Season Preview
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Athersley Rec
The youth strategy remains in place as Athersley Rec buck the trend in the boom and bust world and many are rooting for the community club to pull off a few surprises this year.
Manager
Shane Kelsey
Appointed in spring 2020, ex-Shaw Lane Aquaforce star Kelsey has one of the toughest jobs in the NCEL.
Opening Five Fixtures
Sherwood Colliery (a), Campion – FA Cup (h), Penistone Church (a), AFC Mansfield (h), Maltby Main (a).
Notable Movement
In: Mark Stuart (ex-Worsbrough Bridge)
One to Watch
Dale Brettoner
The young defender is stepping up to NCEL football after a stint in the reserves.
Interview
Shane Kelsey claims teams will “under-estimate” Athersley Rec as many have written off his young guns.
Kelsey expects a tough Toolstation NCEL Premier Division campaign, but he is hopeful positive results will come with a bit of patience and hard work.
“I think you only have to look at what we have done in the past two seasons, the stats don’t lie,” Kelsey told Non League Yorkshire when asked how difficult it will be.
“The situation is the same and we know what we have to deal with.
“Financially we are in the same position and we’re stable as a club, but we’re not going to beyond our means and put the club in jeopardy by paying silly money out.
“We’re running in the same way as the previous two seasons.
“The problem we have got now is that there’s two relegation places (rather than one), although the three so-called strong teams going out of the league does make it more of an even-keel.
“If we finish out of the relegation zone then someone needs to give me the manager of the year.
“It would be an outstanding achievement and every man knows and his dog knows that.
“If you asked every manager in the league to give their predictions for the teams who will be down there then we’d be number one on that list.
“That fuels my enthusiasm and gives me something to thrown at our youngsters and say ‘prove them wrong’.
“Teams will under-estimate us. You could see that in the last couple of games last season.
“The tide was turning and the break came at the wrong time.
“We won our last game and in the game before that we gave the best side (Yorkshire Amateur) in the league a game.
“It is step by step because you can’t expect youngsters who haven’t played at this level to be instantly competitive.”
Prediction
Relegation candidates, but Kels and Rec – we’re rooting for you!