ST IVES Town are looking to build on their ninth-place finish in the UCL Premier League last season. The club have made a number of new signings over the summer as well as retaining eight members of last season s team. Ex-Kettering goalkeeper Rob Mackney

ST IVES Town are looking to build on their ninth-place finish in the UCL Premier League last season.

The club have made a number of new signings over the summer as well as retaining eight members of last season's team.

Ex-Kettering goalkeeper Rob Mackney is highly-rated and joins alongside full-back Jason King, formerly of Needingworth.

Midfielders Ian Fovargue and Barry Albone also join the club and the management are particularly pleased to have resigned Chris Ewles from Kings Lynn.

The forward has finished as the club's top scorer on more than one occasion and will be a massive boost to the team's front line.

Joint managers Warren Everdell and Jez Hall are looking forward to a successful season. Hall said: "We had a pretty successful season last time round, so we're looking for any improvement possible on that.

"We've got a really tough start with a trip to Raunds, but the pitch there is fantastic, and it'll give us a chance to have a look at the lads on a top surface.

"We're also looking to win our first FA Cup game since 1950, so there's some motivation there when we go to March!

"We've got a good mixture of young lads and some more experienced heads, so we should be in for a good year."

The club play at the Westwood Road ground in St Ives, and their first home game is on Tuesday, August 15, against Blackstones.

Hall said: "I'd encourage as many people as possible to come along to St Ives, particularly fans of Peterborough or Cambridge when those sides are away from home.

"The ground has a bar and satellite televsion and we try to play an attacking, attractive brand of football with two wingers - an enjoyable day all round!"

Town warmed up for the season with a 2-2 draw at home to Royston in their final friendly game on Saturday. The home side were two down after five minutes but goals from Anton D'Avilar and James Clark squared the game, and sent Town into the season on a positive note.