WEALDSTONE'S testimonial match for manager Gordon Bartlett against Watford must be treated the same as any other pre-season fixture.
That is according to the man himself, as the arrival of a Hornets Select XI on Saturday, July 18, kicks-off a busy pre-season schedule for the Ryman Premier play-off hopefuls.
Testimonials tend to be a laid-back, sentimental affair, but Bartlett, who has been at the Stones helm for 14 years, insists that will not be the case when the Championship side visit Grosvenor Vale for the second successive season.
"We've got a good relationship with Watford and it will be a good game to get stuck into before the Leeds visit [three days later]. Yes, this is for me, but I view it as part of pre-season as we look to get things right before the middle of August.
"We've helped develop a few Watford players over the years and, if we still can, we would be happy to take some more players from them in the future."
It will be Bartlett's 956th game in charge since taking over at the club with assistant Leo Morris in July 1995.
Of those, 584 have been league games and Bartlett feels a fifth promotion under his stewardship could be in the offing by the time next April comes around.
He added: "We can build on the current group of players, put everything in and have a go at it this year."
