Captain Conor Tinnion has been impressed with Workington Reds’ preparations for the season under new boss Danny Grainger.

Reds travel to play Consett tomorrow (3pm kickoff) in their fifth pre-season friendly before visiting Gretna FC 2008 on Tuesday night (7.30pm ko).

After that they will face Radcliffe away on August 3 before their Northern Premier League North West Division campaign gets under way at home to Pickering Town on August 17.

They have already beaten Whitehaven 7-2, Carlisle City 1-0 and Penrith 2-1, as well as suffering a 3-1 defeat at Barrow.

Tinnion told the club’s website the squad had picked up Grainger’s ideas fast and shown them on the pitch already in the friendlies so far.

“I think I’m probably surprised at how quickly we’ve picked up the completely different style of play and I’m impressed with how we’ve adapted to it,” he said.

“Danny’s got some strong ideas and I think he would probably admit himself that he thought it might take a bit of a while to get in.

“It’s just a massive positive how quickly it’s coming together and it’s given us a boost in pre-season so we need to keep it going.

“I think it’s massively helped how fit the lads have come back.

“I’ve never seen us come back as fit, so I think that’s given us a head start because you need to be fit the way Danny wants us to play.”

Tinnion was handed the armband by Grainger in one of his first major decisions after his appointment.

He added: “I’m really proud to have been asked but it’s just one man [as captain], there’s quite a few who can step up and I’ve played under some great captains.

“More than anything, it’s a massive compliment that he’s trusted me with it and I now just need to not let him down and try to be the link between the lads and getting Danny’s ideas across.”

The club has appealed for volunteers to help get Borough Park ready for the start of the new season.

The summer work programme suffered delays due to the uncertainty over the proposed new Workington stadium, which ultimately did not get the go-ahead.

Work includes cleaning, painting, joinery, weeding and jet washing, with the first big clean-up set to be held tomorrow between 9.30am and 5.30pm.

Free refreshments will be provided, as well as complimentary match tickets for upcoming home games.

To get involved, email volunteer@workingtonafc.com

Meanwhile, fans have the opportunity to sponsor a square of the Borough Park pitch or a seat on the team bus.

Sponsors would be featured in every home match programme.

For more information, call chairman John Mackay on 01946 841429 or 07912859480 or email john.mackay52@btinternet.com