FC MMIX are set to welcome back a whole host of big names for the 2^nd half of the 2011/12 league campaign, which begins with a home tie against Stantonbury Social on January 8^th.

MMIX end 2011 in 5^th place with 20 points from a possible 33, one point behind 4^th placed Stoke Hammond MK. Stantonbury Social sit in 3^rd on 23 points while 2^nd placed Olney have 25 and Santander sit at the top of the pile with 28, meaning that MMIX currently sit 8 points off of the top of the table at the halfway stage of the season.

But despite the gap between Santander and themselves, confidence is high in the MMIX camp as they prepare for a busy 2^nd half of the season (which also includes a Knock-Out Cup quarter-final against Trade 2 U) knowing that most of tougher teams have already been faced while several of the title and promotion candidates still have to play each other – sometimes twice.

“There are no easy games in this league; even a game against the sides at the bottom of the table can throw up some problems, and we’ve definitely seen that first hand. But run-in wise, we’re confident that we can pick up the results that we need while some of our rivals will almost certainly drop points along the way.”

Olney still have two ties to play against Stantonbury as well as fixtures against Santander and Punjab while Santander also have to play Stantonbury and a Punjab double header, Stantonbury have to also play Santander and Punjab and the likes of Stoke Hammond and Stanton Manor can also play a huge part in upsetting the title contenders – including MMIX.

“Olney’s shock defeat to Stoke Hammond last week showed us that despite our loss to Santander, there are definitely still going to be a few twists and turns in this title race so nothing can be taken for granted just yet.

The recent results against Stantonbury and Santander were disappointing, particularly when you look at the fact that had we done our job in both of those games, we’d actually be joint top right now instead of sitting in 5^th. But that’s football; there’s no point dwelling on stuff that you can do nothing about now and with a couple of good results, things can appear very differently in no time at all so we need to make sure that we get those results and send a message to the league as soon as possible that we still mean business.”

MMIX had to field a team against AFC Santander on December 11^th without a whole host of first team regulars including Chris Harper, Karl Jones, Aden Turner, Ian Gray and Mahmoud Ageli while key players were also missing in the two fixtures prior to that including the tie against Stantonbury Social on December 4^th which left MMIX with only 11 available players out of a total of 30 that were, at the time, currently signed on to the club.

“Having to go into such huge games without regulars such as these was devastating but that’s what happens sometimes, and we really can’t fault the players that did go out and give 100% for the cause. We didn’t pick up the results that we wanted, but nothing is won or lost with half of the season still to play – and we know that as soon as the fixtures start up again, you’re going to see an FC MMIX side well and truly back to their best.

Knowing that we’re going to have these players available again as the season picks back up in 2012 is a massive boost for us, and should come as a massive blow for the teams around us as well. I genuinely fear for the teams that are going to face us, because we’re going to be going for it like never before.”

And that’s not the only good news that the club have received recently.

“We’ve also had some really positive news regarding Des Clark, who is now only a matter of weeks away from a first-team comeback. Des was nothing short of monstrous for us during 2010/11, notching up 19 goals and 17 assists in 31 games for the club, and if we can get him firing on all cylinders again… Well, I’d fear for the teams that we come up against even more than I would have done otherwise.”

MMIX’s first 3 games of 2012 are home ties against Stantonbury and New City Saints and a trip to Radcliffe School to take on Stanton Manor.

“We know that it’s a huge ask, and we know that some results elsewhere are going to have to go our way, but we’re not about to give up when there are so many points at stake. There are 33 points to be won and this squad has enough strength, belief, desire and ability to win every single one of those points so put quite simply… Bring it on.”