Rossington Main player/manager Lee Holmes
Community engagement is paying dividends for Rossington Main, according to player/manager Lee Holmes.
The Main may be situated in a lowly position in the Toolstation NCEL Division One table, but there are plenty of reasons to be positive at the Welfare Grounds.
Crowd figures are regularly hitting just under 200 for Saturday fixtures and this is all because of interaction with the junior section and the local community.
“We have re-strategised with the youth set-up,” Holmes told Non League Yorkshire.
“I came through Rossington juniors and I think out of my 22-man squad, 18 are a product of Rossington juniors.
“I think there was a period of three or four years where a player did not come through so we have put further links in with the junior managers.
“Some have since joined the committee and others come down on a match-day.
“The under sevens and eights, in particular, come down with their mums and dads and are involved by being mascots or ballboys.
“They have all been made to feel welcome and the chairman Carl Stokes has played a massive part in getting the parents involved and creating a good environment.
“This has built better attendances which opens more sponsorship opportunities.
“We now have a good foundation to build on for next season.”
Whilst the Rossington public has been flocking to see their local team, the Main have struggled this season.
The Main sit third from bottom after only three wins all season.
Holmes, in his first campaign at the helm, added: “Results haven’t been good, but we have had a major injury crisis.
“I’ve only played 60% of the season and five of my best players have been out for about 50%.
“Jordan Hatton has only played in the last three games and we have even had three players who have needed surgery.
“With me being a late appointment and the fact we had no pre-season, even though we had some good results early on, a few players picked up a few niggles and they haven’t been able to shake them off.
“The table doesn’t lie though.
“We have used a lot of players, but with now a fully-fit squad we starting to re-group and the last three games have shown that.
“So rather than propping up the table, I’m confident we will start climbing the table.”
Rossington are due to visit AFC Emley tomorrow.