Lydney’s new head coach Lee Fortey is up for the challenge. And he knows it will be a challenge as the club look to bounce back after last season’s disappointment.

Just six wins in 26 games saw them tumble out of South West Premier and they begin what they hope will be the start of the climb back to their former levels at home to Launceston on Saturday 1st September.

Getting out of South West One West won’t be easy of course – the division includes near neighbours Newent and Coney Hill – and Fortey knows it will take a lot of hard work if they are to finish on top of the pile come the end of April.

Hard work is one thing Fortey, 43, is certainly not afraid of, however, and it will be a basic requirement of anyone pulling on the famous black and white shirt this season.

“I expect people to work hard,” he said. “I want players to earn their place and earn the right to play.

“If you work hard you’ve got a much greater chance of being successful.”

Fortey, a prop, certainly enjoyed a successful rugby career. He came through the ranks with his hometown club Gloucester before going on to play for Moseley, Newport and Worcester Warriors.

Former Gloucester second row John Brain was the main man when Fortey was at Worcester in the mid-noughties and Fortey learned much from his time from playing for him.

“He was a big influence on me,” said Fortey. “He was one of the most honest blokes you could ever know. If you were dropped he told you why.

“Players want to know where they stand and I’m a big believer in that. I won’t take any short cuts and there won’t be any excuses.”

Fortey’s post-playing career has seen him coach at Old Centralians and Cinderford, so he has plenty of experience to fall back.

These days he also works alongside another ex-Gloucester player, Andrew Stanley, at Dean Close School in Cheltenham and he also runs his own children’s rugby camps.

He is also a forwards coach for Gibraltar – their international commitments may mean he has to miss a couple of Lydney’s matches this season – but although he spent all his playing career in the front row, the Regentsholme faithful can expect to see plenty of free-flowing rugby this season.

“I like to play an expansive game,” said Fortey, who has a one-year contract with the club. “Obviously you have to adapt to the opposition and the conditions and the players you have available but I like players to run with the ball.

“The youngsters of today are all athletes and they like to get the ball in hand. I always tell players not to be afraid to try things.

“I like to get the ball moving. Although we will work hard in training there will be a lot of skill-based work as well.”

Fortey is clearly excited by the challenge that lies ahead.

“I felt it was the right time to get back into local rugby,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity. Lydney have got a proud history and we need to get them back playing at a higher level.”

That higher level now includes Drybrook, the Forest team who play just down the road from Lydney.

They took the South West One West title with a fantastic late run last season but far from being envious of their achievements Fortey sees their remarkable rise as a positive.

“It shows what can be done,” said dad-of-five Fortey, who lives in Gloucester. “If they can do it, we should be thinking, ‘Why can’t we?’

“It’s good for Forest rugby that teams like Drybrook and Cinderford are doing well and it shows everyone else what can be achieved.”

Lydney supporters will be hoping that it won’t be too long until they are rubbing shoulders with their Forest neighbours again.