New season preview: Ashton United
MANAGEMENT can be a lonely place — as Jody Banim is finding out. In sole charge of Ashton United since Will Haining stood down at the end of last season, he’s had (quote) a bit of a bumpy ride. Overall it’s been a satisfying time, but the challenges have come thick and fast. Wide-man Ryan Crowther has been ruled out for the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Tom Eckersley faces six weeks on the sidelines with a torn hamstring, and Rick Smith misses a month because of a medial ligament strain. And a shoulder knock could mean that Alex Johnson is ruled out of tomorrow’s opening Evo-stik NPL premier division fixture at Hednesford Town. In a rare stroke of good luck, Matt Chadwick’s ankle injury, although nasty, has been one of severe bruising rather than ligament damage. He’s in contention for the trip to Hednesford with only his match fitness in question. “I’m enjoying being the only one in charge but I have missed Will. He had bags of experience,” admitted Banim. “Luckily, I’ve got a great backroom team in Simon Woodford, Damian Crossley and my new goalkeeping coach Kieran Bentley. The three of them have been brilliant during pre-season and they’ve put in just as much work as I have. “Will’s always on the end of a phone if I need him. He’s been to a couple of the friendlies and mentioned a couple of players who might potentially be available. I’m sure he’ll be down to more games during the season. “The injuries are something I’ve got used to since I started managing Ashton. You’ve just got to get on with it. We’ve got a bigger squad now and we’ll have to start using it.” Unexpected injuries have forced Banim to make more signings than he may have planned. Over the last week alone he has brought in defenders Max Cartwright (Stockport) and Lanre Olapade (New Mills), midfielder Nicky Platt (Trafford) and striker Oscar Durnin (Nantwich). Two signings that have particularly pleased him are Scunthorpe striker Jack Dyche, who made a huge impression while on loan last season, and highly experienced goalkeeper Dave Carnell. “Jack did so well last year,” said Banim. “If I’m being honest, I really didn’t think we’d be able to get him but after what happened to Ryan Crowther, and Matty Chadwick’s injury, we really pushed for him and I’m glad to say Scunthorpe trust us. “Hopefully he’ll hit the ground running like he did last year and start scoring straight away. He has an aggressive style of play and brings his own threat, and of course he scores goals. “Dave Carnell is a calming influence. He’s a great shot-stopper, decent with his feet, and a good talker. When it comes to non-league he’s been there and done it. For me there’s nobody better than him in the North West.” Nicky Platt has been training with the Robins most of the summer with a view to signing. Max Cartwright, whom Banim describes as a big addition, was first approached at the end of last season but wanted time to consider. He is also in contention to play tomorrow. Tough as it might be, Banim’s plan is to fight for the league championship for as long as it is mathematically possible. However, he sees plenty of strong opponents with money to spend. He believes Altrincham have made good signings and expects Stalybridge Celtic and Warrington Town to challenge. Promoted Farsley Celtic are known to have resources and like many of his fellow managers views Shaw Lane as a threat. Stourbridge and Workington also come into the equation. “In general I’m confident but pre-season has been a bit of a bumpy ride. We took a thumping at Hyde United last week but in a masochistic kind of way I think that might have been good for us. It was better for it to happen then rather than tomorrow,” explained Banim. “I’ve sat the lads down and explained my objectives for the season. They know what’s expected of them. “It’s not ideal that we’ve had to make so many signings so late but we’ve got some good footballers. We’ve just got to bed them in. I think we’re going to be okay.” Weekend Previews
CO-BOSS Paul Phillips will be a delighted man as GLOSSOP NORTH END set off for their opening Evo-stik NPL first division north fixture at Goole tomorrow (Saturday). This afternoon he and partner Steve Halford signed defender/defensive midfielder Courtney Meppen-Walter from Stockport County. Phillips described the deal as massive for the club. Meppen-Walter began his career at Manchester City and has also played for Carlisle United. Otherwise, the Hillmen will be lacking Liam Wood, Connor Martin and Liam Brownhill, all of whom are injured. HYDE UNITED have one absentee as they prepare to set off for Scarborough Athletic and the new Flamingo Land Stadium. Midfielder Chris Churchman has a deadleg and is unable to play. Dimitri Tuanzebe, who badly injured an ankle playing five-a-side with friends, misses DROYLSDEN’S game at Clitheroe. Adam Farrell is also unable to play. Danny Johnson has to attend a family wedding but otherwise MOSSLEY are at full strength for the trip to Kendal. STALYBRIDGE CELTIC start life in the Evo-stik NPL premier division tomorrow, following relegation from National League North, and boss Steve Burr has made wholesale