Good luck to the Long Buckby AFC Ladies team today who travel to take on AFC Rushden & Diamonds in their long-awaited comeback. We spoke to manager Phil Moss about what the comeback to football means to the team.

It's been 5 months since the last match for the ladies, a 4-4 draw with Desborough. What does tomorrow's match away to AFC Rushden and Diamonds mean to the team?
To be honest I think we are just happy to be back. It’s a credit to the club and everyone associated with it to get all the teams not just ours back on the grass. For us this Sunday it’s about having fun and enjoying something we’ve all missed.

Have you been able to keep in touch and get any sort of lockdown training progamme going?
This is Scott’s department but from what I’ve seen the players have been set challenges to complete and have done various things to keep fit during the lockdown. It helps to have Scott on the team who is always setting the players challenges and pushing them however he can.

Group training commenced at the end of March? Have you had enough time to prepare for the comeback?
To be honest I would have liked longer training but I do understand that the time frame is short to get more football in. I also feel all teams are in the same boat so it should be affecting everyone in the same way. With our league setting up this non-competitive mini-league system it should mean it’s more relaxed which will help get us back to match fitness.

A lot can happen in 5 months. Have you still retained the team that played in November or will we see some new faces?
The majority of players are still here and all of them want to play. We have signed a couple of new players on to replace a couple who have left for various reasons. On the whole, I’m happy with the squad and believe they are good enough to compete and hopefully win the game tomorrow.

You'll be playing a mini-league for the remainder of the season. Given the progress the ladies have shown over the last 2 years what is the ambition of the coaching team?
I’d be lying if I said we didn’t want to finish top but for me, the important thing is getting all the players time on the pitch. Everyone regardless of ability has missed the game and I want to ensure they all get time on that pitch to enjoy it once again.