Hodder enjoying return to the NCEL

Toolstation NCEL Division One

New Selby Town joint manager Graham Hodder

New Selby Town joint manager Graham Hodder is loving life back in the NCEL after an unexpected return in the dugout.

Hodder admits that he thought he had retired from management after helping Sherburn White Rose win promotion to the top flight of the West Yorkshire League.

That’s until the call came from Selby boss Nigel Emery, whose coaching team had been left depleted after Mick Carmody’s departure to Armthorpe Welfare. The former Yorkshire Amateur boss has been out of the NCEL since resigning from Glasshoughton Welfare in November 2012.

“No I didn’t plan to get back into it so it was a big surprise,” said Hodder, who had a brief spell in sole charge of Selby in 2012.

“I had decided after helping Sherburn win promotion, that’s my last job, go out on a high.

“Then this came out of the blue. Nige asked me and I thought about it for a couple of days before I said yes, I must admit.

“This is now my last job, permanent, period, how’s that. I love this club and I am only too happy to lend a hand and a bit of assistance.”

Hodder has helped Emery rebuild Selby’s squad and there has been a whole of new faces arrive at the club in the past few weeks.

Calum Ward, Pete Lawrie, John Douglas, Jamie Hainsworth, Tim Robertson, Scott Jones and Craig Maynard are among them. Winger Tesfaye Walton the latest capture.

The new faces have helped Selby fly up the table on the back of three straight victories and Hodder adds that the players deserve great credit.

“They’re doing great and it is down to the players,” Hodder said. We are in a good position and in this league, a few wins make a big difference.

“Fortunately we’ve getting those wins and Saturday’s win over Winterton was also our first clean sheet for a few weeks. We’re setting no targets. We’re taking one game at a time.

“We were three places above the relegation zone three weeks ago so it has been a great turnaround.”