changes over the summer. There are only two survivors from last season’s squad in Gary Gee and new skipper Danny Morton. Burr chooses from a squad of 18 with everyone fit after a successful pre-season campaign. That leaves Burr choosing from a squad of 18 with everyone fit after a successful pre-season campaign. After a week of highs and lows, CURZON ASHTON boss John Flanagan has signed blond striker Ben Wharton ahead of the National League North game at Chorley. Wharton, who is 6ft 2ins, lists Colne, Bamber Bridge and Brighouse among his previous clubs. Jordan Wright is still sidelined with a hamstring problem and Danny Shaw is out with a torn ligament picked up in training. Rory Fallon is close to fitness following rehab after knee surgery and might play in a reserve team fixture on Sunday. New season preview: Stalybridge Celtic
EVERYONE knows that nothing less than promotion will do at Stalybridge Celtic this season. Rob Gorski has supplied the budget, and even though he says he doesn’t want to pile unnecessary pressure on Steve Burr, he clearly expects the manager to do the job. For his part, Burr doesn’t come across as a man wilting under the weight of his chairman’s demands. Giving a little chuckle, he said: “I know what Rob’s like. He’s so passionate and excited, especially after what we’ve achieved in pre-season. “He wants us to bounce straight back and I hope we can deliver. But the main thing is to get a team together that people enjoy watching and which can challenge at the right end of the table. “I’ve never been one to shout that my teams will do this, that or the other. We’ll do our best to finish as high as we can. I’m confident I’ve got a decent pool of players together and the signs in pre-season were good. “I’m aware of what the directors and the fans want. There’s a lot of people who do a lot of hard work behind the scenes at Bower Fold and the players and me are going to do our best to deliver for them. “For a club the size of Stalybridge Celtic, they’ve spent far too long in the doldrums.” Burr has set about his task by totally rebuilding the squad he inherited six months ago. In his own words there has been a complete clear-out. The squad he will choose from for Saturday’s opening match against Nantwich bears his hallmark. All traces of previous regimes have been removed. “After relegation, I felt I needed to change everything,” Burr explained. “Danny Morton and Gary Gee are left from last season and a couple of the ‘new’ men have been around the place before like Greg Wilkinson. I think I gave him his debut when he was a 16-year-old. Then there’s Lewis King, although he didn’t play under me. “I believe it’s a very good squad but it’s also a small squad. I just hope we get a little bit of luck and don’t pick up any major injuries.” In terms of promotion candidates, Burr sees two frontrunners: Altrincham and Shaw Lane, adding: “By all accounts, Alty have a sizeable budget for the Northern Premier League and they ought to be up there. “I don’t know a lot about Shaw Lane, but from what I’m hearing from players there’s no competing with them when it comes to money. “It’s all right having money but you’ve got to spend it the right way. I’ve always looked to get value for money and our squad fits in with our budget. In fact, there’s still a little bit left which I might keep aside for when we need to use it.” Burr will be assisted by Keith Briggs, who was his number-two at Southport last season. Briggs is a man Burr rates highly as a coach and who shares his philosophy as to how the game should be played. The Bower Fold manager concluded: “After five games in we’ll know how good we are or how much we need to improve to get to where we want to be. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of being at Stalybridge and of putting a squad together that’s capable of competing. I must emphasise that it’s not about 11 players — if we’re to achieve anything it’s about a squad. “I just want to get cracking now.” New season preview: Hyde United
DARREN KELLY knows the Hyde United fans are expecting big things this year. After the barnstorming end to last season, when the Tigers produced a string of impressive displays and lost only three times in their final 21 matches, the Ewen Fields faithful have got used to winning again. They want more of the same and they believe, as do many others, that Hyde are among the favourites for promotion to the Evo-stik NPL premier division. However, while Kelly is prepared to guarantee fitness, strength and organisation, he stops short of promising success, even though he accepts he has assembled a formidable squad. “Hyde United is a passionate football club and the people there are passionate about what they want. I’m a very passionate person and I have a very good relationship with the supporters who can see what I’m trying to do,” said the manager. “Yes, I’m optimistic about what we can achieve. But because I love the club and the people there — it’s the first club where I’ve been given time to create the right sort of environment —I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot by promising things. “I’ve certainly got a lot of confidence and belief in