Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Ambitious Penistone Church manager Ian Richards has led his hometown club on a magical fairytale since taking over in 2010
Ian Richards wants Penistone Church continue their spellbinding fairy tale by launching an assault on the title.
Richards, one of a few NCEL managers tipped to go far in the game, has overseen a magical underdog story at Penistone since taking over at his hometown club in 2010.
Church have won two promotions, reached two cup finals and pulled off a major FA Cup upset in remarkable circumstances under his superb leadership and he is determined to add more chapters.
“We’re definitely still on a crest of a wave,” Richards told Non League Yorkshire.
“We were 13 games undefeated at the end of the season going into the (Sheffield & Hallamshire) Senior Cup final. We only lost three of our last 28 league games and we have had two years of success.
“I’ve planted the seed in everyone in the sense of ‘let’s be ambitious’. Why not challenge?
“There’s only one who goes up so it does make it harder, but let’s focus on the top six.
“Last season it was about top ten. Then we finished sixth so let’s start with high ambitions. If we don’t win it, it is not a disaster, no-one will be disappointed.
“I believe in these players and the lads believe in each other so why not be ambitious?
“We know the teams who have the pressure on because they have bigger budgets and set-ups. We play without pressure and fear.
“I’m setting my sights high: one because of Pontefract Collieries and two because I’m an ambitious person and I want to keep this club moving forward.
“I always set challenges and we wouldn’t be where we are if I didn’t set challenges.”
Pontefract are a major inspiration for Penistone as they surprised everyone by securing back-to-back promotions by winning the title at a canter last season.
“With Pontefract going up and Mansfield getting that late promotion has changed the dynamic,” he said.
“Mansfield would have probably been the favourites. Worksop are making big impressions in pre-season, but so are Handsworth, Maltby, Bridlington, Hemsworth, Barton.
“There are five or six teams who you would say will be up there at the end of the season. But there will be other teams like ourselves who will say ‘well if we have a good start and pick up some momentum, who knows’?
“Pontefract were saying their aim was to stay up. Obviously they were really saying ‘top half’. Then they were up there and things fell into place and they thought ‘well, why not’?
“They were clever with their recruitment at the end of the season by bringing players in who helped them over-the-line.”
Church have been really quiet on the recruitment front as Glasshoughton Welfare’s Conor Glavin is their only summer signing.
“In terms of outside the club we have only brought Conor Glavin in, but we have three other players who didn’t play for us last season,” Richards added.
“We’ve also brought in arguably one of the best players in the County Senior League in Sam Scrivens from the second team.
“Tom Cadzow and Luke Johnson are also close to returning from long-term injuries.
“We have a squad of 22 and I am probably one player off where I want to be, probably the hardest type of player to get. Other than that we are happy and we go into the season full of confidence.”