TROWBRIDGE: FITNESS fanatic Nick Lawes has been named Trowbridge captain for the 2006/07 season and his first act as skipper will be to whip the squad into shape.

Lawes has replaced Barry Coombs in the Green Lane hot seat and has set his sights on a successful season in the competitive Southern Counties South. A devastating final-day defeat to CATs saw Trowbridge finish in the bottom two last season, only for the club to be saved from relegation by league restructuring at national level.

But Lawes is confident his team can steer clear of the dreaded dotted line this time around, with several former players returning to bolster the squad.

He said: "Our main priority this summer is to get everybody fit. Last year we faded badly in some matches and had nothing in the tank in the last 20 minutes. "The lads were back in training on May 30. We started with full-contact work so nobody will have any excuses when the season starts in September."

Lawes, 23, is a product of the youth section at Trowbridge. In 2000, the burly second row was voted young player of the year and he has been dreaming of the first team captaincy ever since. "I want to bring a professional attitude to the team and hopefully that will spread right through the club," he said.

"I'm a lot more optimistic than I was at the start of last year because we have managed to strengthen our squad. "It should be an exiting league this year with lots of strong teams. Even so, I think we have a good chance of securing our highest ever finish in Southern Counties South."

Outgoing captain Barry Coombs said he was glad to be handing over the armband after three seasons in charge. Coombs, who led Trowbridge to the Dorset and Wilts One title in 2002/3 and the Dorset and Wilts Vase in 2003/4, said Lawes was the obvious replacement.

"Bod (Lawes) is a colossal bloke and I'm sure he will do a fantastic job as captain. He has always been one of the more vocal members of the dressing room and he's very influential on the field.

"It has been an honour to captain Trowbridge but last season it became too stressful. Now I can concentrate on being a player and not have to worry about the rest of the team."

Trowbridge welcome back hooker Jack Hanham, who played last season at Frome, and full back Dave Wells, who has returned from a brief spell at Keynsham. Both players will be hoping to rediscover the form that saw Trowbridge go 16 matches unbeaten in 2002/3.

This year the club celebrates its 75th anniversary. Plans for a reunion are already under way and all former players are encouraged to contact the club via the website: www.trowbridgerfc.co.uk/