The return of club favourite Adam Priestley gives Garforth Town belief of having a successful campaign, according to Rob Hunter.
The announcement of the Gibraltar International’s arrival back at Garforth has created huge excitement and Hunter feels this season is an opportunity for the Miners to step out of the shadows and challenge.
Garforth have never finished above 13th since returning to the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division in 2013.
“There’s been a massive reaction which isn’t surprising as he’s been here before and he’s played in the Evo Stik and been exceptional wherever he has been,” Hunter told Non League Yorkshire.
“He’s always scored goals and the fact he is playing for Garforth this year is fantastic for the supporters, fantastic for the team and I think it is an opportunity for Garforth Town to step up from where they have been and be competitive at the top end of the league.
“We have been surviving for the last four years and I think we proved last year at times that we can compete with the better sides in the league, especially at the end of the season.
“We have always wanted to compete at the top end of the league and we always said it would take three or four years to build it to a point where we can give it a go.
“This is the best squad that Garforth have had in seven years. It is definitely the best squad I’ve had here and it is definitely the best chance the club has had of doing something for many years.”
Priestley actually scored the goal that fired them into play-offs in the final day victory over Skelmersdale – coincidently his final goal in a Garforth shirt.
Financial problems then besieged Garforth and relegation to the NCEL followed 12 months later.
Supporters have had to settle for mid-table safety ever since, as the club’s owners stabilised the finances. Attendances have understandably dwindled, but Hunter hopes times are changing and positive results will encourage supporters to return.
“I hope we can drive supporters back,” he said.
“When a team is used to be in the Evo Stik and a good side in the Evo Stik and they get relegated into the NCEL, it can take time to recover and supporters can drift away.
“From Garforth’s point of view, the first couple of seasons out of the Evo Stik didn’t go too badly, but there’s been a lull and the last three seasons haven’t been brilliant.
“There’s been sporadic moments of quality, but not an awful lot. There’s new hope because of the likes of Adam Priestley, Adam Porritt, Danny Buttle and Dan Coupland, along with the fact we have retained every player from last season, including the best goalkeeper in the league, the best captain. We have a great spine already.
“We have survived on eight or nine good players in the past few years. Now we are going to have 16 or 17 good players. We started pre-season training last night and every single player training with us is capable of playing in the NCEL Premier Division.
“I’d like to think if the results are good that the supporters will come back and get behind the team.”
Priestley was the marquee signing on Saturday. He drops down to the NCEL to return to Garforth, the club with whom he began his semi-professional career with in 2010.
He was a major player in Nichol’s 2012 history-making side and after leaving with the rest of his team-mates as financial problems were revealed, he joined Farsley Celtic.
Farsley, Guiseley, Shaw Lane, Alfreton Town, Frickley Athletic and Ossett United have had the pleasure of seeing Priestley in their respective jerseys.
He has scored regularly for all those teams. Last season he was key part of Ossett’s side and there is no doubt he is still very capable of playing Evo Stik football.
However, Hunter says that a desire to play with his best friend James Beaston, the Garforth captain, and to also cut down travelling, were the motivations behind his return to East Leeds.
“James and Adam are best mates and coming here does mean he can spend more time with his best mate by playing for Garforth,” he said.
“That was part of it. It is certainly not about money because he was offered more money by other clubs. He certainly could have a lot more than what he is going to get at Garforth.
“He’s also had a promotion at work and the travelling has had an effect on him. The commitment you have to give to a club at the top end of the Evo Stik is a lot – the training, the amount of travelling to games.
“We’re delighted to have him at Garforth and he’s great to have around. His enthusiasm is contagious, you saw that on Saturday when we had an impromptu training session.
“He was the first player to sign a form and he can’t wait to get going.”
Hunter has also praised the club’s owners Craig Bannister and Brian Close for sticking with him as he prepares for his fourth campaign at the helm.
“Craig and Brian, as I’ve said before, could have easily sacked me on a couple of occasions over the last couple of years,” he said.
“But they are so loyal and have always said that we’re in it together.
“The financial situation of the club was never going to allow us to compete at the top end of the league.
“They are the right type of people to run football clubs. I wish more football clubs had the type of people Brian and Craig are.
“They’re competitive like everyone else, but they are just so fair and understanding.
“They work so hard and to achieve what they have done to steer the club to where it is now is outstanding. We should also remember that without them two the club wouldn’t even be here.”