XI questions with | Gainsborough Trinity

And across the country, supporters are preparing for the new campaign with renewed hope and ambition for the season ahead.

Ahead of the 2026/27 campaign getting underway on Saturday 8 August, we sat down with supporters from the NPL clubs at Step 3 to hear their thoughts on how things are shaping up.

Today, it's the turn of Will Stanser from Gainsborough Trinity.

Sum up your transfer window so far…

I’d say it’s not been too bad. 

Our main target was a striker and we’ve got one, with a few decent other additions in there as well.

Unfortunately one of your stars from last season, Sisa Tuntulwana, has moved on to join Buxton in the National League North. How big of a loss is that? 

I’d say it’s a little bit of a loss because we will miss his pace. That being said, we have other players who can step up, and I'm confident they can do so. 

You’ve finished seventh, seventh and eighth in the last three seasons. What does a successful 26/27 campaign look like? 

Win the league or, failing that, reaching the play-offs.

Russ Wilcox has been in charge for almost three years now. How would you assess his time as manager? 

I’d say it’s been good.

His time in charge has included two great FA Cup runs and two good FA Trophy Trophy runs, and he's also taken us from in the relegation zone to just missing out on the play-offs. 

We're just missing that promotion, which hopefully comes soon.

Your late season form hampered your play-off chances last season. How do you claw back some positive momentum? 

Win every game! In all seriousness, starting the season with a few wins and strong performances will hopefully mean confidence grows naturally amongst the players.

That run to the FA Cup first round, where you lost a close contest with Accrington Stanley, plus another successful run in the FA Trophy, meant you played a lot more games than usual. Do you think that negatively impacted the end of the previous campaign? 

I’d say so, yes.

In the last two seasons we’ve played 50+ games, and in the end it caught up with us at the vital stage of the season, but we can’t have it all our own way.

You’ve had some exciting signings come through the door. Who are you most excited to see play, and why?

All of them. 

I'm always look forward to seeing the new signings to see what they bring to the team, and how it differs to what we have already in the squad.

Who are you expecting to be the most important player in your side next season? 

Again, every single one of them.

It’s a team game, so all of them will hopefully play their part in a successful season. Fingers crossed!

Tell us one player from your squad who opposition supporters should look out for, and why? 

None of them, I can’t be giving that kind of information away!

Of the new sides in the division, which away ground are you most excited to visit? 

A couple of them. Redcar and Avro will be new grounds for me to visit along with Workington, who are now groundsharing with the rugby club. 

Also I'm keen to visit Bury and Emley, as I’ve never seen Trinity play either.

Excluding your own club, who do you think the league’s dark horses could be for 2026/27? 

A few teams have done some good transfer business, but I never predict as I always turn out to be completely wrong!