Season Preview
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Goole AFC
Stability is the key for Goole AFC. That word is used every year, but with Mike Carmody there’s more of chance of that having as that’s his middle name. His outstanding work at Armthorpe Welfare does not get the credit it deserves and given time he will turn Goole around.
Manager
Mike Carmody
The former long-serving Armthorpe Welfare boss and his assistant Alan Jackson were appointed literally before the third lockdown so is yet to take charge of a competitive fixture. Saturday’s season opener at Thackley is their first.
Opening Five Fixtures
Thackley (a), Sunderland Ryhope – FA Cup (h), Bottesford Town (h), Barton Town (a), Knaresborough Town (h).
Notable Movement
In: Sam Cable (Pontefract Collieries), Carl Stewart, Luke Williams (Armthorpe Welfare).
One to Watch
Mat Zaniewski
The former Glasshoughton Welfare goalkeeper provides a solid backbone to the Goole team.
Interview
The only way is forward for Goole AFC. That’s Mike Carmody’s outlook on the new Toolstation NCEL Premier Division season.
Instability has followed Goole around for several years, but in Carmody and assistant Alan Jackson, the club’s 16th management in eight years, they have stability specialists.
The pair put Armthorpe back on the up and Carmody hopes to do the same for Goole.
“(Goole) is certainly stabilised,” Carmody told Non League Yorkshire.
“I don’t know the reasons why there’s been downward turn (in the last few years) because they have had some really good managers such as the likes of Derry (Robson), Matty Bloor, Terry Barwick.
“They have all done great jobs but for one reason or another it has been one season here and one season there (with managers).
“I think the Goole committee and fan-base will agree that stability is the key.
“I don’t know the reasons for the (instability) and I wouldn’t comment on it but the wider audience are saying all the same things.
“The club needs stability and progression from a management team.
“(When taking the job) I was a little reluctant (because of the high manager turnover) but there comes a point, and we’ve spoken about this at great length, that it can’t be always the manager’s fault.
“It got to be a group thing and we need to be where we have the fans, the management team, the committee and the players all pulling in the right direction.
“That’s what we have got to be doing to make the club progress.
“There’s a reason why we have been brought in and that’s quite clear because of the job we did at Armthorpe.
“We stabilised that club and that club is able to progress now.”
The plan on-the-pitch is to put Goole back on an upward trajectory.
“If we finished in the top half it would be a huge achievement,” he said.
“It is something we are aiming for.
“It has been widely publicised that since the club came down from the NPL they have struggled in the last three or four years.
“We’ll certainly be targeting that and hopefully going beyond it, but I’m not one to make predictions.
“I want to win every game but that’s unrealistic at any standard.
“Given the situation with the pandemic you have got to be really lucky that everyone is fit and you have everybody you need available.
“We’ll go into every game wanting to win it and we will stride to be the best we can be.
“We’ll be competitive.
“We have gone about our business quite quietly and I think that’s probably the best way.
“I have been at this level for five years and I’ve learnt that you have to be patient.
“You get the lads in who you feel you can trust and are willing to work for the club and shirt because that gives you a good base.”
On paper, the Premier Division is tightest in recent memory and Carmody agrees.
“I think the gap has closed,” he added.
“Yorkshire Amateur, Liversedge and Bridlington were all big hitters and really good teams.
“I think financially it has closed a bit more so I’m sure there’ll be some upsets and surprise teams who we don’t expect to be up there.
“I do think anyone is capable of beating anyone on their day.
“There’s no clear favourite where you think ‘wow they’re going to be the front-runners’.”
Prediction
Comfortable Mid-Table
If you have enjoyed reading Non League Yorkshire over the past few months, please consider making a donation to the not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport which provides sport for children and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. CLICK HERE to visit the JustGiving page. There is a video at the bottom of the page showing our work.
NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams.
Our work is playing an important role in reintroducing our players, who have disabilities and learning difficulties, back into society.
We have six teams, a mixture of Junior and Adult teams – Nostell MW DFC, Pontefract Pirates, Selby Disability Football Club and the South Yorkshire Superheroes (Barnsley) – across Yorkshire.
We have enjoyed great success over the past three years. Several of our players have represented Mencap GB in Geneva, including Billy Hobson from Selby and Greg Smith, whose story is quite inspiring.
You can learn more about the organisation HERE and on our Facebook page.
Watch the video below to see highlights from our three years as an organisation. The video was produced for our players at the end of March to remind them of good memories from the last three years.