the squad I’ve assembled, and one thing I can guarantee is that they’ll be fit and they’ll be strong and organised, but we’ll also need that little bit of luck of luck — the rub of the green. “We’ll certainly give it a good go. In fact I can’t wait for the season to start. I only wish the opening game had been last Saturday.” Kelly has been busy in the transfer market over the summer and has signed 11 players, while only two, Leon Osborne and Matt Dempsey, have been listed as leaving. Footballers like Tyrone Gay, Sanchez Payne and Chris Churchman promise exciting things, especially when combined with established stars such as Matt Beadle and Paddy Miller. However, Kelly accepts that it will be almost impossible to keep everyone happy and that some departures are inevitable. He commented: “It’s a big question whether we can keep people happy. We’ve created a good environment where players can come and develop and get better, bigger and stronger. “The players at this club all buy into what I’m trying to do. They’re top men and they know where I’m coming from. I’m hoping that we can keep the majority but we’ll just have to take each games as it comes and deal with issues as they arise. Competition for places can only do so much.” Kelly has a good idea of his starting line-up for Saturday’s opener at Scarborough Athletic. He says he’s 70 per cent sure but will not finalise his selection until he has seen the players in training and had a discussion with number-two Dave McGurk and coach Gareth Prendergast. The manager demands total commitment, and holds the belief that those who are slack in training will be slack in games whereas those who work hard in matches will show the same attitude on the practice pitch. Scarborough will be playing their first league game at the new Flamingo Land Stadium which represents a return to their home town ten years after the old Scarborough FC folded. Kelly knows that the historic nature of the occasion will make things twice as difficult for the Tigers but believes his squad is up to the challenge of a big day, big budget and big following. He also sees Scarborough as one of Hyde’s main rivals for promotion, adding: “I’m a realist. There’s a lot of top clubs in the first division north this year and I know a lot of them have recruited very well. “Scarborough, South Shields, Trafford, Tadcaster, Ossett Town, Bamber Bridge and Colne are all good sides. They can all stake a claim to be at the top end of the table. “But I think this is our best season to do something. The promotion positions are up for grabs and we need to go out and make sure that we approach every game in the right way and leave no stone unturned. We’ve got to be focused and working hard, and never take our foot off the pedal. “Last season was a big learning curve for me. I came into the job and I didn’t know the league. Now, I’m wiser and I know what it takes. “All the pieces are in place. We’ve just got to hope they fall the right way.” New season preview: Droylsden
THE seasons may change at the Butchers Arms but the question doesn’t. Can this be the year when Droylsden finally put their relegation problems behind them and start heading back up the non-league pyramid? Assistant-boss Aeon Lattie is cautiously hopeful that it just might. He believes an enterprising end to the last campaign — when the Bloods lost only one of their last five matches, drawing with Farsley and beating champions Lancaster — promises better times ahead. Droylsden’s midtable placing was their best since 2011-12 when they finished ninth in National League North. “I’m a bit more optimistic than usual, and that’s on the basis of where we finished last year. We were on a run and even had a chance of making it to the play-offs at one point,” said Lattie. “Another reason is that we’ve kept the majority of the squad from last season. We can pick up where we left off. We’re not starting with 20 new players like we did 12 months ago. “Several of the signings we’ve made are men who’ve been with us before, like Ben Barber and Alex Frost, who understand our style of play. “We still need to bolster three positions and make sure they’re right, but that’s all I’m prepared to say on that at the moment.” The summer signings made by Lattie and manager/chairman Dave Pace include a sprinkling of entirely new faces. Striker Danny Hall has moved from Stalybridge Celtic and Lattie says he has adapted well to the Bloods’ style of play. The same applies to midfielder Wayne Riley, brought in from Nantwich Town. Another midfielder, George Leigh, has been signed from Stirling Albion as back-up. Goalkeeping coach Will Jones has also put his name to a form although James Coates will continue to be first choice for the number-one jersey. In a stroke of bad luck, Clitheroe striker Dimitri Tuanzebe is out for a lengthy period. He broke a foot playing five-a-side and won’t be able to take off the walking boot until next week. Lattie continued: “I think we’ve got the nucleus of a good side and I’m happy with the way things are. “If we’re going to do well it’s important we get off to a good start. But what we’ve also got to do is make the Butchers Arms a fortress as it was in the past. That’s the key. “Last season we won most of our points in away matches. Our home form was way below target. “The friendlies have given us cause for hope. I realise they can give you a false sense of security, as they did last year when we won every one. This time we’ve played stronger teams like Stalybridge, Ashton United and Witton and we acquitted ourselves well — even against Stalybridge although the result would say otherwise. “Dave and I set out to win the title at the start of every season and this year is no different.” New season preview: Mossley
