Rust hoping Barnwood can give good account of themselves after frustrating wait for promotion confirmation

Barnwood United Manager Hayden Rust says his side are more than capable of giving a good showing this season, after being promoted to Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One following a drawn out wait.

After finishing third in the 2024/25 season, which was supposed to be enough for promotion, Barnwood were kept in Division Two due to the relegations of Hardwicke and Gala Wilton from the County League.

Twelve months later, having finished fourth, a spot which again was originally said would be enough for promotion, Barnwood were left waiting on the outcome of Longlevens Reserves’ appeal over their play-off result before they could plan for life in Division Two and Rust admits that planning for the new season and particularly recruitment has been tough due to not knowing which league they would be in – at no fault of their own!

“It started at the end of the previous season [2024/25] where there was talk of whether we would be going up or not. Then on our final game of last season we knew we needed to win to guarantee fourth spot, so we were asking if we could celebrate after the game but then we ended up treading on eggshells really, because we didn’t want to over-celebrate after what happened before.

By hook or by crook we have got there, been promoted and we were glad to be in the end. But with getting in new faces, it’s been difficult because they are all rightly saying ‘well, what league are you playing in?’ And you’ve got a lot of competition from other clubs who can answer that question.

Dave Creed is one we are hoping to bring in and he has played a couple of times for us in pre-season, but he was already playing at Northern Senior Two, so he probably wouldn’t have made a sideways step to us.

It has been difficult for everyone at the club on and off the pitch, being honest, it’s been a bit of a nightmare for us and of course for Longlevens – who by the way, we are glad have gone up as it was deserved for the season they had,” said Rust.

Barnwood’s opening three pre-season games has seen them go head-to-head with Quedgeley Wanderers and Chalford, before hosting Stroud League Champions and GNSL new boys Old Richians on Saturday and produced good showings in all three games.

In the opener against Quedgeley, Barnwood were an offside flag away from being 3-0 up over the County League side, but following the first half drinks break were blown away by some quality attacking play from Beckem Foley’s team – who ran out 4-2 winners.

On Wednesday night, Barnwood again pushed County League opposition all the way in Chalford, with the visitors edging out a 2-1 victory.

Saturday’s friendly saw Barnwood produce some quality play in the final third and a double from Ryan Cook had them 2-0 up at the break, before Toby Gettings drilled in a third late on to seal a 3-0 win for the hosts.

Speaking to Severn Sport about all three games, Rust says that the results and performances have been positive and have been exactly what he and Assistant Dave Moore were hoping for.

“I think the results are probably a fair reflection of how the games have gone to be honest,” said Rust.

“Obviously two of the sides play in the County League and we expected them to have a lot of possession, be good on and off the ball and all of the things you’d expect from a team in the league above and that is exactly how they played.

We put those fixtures in deliberately as we want to get minutes into the lads, but also give them tests against a higher opposition – but I think we came out of both of those games with heads held high, especially considering the time of the season we are in in terms of the calendar month and holidays, school holidays and all of that.

I’ve been pleased with how we have played in all three games, especially today, we were looking to win the game, looking to score some goals and be in control of the ball more than the two previous games and I think we did that really well.

Being 2-0 up against a good Quedgeley side and then on Wednesday, I thought we were unlucky to not get a draw with an opportunity right at the end of the game – so we could have potentially come out of those games with a different perspective again, but as I said, I’m happy with it all so far, to be honest,” Rust added.

Barnwood’s season starts in disjointed fashion after the hangover of the wait for promotion as they won’t be playing in the Reg Davis Cup First Round on Wednesday 5 August after now receiving a bye following Longlevens Reserves’ promotion to the County League.

It mean’s that Rust’s side’s first competitive game of the season will be a tough trip to Dursley Town on Saturday 8 August, as their Division One campaign gets started.

Their pre-season schedule continues with another tough test in Tewkesbury Town on Wednesday night and ahead of a historic season for the club, Rust believes a top half finish is more than achievable for his team and reiterates that they are on track to be ready for their curtain raiser.

“I think if we can get everybody in and settled down and go into the season with the squad we have lined up, then I think we are more than good enough to give a good account of ourselves, so we are on track,” said Rust.

“Obviously, things can be up in the air throughout pre-season and every club probably has similar situations with that, but if we can get a top half finish, I think realistically that is a good finish for us,” added Rust.

Barnwood United get their GNSL Division One season underway on Saturday 8 August when they head to Dursley Town, before a trip to either Tuffley Rovers Reserves or Bream Amateurs on Wednesday 12 August in the Second Round of the Reg Davis Cup.