Town boss had scouted Stevenage’s new boys

Boro manager Graham Westley brought in a host of players from non-league after his club were relegated from League One, including the likes of Adam Marriott, Tom Pett, Connor Calcutt and Jerome Okimo.

They were all players who were on Still’s radar as he said: “We knew Pett, from Wealdstone, we looked a lot at Pett, we liked Pett, we thought he was okay.

“Marriott from Cambridge (City), we looked at him and decided we would do the (Lee) Angol, (Ricky) Miller, (Charlie) Walker one.

“But we looked at them and because we chose other people, it doesn’t mean to say there’s anything wrong with them because there’s not.

“They’re good players, but if you go into a sweet shop, you’ve got to make a choice haven’t you.”

One player who will be well known to Town fans and players is captain Ronnie Henry, who made 87 appearances, leading Hatters to the Conference title, before departing in the summer.

Still continued: “Ronnie did great here. I was sad that we couldn’t tie something up to keep him here, but football’s football.

“We want to win, Ron will want to win, but before and after, we’ll all have fond memories of what was achieved together.”

Hatters will be cheered on by almost 2,000 fans at the Lamex Stadium this weekend and on the clash, Still said: “I think they’re great games.

“For clubs of our level they’re still local derbies and certainly local derbies for supporters.

“We’re fortunate enough as we played a local derby if you like against Cambridge, there was something on that.

“They’re the games you want to be involved in, you’re in this game to be involved in big games, I think so anyway.

“The more big games you can play, it means you’re doing something right.

“I’m so sure it will be a keenly contested game on the pitch and a keenly contested opponent off the pitch, so I’m sure it’s going to be good.”

Still will come up against opposite number Westley for the first time since taking charge at Kenilworth Road, a manager he knows well from his Dagenham days, as he added: “I find him all right, I find most managers okay.

“He works as hard as he can for his own club and tries to get as many plus points for his own club as well.

“Some people can argue rights and wrongs of how people do things, me personally, I have no problems with people doing everything they can for their own club.

“As long as it’s what I call done fairly and I’ve got no reason to doubt he does everything he can for his club.

“But we can stand up to any challenges, we can stand up to physical challenges, can stand up to technical challenges and we can stand up to mental challenges. Whatever they bring, we’ll be ready for.”