Chasetown boss salutes spirit

Blakemore conducted a summer overhaul which left the club with eight new signings - but without several of the dressing room jokers who had made the club such a special place to be over the last few years.

Gone are captain Craig Harris - complete with naked Elvis impersonations on the coach to away games - and plumber-striker Lee Bullimore.

But Blakemore believes the exit of Scholars stalwarts has allowed others the chance to become bigger characters in the dressing room.

"What I'm really pleased with is the spirit in the team," said Blakemore.

"Having a good dressing room atmosphere is something I've always been really keen on and these lads are hanging off the ceiling!

"Existing players have responded and there are different characters here now.

"We went on a weekend of excess away at Taunton.

"I deliberately roomed them in threes, putting quiet ones in with noisy ones and new lads and it just clicked.

"They have all become really good buddies. I've got a young squad this season but people who have come in such as Nick Hawkins, Kyle Perry and Dean Perrow have brought life to the dressing room.

"When 'Chopper' (Harris) was around, no-one got a look-in, but now quite a lot of lads have come to the fore.

"For example Chris Slater, who was a quiet chap, has seen what it's like over a few years and he's become livelier.

"I've spoken to the lads and they say it's the best spirit they have known."

Excellent team spirit has certainly been reflected in early results, with the Scholars having won both their first two games against Berkampsted and Rushall before today's trip to Malvern.

"We needed to show that spirit on Tuesday when we had to grind it out against Rushall," said Blakemore.

"When we played Berkhampsted it was a different story because we murdered them."

A couple of other changes have also encouraged a good rapport throughout the camp.

"I made Lee Parsons team captain and Kevin Thompson club captain and everyone seems to have responded," added Blakemore.

"Lee has started the season really well as skipper and Kevin has played at Conference level and has everyone's respect."

The feelgood factor was enhanced by the attendance at Tuesday's derby against Rushall - 390.

Many of them watched from the new 1,000-capacity terracing erected behind the dug-outs.

"I thought the crowd was superb - we're building the club gradually and we have plans for a new 500-seater stand behind the goals," he added.