Bully's boys take on Tamworth
Stafford boss Steve Bull undertakes his first meeting of local rivals Tamworth as Rangers welcome the Lambs to Marston Road in the Blue Square North tomorrow (3pm).
Stafford boss Steve Bull undertakes his first meeting of local rivals Tamworth as Rangers welcome the Lambs to Marston Road in the Blue Square North tomorrow (3pm).
Just a 30 mile distance separates the two towns, although it has been some two seasons since the two crossed swords in league action. Tamworth were relegated from the Blue Square Premier that season, while Stafford survived, only to go down the next season.
Now both line up in the second tier of non-league football, Stafford as new boys with a point to prove, Tamworth with a lot of ground to make up after a hugely disappointing 15th place finish last term.
A 6-2 demolition of Burscough at the Lambs ground last weekend shows they can turn on when they want to - something that is not lost on Bull.
He said: "Tamworth were rampant, so our defenders will have to be on their game to stop then. Hopefully then, we can get to their weaknesses at the back and break away, scoring a few goals.
"This is a derby the people of Stafford have not seen for a while. We have five points on the board, which should have been more, with the professionalism and change of attitude in the side clear to see.
"I want people to get off their backsides and come and support us. Hopefully, with another win we can put another few on the gate for the next home game. "
Bully will again duel with a face he should know quite well from his playing days - Tamworth boss Gary Mills.
The former full-back faced Bull on a number of occasions, as Bull led the Wolves attack and Mills lined up in defence for Notts County and Leicester between 1989 to 1996, in what is now the Championship.
Yet Mills has managerial experience in the Football League, unlike his opponent, with a spell as manager of Notts County after coaching Coventry's reserve side.
But resources and professionalism at this level is another kettle of fish - as Mills is finding out. Bully knows firsthand the problems he faces and feels for his counterpart.
He said: "It is hard but he just has to get on with it. We are all in the same boat. There are probably only two or three teams at this level that have any real money to spend.
"There is no point in spitting your dummy out, you just have to get on with the job."
Left wing-back Ishamel Reid will return to a fully-fit Rangers squad for the game, having missed the draw at Workington last week through a family illness.