IT’S going to be a better season for Mossley in 2017-18. Why? Because co-managers Peter Band and Lloyd Morrison won’t countenance another campaign like last year’s when the threat of relegation hung over Seel Park until the final week. “We simply can’t have another one like that. We really don’t want to be going into the last few games needing to win them all to survive. And we certainly can’t afford to have the situation where we win one or draw one, and then lose four, ” said Band “This year, we need to be pushing for the top ten or higher, and I think we can do it. Lloyd and I always have a good spirit in dressing room but this time there’s a special buzz about the place. I feel we’re in a much better situation than we were four months ago. “Take Tom Dean We’ve made him captain and he’s come on in leaps and bounds. The responsibility has really brought him forwards. “It’s all added up to a very steady pre-season, but you get nothing for that. What matters is how we do once we kick off at Kendal.” One of Band’s key reasons for optimism is a reorganisation of the back-room staff at Seel Park. Two new coaches — Lee Twigg and Chris Appleton — have joined Paul Marchbank. All will be working with a slimmed-down squad of around 20, which will allow more individual work with players. Among the new players are Adam Latham (Chadderton) who can ply on either wing; Sam Gibson, a left-back, also from Chadderton; utility man Aaron Dwyer from Stockport Town and centre-half Jamie McLellan who has been playing university football in America. Band sees striker Liam Ellis as from the same mould as himself. He describes him as hustle and bustle and prepared to run his tripe off for the cause. Jack Tuohy is another acquisition from Chadderton. He is joined in midfield by former Hyde United player Elliot Harrison who is on loan from Halifax Town and Sam Howell who returns from Winsford United. Oliver Martin (New Mills) and Craig Ellison (Witton Albion) will compete for the goalkeeper’s jersey. “I think the squad is promising,” said Band. “We’ve recruited well and brought in men who are hungry for the fight. As I’ve said, we’ve got a great spirit at the club and that’s something you can’t buy, it has to come from within. “The moment of truth will come when we play our first league match of the season. Friendlies are great to win but count for nothing.” New season preview: Glossop North End
LESS than seven days before the start of the new season, and after a summer of hectic activity, Glossop North End managerial duo Paul Phillips and Steve Halford find themselves still needing new signings. They face their opening NPL first division north game with an injury list that would be frightening in late January, let alone mid-August. As Phillips and Halford pondered the line-up for their final friendly, they knew they would have to begin without Lee Rick (arm), Chris Baguley (ankle), Connor Martin (dislocated shoulder), Liam Wood (ankle), Billy Hasler-Cregg (ankle ligaments) and Dom Barrett (knee). Jay Gorton rang in sick at 1pm, and Grant Marshall was hurt in the warm-up. Incredibly the Hillmen still managed a 1-1 draw with premier division Marine. Phillips said: “We might have to be active this week to bring people in. If we can manage three I’ll be quite happy. We’re already talking to a full-back and a centre-half, one of them from a higher level. “We have a difficult first week with games against Goole and Clitheroe, and then the FA Cup which is very important to this club. We’ve been very unlucky, but that’s football. The injuries have thrown a real spanner in the works but Steve and I have got to deal with the situation. We’re not going to make excuses. “And against Marine, in spite of our problems and the way we had to reshuffle the team, playing midfielders and left-backs in the centre of defence, we gave a very good account of ourselves. We drew with a side from a higher division who are expected to do well this season. “Harry Brazel, from Stockport County, was outstanding. He reminded me a lot of Jimmy Bullard, but even better.” Fully aware of Glossop’s achievements over the last few years, and the hopes and demands of both the fans and directors, Phillips is confident his team can do well — providing he can get them all the pitch at the same time. As has been the case throughout his managerial career, his aim is to win the title. He believes he and Halford have a team good enough to win promotion but the supporters and board must give them time to get things to gel. “The way it usually works with Steve and me is that things begin slowly and then around the end of October we start to come into our own. So I’m just asking for a little bit of patience. That’ll be the key,” Phillips explained. “Glossop North End is a massive club as you can see by the huge crowds they get for friendlies, but it’s moved a long way in a very short space of time. There’s great potential here — that’s why Steve and I wanted to come to Surrey Street — but we need to get things right off the field as well as on the field. The two will work together and rub off on each other. “If we can get our proper team out on the pitch I think we’ve got a reasonable chance. If we can use our full squad, I know we can compete. I’m sure we can do good things.” New season preview: Curzon Ashton
