracens, and Sam Mason, who has taken a step up from the County League with Cheltenham Civil Service.

On Saturday, Sterling and his squad will be aware that while Salisbury can let a few goals in, they can also pop the ball into the opposition net.

Already this month, Claridge’s men have scored 14 goals through a 10-0 demolition of Dorchester Town in the League Challenge Cup and four more in the FA Trophy at home to Hereford.