Starling stays on to lead Esher charge

Jun 10 2009 Surrey Herald

LEE Starling vowed to help Esher bounce straight back to National Division One after committing himself to a fifth successive season with the club this week.

Esher just failed to escape relegation last season, despite a storming finish, victims of the league's frustrating reshuffle that saw five sides make the drop instead of the original two.

But back-row forward Starling claimed if they can take their end of season momentum into the start of the 2009-10 campaign, there is no reason they cannot make an immediate return to National One.

He said: "I was just gutted by relegation. I think the rug was pulled out from under us midway through the season.

"But if we keep on playing like we did in the back end of last season, I can see no reason why we can't move back up.

"We've gelled so well and there's plenty to offer within this team. National One is an achievable target and I think we'll be disappointed if we don't go back up."

The 29-year-old should certainly start the season pretty fit after opting for some novel pre-season training.

He will enter the Three Peaks Challenge in July, an event which will see him climb Britain's three highest mountains in 24 hours, all in aid of the Haven Hospice.

He has even suggested he will do it in fancy dress.

You can sponsor Starling's attempts to scale the heights by visiting www.justgiving.com/leestarling