WIMBORNE Town might be hard at work ahead of the new season on the pitch, but manager James Stokoe’s pre-season started well before Magpies returned to footballing action.

Beyond the constant phone calls and moves in the transfer market, Stokoe found time to get down to Wimborne’s New Cuthbury ground ahead of his players’ return, adding a personal touch to the home changing room.

Magpies moved into their new stadium last season, initially struggling to find any home comforts as they waited until December for their first league win at home.

Explaining to the Daily Echo the reasoning behind the changes, Stokoe, who works as a carpenter away from football, began: “It’s something that when we moved to the new ground, the changing rooms lacked a little bit of character.

“They felt just new and a bit bland. We spoke to the board and they sanctioned us to do some work in there. I’m a carpenter by trade, so I could go in and do it.

“It just makes it a little bit more homely for the players, a little bit more of a professional feel about it, as it’s sort of how the pro clubs have their set ups.

"So it’s a nice little touch for the players, and the club have been brilliant in allowing us to do it."

In two spells with the club, Stokoe scored over 100 goals in 450 appearances for the Magpies, before moving into a coaching role prior to late becoming manager for Wimborne.

With a strong affinity to the club, Stokoe was aiming to help restore the Magpies back to the Southern League Premier South as soon as possible.

“Last year was a very, very tough season and we're not going to overshadow that, with the performances and how it went,” restarted the former Eastleigh and Bashley man.

“It was incredibly tough, and it was really hard to take. We’re now in a better position as a club, I think maybe having what happened could benefit us in the long run.

“There's definitely an ambition to try and get us back to where we were.

“As a player for so long, and now the manager, I want to try and get us back to where I got as a player, as a part of the team that got us there, and hopefully we can have a good season this year and we can make a quick return.”