New Worsbrough Bridge manager Mark Joyce
Mark Joyce wants to see local fans and players back at Worsbrough Bridge as he prepares to lead a new era at the Barnsley-based club.
The new Worsbrough boss replaced Dave Mace in May and is taking a young side into the Toolstation NCEL Division One season which begins tomorrow.
A trip to Lincoln Moorlands Railway is the first item on agenda and Joyce claims that his opening term at the helm is about laying foundations.
Joyce says that new chairman Wayne Radford has big plans for the Park Road club, but says that they are not in a rush.
“The new chairman is quite ambitious and he has said that he would like to get out of this Division,” Joyce said.
“We’re not saying that’s going to happen this season because it is new to me and the chairman and a lot of the players.
“He does want to see the club develop going forward. His ambition is get to into the next Division in two to three seasons.
“The exact aim for this season is to finish in mid-table and consolidate with what we have with young players and also attract local players back to the club.”
Joyce claims there is more stability at Worsbrough after a season full of problems.
Bridge had pitch and floodlights issues alongside the resignation of long-serving chairman John Cooper.
Crowds were also dwindling and Joyce believes having players from Barnsley in the first team will help build up support for the club.
He said: “It has moved slightly away from having local lads in the side.
“Chris Hilton had a great bunch of lads that were all local, but then a lot of them followed him to Stocksbridge.
“Dave Mace had to rebuild his squad from scratch and under pressure with no money he did a cracking job keeping the team going.
“Now we have a new chairman and while there is still no money for players, we’re trying to develop the club and the ground.
“We are also setting up new teams. The ground has had a lick of paint and the pitch is looking the best it has for a long time.
“We’re just trying to attract local people back into Worsbrough because a lot have disappeared in the last couple of seasons.”