Merthyr Town go head-to-head with one of their former players when they travel to take on Swindon Supermarine on Saturday.
Welsh striker Stuart Fleetwood, who started his professional playing days in Cardiff City’s Academy, admits he is excited about the EvoStik Southern League clash.
“I can’t wait to play against Merthyr, I still have loads of friends at the club,” says Fleetwood, who will leave his mobile telephone with manager Lee Spalding during the 90 minutes.
His wife is not far away from giving birth and Fleetwood has planned ahead in case something develops.
Fleetwood, aged 32 and a full-time personal trainer away from football, is ‘Marine skipper and says: “Being captain is something I haven’t really experienced in my career before.
“It took some adapting to at first but it’s been a great learning curve and really enjoyable so far.
“When I looked around the club over the summer I was really impressed by what it had to offer. Both the ground and the training facilities are fantastic and the manager is ambitious about what he wants to achieve.
“They do things the right way here and there is a very welcoming atmosphere, which is all you can really ask for.”
Swindon Supermarine earned promotion last season and are midway in the Premier South table, nine points behind Merthyr Town.
Conor McDonagh scored both Swindon goals in their 2-2 draw against Salisbury last time out, while the Martyrs won 3-2 at Frome Town.
‘Marine have lost only one of their last seven league matches, earning 14 points in that run.
The addition of Jamie Edge from Gloucester City has strengthened Supermarine and manager Lee Spalding says: “We’re in good form and it’s good to be going into the Merthyr game off the back of our positive run.
“Merthyr are a good side, no doubt about that. They are one of the better teams in the league.
“We’re going to have to make sure that we are defensively strong and organised.
“We are causing teams problems as an attacking threat, but we have to be good going both ways.
“Jamie Edge has made a big difference. It’s obvious that he is comfortable in possession.”
Spalding also highlighted the work of front pairing McDonagh and Fleetwood, saying: “The front two are firing, putting the effort in and leading by example.
“Now we’ve started playing to our strengths and all of a sudden have a different dimension.”
Merthyr Town follow their trip to Swindon by playing two successive home games at the MetCoaches Stadium. Taunton Town are visitors on New Year’s Day, while Salisbury come to South Wales on Saturday, January 5.
EvoStik Southern League Table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts | ||
| 1 | Taunton Town | 21 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 55 | 25 | +30 | 47 |
| 2 | Weymouth | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 24 | +21 | 40 |
| 3 | Salisbury | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 49 | 31 | +18 | 38 |
| 4 | Harrow Borough | 20 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 37 |
| 5 | Metropolitan Police | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 36 |
| 6 | Merthyr Town | 21 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 38 | 28 | +10 | 35 |
| 7 | Beaconsfield Town | 20 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 31 |
| 8 | Hendon | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 31 |
| 9 | Hartley Wintney | 21 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 29 |
| 10 | Kings Langley | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 33 | 36 | -3 | 28 |
| 11 | Walton Casuals | 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 38 | 43 | -5 | 28 |
| 12 | Poole Town | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 24 | +12 | 27 |
| 13 | Swindon Supermarine | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 26 |
| 14 | Tiverton Town | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 34 | +1 | 25 |
| 15 | Gosport Borough | 21 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 35 | 44 | -9 | 25 |
| 16 | Farnborough | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 35 | 50 | -15 | 25 |
| 17 | Basingstoke Town | 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 35 | 40 | -5 | 24 |
| 18 | Wimborne Town | 21 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 39 | 46 | -7 | 23 |
| 19 | Dorchester Town | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 27 | 40 | -13 | 22 |
| 20 | Frome Town | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 29 | 40 | -11 | 21 |
| 21 | Chesham United | 20 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 40 | -20 | 21 |
| 22 | Staines Town | 22 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 24 | 63 | -39 | 9 |