Fakenham boss Wayne Anderson is preparing to play a bigger role on the pitch this season – as the experienced voice in the heart of the Ghosts' midfield.

Anderson started just four games last season as Fakenham finished fifth in the Thurlow Nunn First Division.

The 39-year-old believes they can do better in the new season – and is hoping to be the old head in the middle of the field that drives them to a promotion place.

Anderson got his own and his team's preparations under way with 45 minutes of the summer friendly opener against King's Lynn, which was followed at the weekend by a home clash against a youthful Norwich City XI.

'Yes, I am getting myself back to fitness,' he said.

'I played 45 minutes against Lynn and I didn't look too bad.

'It is not just my fitness, it is my talk. We have Steve Harvey, he is the captain, and Gilly (Matthew Gilchrist) and (Lee) Day, but they don't talk and rap as much as I do.

'The first half (against Lynn) I was nailing into people and it tells – someone on there with a bit of experience who can get across to people where to go and how to move on and off the ball, a proper leader.

'To be fair I am not Steve Harvey and people like that are not leaders – they are, they have played this standard of football, but someone who is probably more aggressive in a tackle, in a header and wins balls and gives it and makes their presence felt on a football field and be a leader.'

Anderson has added the experienced Robbie Harris to his squad and believes he and Kyle Plumb will be big threats up front next season.

'They are going to be a handful,' he said. 'Obviously Plumbs is a big strong lad, he holds the ball up as well and Robbie is a goal scorer - he will score goals in the Thurlow Nunn League.

'But while we are talking about Robbie, Ben Boyce will be back at Christmas. I rate that lad so much and I think at Christmas time it will be like having another new striker and hopefully we will be pushing into the top three next season.'

Anderson is happy with the versatility within his squad.

'I have got players who can adapt,' he said.

'I have players who can play all over the park, which is good, not just in their own little roles. I am looking to bring another centre midfielder in but being a smaller club the finances are not as good as at a higher level and it is difficult to bring a very good quality midfielder or a centre forward in.

'We were lucky to get Robbie here – he had been training with us pre-season and he loved every minute of it. It is good to see him getting to a high standard of football.'

While Anderson has hopes of promotion, he knows that one area the Ghosts have struggled is in pulling in crowds.

'We struggled last season,' he said. 'We played Cambridge (University Press); we were second and Press were top – we gave everyone a free ticket and we didn't get people in.'

James Page scored in the 3-1 defeat to Norwich on Saturday. Fakenham host Norwich United at the weekend.