Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Pontefract Collieries
Pontefract Collieries
Pontefract are back in the top flight after winning promotion at the first attempt last season. Now they won’t want to repeat the disastrous 2015/16 season which saw them relegated during their first campaign back in the top flight after 16 years away.
Who’s the Boss
Craig Parry
Pontefract Collieries manager Craig Parry
Parry enters his second full season in charge at Beechnut Lane. The goalkeeper stood back from playing duties in November 2015 to take the permanent manager’s position after Nick Handley’s departure. He was unable to keep the Colls in the Premier Division in 2016, but he guided them to promotion last season, ensuring they bounced back at the first attempt. Parry is assisted by Craig Rouse and Luke Jeffs.
Opening Five Fixtures
Alsager Town (H) – Emirates FA Cup, Staveley Miners Welfare (A), Pickering Town (H), Hemsworth Miners Welfare (H), Worksop Town (H).
Player Movement
Vaughan Redford signed for Ponte from Liversedge
In: Vaughan Redford (Liversedge), Cody Cromack (Liversedge), Grant Allott (AFC Mansfield), Ryan Musselwhite, Eli Hey (Campion), Joshua Dacre (Parkgate), Ashley Emmett (Parkgate), Grant Darley.
Out: Glyn Cotton (Goole AFC), Jordan Turner (Worksop Town), Chris Wood (Hallam), Paul Haigh, Calum Stapleton (Worsbrough Bridge).
One to Watch
Kane Reece
Kane Reece is the workhorse of the Pontefract team
Kane Reece is the work-horse of the Pontefract. His contribution to the cause was understated last season. He never stops running.
Interview
Pontefract Collieries manager Craig Parry
Craig Parry expects Pontefract Collieries to make a better fist of life in the Premier Division this time around.
With signings like Eli Hey and Vaughan Redford, it is not surprising that many think Ponte will do well this year, but Parry’s main concern is making sure that the Colls do not repeat the 2015/16 season when they were relegated after just one campaign back in the top flight.
“The aim is to just hold our own in the league and I think we can,” Parry told Non League Yorkshire.
“I do think there is a big difference in the leagues, I really do. I think we learnt a big lesson when we were in the Premier Division last time.
“I don’t really want to go into that, but we want to hold our own, consolidate and see where we go.
“If we stay in this league this year then I think we will have done a good job.
“We’re keeping our heads down and lets see where we go.”
The ill-fated 2015/16 season was blighted by a lack of volunteers off-the-field. Now the Colls have got their act together and have people in key roles and Parry claims his club is in better shape.
“The state of the club is a million miles better than it was on the day we got relegated,” he said.
“Not just on-the-pitch, but the off-the-pitch as well. There is some massive infrastructure in place now. We have a hard-working committee and there’s Mark Harling as vice-chairman, Dan Grace as chairman and Trevor Waddington the secretary leading things.
“There is a good structure in place to lay the foundations in taking the club forward.
“They have good ideas and they want to do it at the right pace as well. Because they have put things, it allows myself, Craig (Rouse) and Luke (Jeffs) to get things in the best possible way on-the-pitch.
“We can just concentrate on football which is probably the difference between now and when we got relegated.”
Prediction
Mid-Table