I will control our new French defender's aggression - Daish

Tuesday 04th July 2006

Gravesend & Northfleet manager Liam Daish has recruited French defender Sacha Opinel to join his new look side for the start of their new Nationwide Conference campaign.

Opinel, 29, was previously with Crawley Town, Farnborough Town and Raith Rovers. He is likely to slot in to the left back position at Stonebridge Road.

"I think the fans will warm to Sacha" Daish told www.gnfc.co.uk “He's all action and gets up and down the pitch well. He's fiery and he's got a temper. It will be up to me to control his aggression and get the best out of him. I would much rather have a player like that than have a player that needs to be motivated."

The Fleet will begin their new season with an away trip to Aldershot Town on Saturday August 12th.

The Fleet, who begin pre season training this week, will follow that fixture with two home games – against Tamworth on Tuesday August 15th and York City on Saturday August 19th.

A visit to Gloucestershire to visit the Forest Green Rovers at their new stadium follows on Saturday August 26th before the Fleet entertain Altrincham on August 28th, Bank Holiday Monday.

The club’s long trip to Southport on Saturday September 2nd will have a 1.p.m kick of because of Steve McLaren’s England will be in action that afternoon.

Other notable fixtures include the Christmas programme which sees Crawley Town (December 26th) and relegated side Rushden & Diamonds (December 30th) visit Stonebridge Road, and the Fleet will only have the short trip to Grays Athletic on Monday January 1st.

Tricky away fixtures include long midweek trips to Weymouth (Tuesday October 2nd), Stafford Rangers (Tuesday March 13th), and Tamworth (Tuesday March 27th) as well as the Easter Bank Holiday trip to Altrincham on Monday April 9th.

The Fleet will complete their programme with a trip to Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road on Saturday April 28th.

Fans will be able to fulfill a lifelong dream by lifting the FA Cup when it comes to their club's training centre on Sunday July 23rd.

The famous old trophy - which has so far eluded the fleet in spite of some stirring Cup encounters - will be the centre of attraction at the Fleet Leisure Centre when the Gravesend & Northfleet FC Youth Section stages a Fun Day, which will be opened by the Mayor of Gravesham at 12 noon.

As well as the world's most famous club trophy, there will be plenty of attractions to keep the whole family entertained during the afternoon.

When the football fans have had their photo taken with the FA Cup they can try their luck at a Beat The Goalie competition or show their skill in a keepie uppie contest.

There will also be a golf challenge, a bungee rope to test your strength, and a speedcage to prove your power.

For younger visitors there will be face painting, a bouncy castle, and a chance to check out a REAL fire engine!

And just when the going gets too tough there will be strawberries and cream, a BBQ, a big roast, Pimms and a bar to refresh everybody.

Gravesend & Northfleet’s pre-season programme (so far):

Saturday 15^th July (a) Folkestone Invicta
Tuesday 18^th July (a) Dover Athletic
Saturday 22^nd July (a) Eastbourne Borough
Tuesday 25^th July (a) Thurrock
Tuesday 1^st August (a) AFC Hornchurch

Visit Gravesend & Northfleet’s website: www.gnfc.co.uk