New Garforth Town captain Andy Hawksworth is a natural leader, according to Graham Nicholas
Andy Hawksworth is the new captain of Garforth Town, head coach Graham Nicholas has confirmed.
Defender Hawksworth has been with the Miners since the start of the season after joining Penistone Church and replaces Nick Allen.
Allen has been missing since the 3-1 win at Parkgate at the end of December due to a family emergency in his home country Northern Ireland.
Nicholas does not expect Allen to return to the club so has made Hawksworth’s recent temporary status as skipper permanent.
“Nick Allen has had several family issues in Ireland so I don’t think we will be seeing him again this season so Andy Hawksworth is the new club captain,” he said.
“I think he is a natural leader in terms of his commitment and how he plays the game.
“He is always here and is a nice lad. He has the leadership qualities to captain this team.
“He’s well-liked within the squad.”
At the weekend Garforth failed to bounce back from last week’s defeat at Nostell Miners Welfare as the Miners lost 4-1 at Tadcaster Albion.
Only three players played in both matches and Nicholas has revealed his frustrations.
He said: “I’ve said it all season though, I’m expecting them to do things, but unless you work with them on a weekly basis you get consistent performances.
“The players aren’t playing together on a weekly basis whereas like Tadcaster are and it shows. If you haven’t got that you feel like you’re standing there and thinking have I really got much influence on how the game played and what we’re doing?
“It’s making my job twice as hard. At the start of pre-season and at the Nostell tournament I was able to work with the players. What I was trying to do was transparent against Ossett Town (at the Nostell Tournament).
“Now it is trying to get down to basics and we need to put measures in for next year. Saying to players ‘look are you going to commit to next season, are you available Saturday and Tuesday’?”
Nick Black could return for Garforth after four months out against Knaresborough Town
Weather-permitting, Garforth are due to host Knaresborough Town in the League Cup third round tomorrow night.
Nicholas will have to restructure his team once again for a match that he has down as a must-win.
“We’ll have some strong players playing and it is a competition I want to try and win,” he said.
“It is a cup final for us. We have to step it up and make sure we win the game.
“The Leeds Met lads are playing on Wednesday so they won’t be playing (against Knaresborough), but I do have Curtly (Martin-Wyatt) who will be playing for me.
“Hopefully Jack McMurrough will be available as well. I’d love Nick Black to be available, but I’m not sure he’s at with his fitness at the moment.
“I’ll be making the call to see if he can play though, even if he’s on the bench and does 20 minutes.
“We’ll also have the Americans that played at Tadcaster and hopefully have Taylor Reis available.”