DAVE Webb has promised to bring the ‘beautiful game’ back to the Elms as Highworth look to rekindle the spirit of their title winning 2004/5 team.

In his first full season as manager, the former Forest Green Rovers man is determined to challenge the Hellenic Premier Division big guns after three years of “massive underachievement”.

Webb knows he will ultimately be judged on results in this win-at-all-costs business, but the touchline chief insists he will not sacrifice his footballing principles in search of a ‘scrappy’ three points.

He said: “I want to see people come back to Highworth, watch football and be excited about what we’re trying to do here.

“With some of the young, quick, enthusiastic players that we have now hopefully we can play some entertaining football.

“Everybody knows I’m a football man and I like to see the game played the right way.

“We need to be looking to establish ourselves again and to be challenging the top three from last season.

“If we can finish above any of those sides we will have had a good season.”

With the exception of two losses against big-spending Hungerford Town, Highworth more than held their own against the top sides in 2007/8.

But defeats to several teams in the lower reaches of the division left them out of contention when the trophies were handed out in May.

“Our consistency last season was poor,” admitted Webb.

“We dropped too many points against bad sides, whereas we performed quite well against the top sides.

“That doesn’t win you leagues. You have to be consistent from the start to the end of the season.

“Everyone has their blips, but it’s about getting something out of games when you don’t play at your best.”

Despite the capture of several players from Shrivenham this summer, Webb insists he did not plan a close-season raid on Highworth’s bitter rivals.

The initial signings of TJ Bohane and Tom Cole led to an exodus from the Rec, where Mark Love has replaced Pete Horwat in the hot seat.

“We signed a couple, then another couple of lads wanted to come over and train, and it’s just gone from there,” explained Webb.

“It wasn’t meant to be that way, it’s just something that happened. Hopefully they will all enjoy it here and get in the team.

“We still have some big players who were here last season who want to get in the team. We have good competition in almost every position.

“We’ve got a big squad, we told them all the same thing: You have the opportunity throughout pre-season to prove you are worth one of those shirts.”