CRAIG Milligan insists Tividale’s new look squad of players are ready for this Saturday’s EVO-STIK Northern Premier League, Division One South campaign opening day fixture with Shaw Lane Aquaforce at The Beeches (KO 15:00).

Tivi’s new club captain is set to lead Dale out for the very first time and the experienced midfielder believes that the 2014-15 Northern East Counties champions will prove to be difficult opposition.

He said “Firstly, it will be an honour to lead out the side and I am thankful to Ross and Phil for giving me the responsibility. We’re all looking forward to the season starting on Saturday. We have one final training session tonight to finalise our preparations and we will be more than prepared for what will be a difficult start to the season against a newly promoted team.

“I’ve played at this level for the last nine seasons and there are no easy games. We are all new to one another so the start of the season may prove to be tough for us as we find our feet and get a better understanding of each other.

“But I think we’ve done extremely well so far and we played some excellent stuff in the opening period last weekend at Halesowen. That was our biggest test of pre-season and I think we performed admirably on the day given their stature and organisation.”

The former Sutton Coldfield Town and Willenhall Town star says that team spirit will definitely be the key if Dale are to have a successful season, adding: “We need to stick together, we will have good days and bad days, there’s no doubting that but it’s how we react and keep a level of consistency that will define our season.

“Team spirit is extremely important and there’s already a growing togetherness in the dressing room. But the relationship with off field staff is also of paramount importance if we are to move forward collectively, and they have all been very welcoming.

“Ross (Thorpe) and Phil (Male) have an agreement with Leon (Football General Manager) and Steven (Head of Communications) about one thing or another which means the latter two buy a pint on every occasion a certain word is said.

“I’ve heard Steven now owes the pair of them about 15 pints! He’s hiding away in the office upstairs, as he’s probably going to be bankrupt at this rate!”