Chris Herbert’s Viola open the 2025/26 Midland Football League season with a trip to Sutton Coldfield: facing Romulus. Last season’s visit ended in a 4-2 victory: a goal from Jacson Coppack and a hattrick from Eden Bailey.
“We are always confident, we have to be, we have a good squad ready to mix it. We need to be more consistent at home this season and have a tough one to open up with on Tuesday at home to Hanley, who I fully expect to be around the top contenders. But first we need to get the right result at Romulus.”
It wasn’t an ideal start to the competitive season last Friday, as the Greens were brushed aside 4-0 in the Emirates FA Cup by Bootle. But, there were many positives to take from the night.
“It was a good performance against a very strong and organised Bootle, and with a bit more luck at 2-0 down it could have been a different story. But it wasn’t to be.”
Hours before kick-off last Friday, it was confirmed that Jacson Coppack and Tom Morris had registered, with Jacson even starting the match.
“Both players are huge for us, we have missed them both pre-season, but they are both ready now.”
“I expect nothing different to last season from Romulus, 100% work rate and in our face, we have to at least match that, and then hopefully our quality will shine through.”
With the departures of joint-top scorers Eden Bailey and Joel Jones, Chris Herbert wasted no time in bringing in a vastly experienced forward and his former striker-partner:
“Hayzie [Mike Hayes] is and has been a top striker for years now, he will always score goals. His work rate is second to none, and we have all seen he has pace.”