CALNE chief Simon Gardner doesn’t see any reason why his side can’t break in to the top half of the Toolstation League First Division this season.

Following the departure of previous manager Ant Brown in October last year, Gardner and the majority of his second-string Wilts Calne Town side stepped up to the Lilywhites first-team.

With his squad a year older and hopefully a year wiser, the Calne boss is hopeful that his Bremhill View troops can build on their 13th-placed finish last term.

“Last year was the first time we really played Western League football as a team,” said Gardner.

“The fact that we got established last year as a Western League team; I expect us to move on from that this year.

“We’re still looking for one or two additions that are established Western League players and with that and with the same squad from last year, there’s no reason why we can’t be thinking about the top end of the table.

“And I think if we have the luck of the draw and a good start to the season, it will be good.

“There’s a great team spirit, as always at this place, and we have got a core of local lads too.

“We’ve had one or two new players come in to the team. Simon Dancer is a local lad that’s come in and done well and it’s good to get Stu Windsor, who spent a bit of time with us last season, back too.

“Darren Smart was at this club as a junior and made his name, when he as about 16, being in the senior team at the time.

“He’s come back in and work commitments pending, hopefully he’ll be a good addition. There’s no doubting that he’s a standout in terms of ability.”

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