With our pre-season preparations coming to an end, we caught up with West fans to find out their thoughts on West past, present and future.
In the first of two parts, the second of which will be available next week, we chatted to Rachel, Tom, David and Jamie.
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Rachel
How do you think West have done in pre-season?
I made it to a few of the pre-season games and it's been great to see West in action again. We've shown real promise for great season ahead. It's always nice to see lots of trialists but even better that the returning players are on form; for example Max Lewens has looked stronger and more commanding on the ball.
Any standout moments over the summer?
The evening trip to Cheadle Heath Nomads was great. The weather (mostly!) held off, the team played really well and it was nice to catch up with lots of other West supporters.
What have been your favourite moments since you started following West?
It's so hard to choose! The FA Cup game at Northwich Victoria last August is probably my all-time favourite. It was a great West away atmosphere, going down together on the coach and the last-minute winning goal from Curtis Miller really capped it all off. It was just brilliant.
What are your hopes for West next season?
I'd just like to see some good football! I'd love to see the same energy from the team throughout the whole season. We found it hard to keep going in those last few games (after the FA Vase exit). Another run in the Vase or a Cup would be great too!
Which player(s) are you expecting big things from?
Rhain Hellawell put in good shift against Rochdale EDS at Hyde and I can see him continuing in the same style this season. No pressure!
Which game are you most looking forward to and why?
No particular game, just looking forward getting back in the swing of Saturday home games.
Sum up in 3 words what it means to support West...
This is going to sound really cringey: fun, friends, football!
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Tom
How do you think West have done in pre-season?
Everyone says that pre-season results don’t mean anything, but I think we’d all be panicking if we’d played poorly and had lost more than we’d won. Instead, we’ve scored plenty of goals and, because all of last season’s first team have stayed on, we’ve got a settled side who already know how to play together. With a few new additions we’re looking good.
Any standout moments over the summer?
You won’t see many goals during the regular season better than Rhain Hellawell’s rocket against Rochdale EDS or Ben Elliot’s lob at Cheadle Heath Nomads.
What have been your favourite moments since you started following West?
I’d fallen out of love with football before I started watching West towards the end of the 2021/22 season. When Sam Heathcote scored the third from the penalty spot in a 3-1 win at Maine Road, the positivity and noise from the 800+ West supporters made me think 'Yeah, this is the club for me.'
What are your hopes for West next season?
Good vibes, some great moments and maybe a push for the playoffs. But it’s important to remember that West is about more than just the men’s first team, and I really hope that the ‘one club’ vision - which will put more focus on the women’s and junior sides - comes to fruition.
Which player(s) are you expecting big things from?
Max Lewens looks like a new signing - he’s been great during pre-season.
Which game are you most looking forward to and why?
Any Saturday home game in the sunshine with a tin of Burton Road 'Non' in my hand. Yes please.
Sum up in 3 words what it means to support West...
Positive vibes. McKnight.
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David
How do you think West have done in pre-season?
From the two games I went to (Conwy and 1874 Northwich) it's gone well! The Northwich game was especially pleasing given we beat a team a league above us, and unlike the Conwy game it wasn't a free for all in terms of subs! Overall we've won more than we've lost in preseason, so that's great.
Any standout moments over the summer?
Tom Westall's goal against Conwy was brilliant; I hope he's back from injury sooner rather than later. The Conwy trip was great all round as I made a weekend of it with my daughter.
What have been your favourite moments since you started following West?
I started watching West last season, so it has to be the Vase QF against Ascot. I know we lost but the atmosphere was incredible.
What are your hopes for West next season?
Promotion, or at least making the playoffs, and a good run in the Vase again. Although, after last season, I'm desperate for us to get all the way to the final so I can watch us at Wembley!
Which player(s) are you expecting big things from?
Max Lewens looked great in both the pre-season games I went to. I'm also looking forward to seeing what the new signings bring to the team.
Which game are you most looking forward to and why?
Bury away! Watching West at Gigg Lane will be fun, and will have to do in terms of us playing in a big ground until we get to Wembley!
Sum up in 3 words what it means to support West...
What a club!
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Jamie
How do you think West have done in pre-season?
Preseason has been useful, and while there have been some good results, those don't matter when compared against the task of evaluating the new lads. A couple of the players we've signed really impressed on trial and I think we've possibly improved the squad a lot. Max Lewens has been really impressive in preseason and it'd be good to see if he takes that into the next season.
Any standout moments over the summer?
The glamorous locations you go to following West in preseason are part of that. A trip to a park in Broadheath with a club house accessible via a 3 mile maze of corridors and driveways was typical of the smashing away days you get with the club.
What have been your favourite moments since you started following West?
The shootout at Coventry Phoenix away in the Vase was good. Going up at Barnton was great. Paying £2.20 for beer in Whitley Bay was the absolute pinnacle.
What are your hopes for West next season?
The playoffs are a reasonable target. If not, a nice cup run or two.
Which player(s) are you expecting big things from?
The new winger Lewis Billingsley looks very impressive. Billy Matthews will always do magic as well.
Which game are you most looking forward to and why?
Bury away. West in a properly big League ground will be great fun.
Sum up in 3 words what it means to support West...
Mates. Pints. Parakeets.
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Part Two will be available next week and both articles will also appear in the Colne and Vauxhall Motors matchday programmes.
