HE’S A larger than life character and Rams’ supporters will certainly know who their club captain is this season.

Shy and retiring are certainly not the words you would use to describe Ryan Woodford, who is an all-action midfielder.

And he certainly plans to lead from the front as the Rams head into unchartered territory with their first ever season at step four of the non league pyramid system.

Not that this is anything which fazes the Rams skipper. He is oozing confidence ahead of what will be an historic campaign for the club, whatever happens in the season ahead – and Woodford can’t wait for that first whistle of the season to go at 3pm on Saturday.

Woodford said: “I am really excited to be here and buzzing right now for the season to get under way.

“There is a cracking management team here and a fantastic squad of players who I am sure can take this club on further and upwards from what has been achieved during the last few seasons.”

Woodford has plenty of top level experience in non league football, thanks to spells with Eastleigh, Andover, Worthing, Horsham and Chipstead. He is also a former captain of the England Colleges team.

He knows what it takes to put together a successful team at this level of football and the odds given to Petersfield by the bookmakers for promotion in Division 1 Central have certainly raised his eyebrows with surprise.

He added:?“I’ve seen that the bookmakers have us at 25-1 to win the league – all I will say to that is people will have to watch us carefully.”