LIKE a latterday Stonewall Jackson, John Flanagan refuses to countenance retreat. Curzon Ashton may not be able to compete financially with big guns like Salford, York or Darlington, but the Nash boss insists that’s no reason why they can’t compete on the pitch. He bridles at the very mention of the word survival. Since winning promotion to National League North two years ago, Curzon have finished eleventh and 14th and reached the second round of the FA Cup. Flanagan sees no reason why they shouldn’t do even better this season. His stated aim is a top ten place. But press him, and he’ll admit that he believes his team is capable of sneaking into the play-off places. “I consider myself a match for the other managers in the division,” said Flanagan. “I don’t have the resources most of them have, but my target is to get us into the top ten and I honestly believe we can win enough games to do so. “Top seven is the play-offs, so if we can get around the top ten we won’t be far away. Get on a bit of a good run and who knows what might happen.” Flanagan has literally beefed up his squad over the summer. He has recruited players who are bigger than what he terms the Curzon norm, and is prepared to sacrifice some flowing football to make sure his team gets caught out less and fewer goals are conceded. Having strengthened the defence, the Nash manager believes he will achieve that aim. The question he is unable to answer at the moment is how effective his forward line will prove. Flanagan explained: “I don’t see the new season as a fight against relegation or just to stay in National League North. I couldn’t go about things like that. “I’m confident we’ll defend well. I’ve brought in some big lads in at the back and we’ve looked solid in pre-season. For me, if we’ve got a problem, it’ll be goals. It all depends on whether the strikers fire — whether we’ve got somebody who can score regularly. “In terms of our style, we’ll still try to play but we might have to slightly tweak the way we go about things so that we don’t get caught on the counter-attack. “I’ve signed central defender Steve Howson from Salford and he’s a real leader — the sort of man you’d want in the trenches with you. Matt Regan, from Stalybridge, is similar. He’s dogged and determined. In midfield, Paul Marshall gives us that extra bit of quality. “We need the big lads at the back to help at set-pieces because in our division there’s a lot of emphasis on playing direct and getting the ball into the box.” For his last line of defence, Flanagan is counting on Cameron Mason. The keeper may be young, but the manager rates him very highly and feels that he is a more than capable replacement for Hakan Burton who has signed for Colne. “I’ve promoted him from back-up because I have real belief in the lad. I believe he can push on and become a great keeper. “People will question that because Cameron can be impulsive and has done some wacky things, but I’ve been working with him and he’s shown real improvement. He’s had an excellent pre-season. “I know he’ll mess up at times, but all keepers are capable of that. Look at how things went for Hakan against Wimbledon. Up front, Flanagan has brought in Scott Bakkor from Warrington and Max Leonard from Glossop. He sees Leonard as similar in style to Matty Warburton who has moved to Stockport — cute and clever. The boss added: “There are bound to be some games when we get beaten by a few goals, but it’s what we do next that matters. We can’t afford to have any runs of defeats. We’ve got to be able to stay in matches. “If you concede three or four regularly you’ve got a problem. But if you’re playing badly and it’s only one goal, you always have the chance to sneak a 1-1 draw. “The ability to stay in the game is the key. Because of the changes I’ve made, I truly believe we have a chance of being able to do that.” Players in Scott Bakkor (striker) from Warrington Town Steve Howson (defender) from Salford City Max Leonard (striker) Glossop North End Paul Marshall (central midfielder) Alfreton Matt Regan (central defender) Stalybridge Celtic Players out Hakan Burton (goalkeeper) Colne Paul Ennis (striker) to Stalybridge Celtic Ryan Hall (midfield) Spennymoor Luke Horrocks (midfielder) to Colwyn Bay Liam Tomsett (midfielder) to Ashton United Matt Warburton (striker) to Stockport County Alex Brown has signed forms but his new coaching job will severely curtail his availability. |
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