United fit for fresh start under Turner

They hit their season-opener tomorrow largely untested after an abbreviated pre-season campaign, but new coach Grant Turner has made one promise - there will be few, if any, opposing teams this season who will better his Tauranga City United side for fitness.
Turner and co-coach John Whitley take a new-look City United side north to Waiuku tomorrow for their Northern League division two opener. They have whipped the young side into shape via a rigorous pre-season fitness regime overseen by trainer Pat Wigley, who is also the side's major sponsor through his CNS chiropractic and physio clinic.
Turner said many of the squad were hitting the targets he had as a New Zealand international almost three decades ago.
"You can't play football to a decent level if you're not fit and it's something I've prided myself on; always having teams fitter than anyone else. Pat's been great and they're all at a great level."
Tauranga dismissed Bay league side Whakatane pre-season before losing 4-0 to Northern League premier club Three Kings, with Turner's side conceding all four goals in the final 20 minutes as he emptied the dugout.
Tauranga are missing skipper Shaun Goldsbury (retired), Ben Richardson (Australia), Reece Edmonds (Australia) and Eugene Heerschap (transferred to Melville) from last year's front line, but have picked up defender Graham Craven (Manawatu), Tom Crawford (Tauranga Boys' College) and Mark van der Salm (back after a season off). Midfielder Jordan Culpepper is the side's new captain.
"Graham and Steve Smith will play in central defence and Tom's a young guy who has worked hard and done really well. Having Mark back in the mix is also a key acquisition for us."
Former UK-based professional Ian Stringfellow is up front, bolstering the strikepower and the side's average age, while Josh Nelson has been moved from midfield into a wide role alongside Stringfellow.
Turner hasn't set any targets going into his first season in charge. "It's all new for me and goals aren't my style, although we're working on the basis the bulk of these guys will be around for 2-3 years and we want to give players in this area a direction to work towards.
"The picture is slightly bigger than the game immediately in front of us."
Tauranga City United lineup:
Goalkeeper: Courtney Barrow-Fraser.
Defenders: Graham Craven, Steve Smith, Ben van der Salm, Nathan Farey.
Midfield: Isaac Bright, Jordan Culpepper (capt), Mark van der Salm, Tom Crawford.
Strikers: Ian Stringfellow, Josh Nelson.
Bench: Luke Barlow, Blair Cooper, Tom Livesey.
Tomorrow's Northern league second division games (home teams first):
Cambridge Utd v Mt Albert Ponsonby, Waiuku AFC v Tauranga City Utd, Papakura City v Western Springs, Fencibles Utd v Ngaruawahia AFC, Hibiscus Coast v Mangere Utd, North Shore Utd v Warkworth AFC.