Season Preview
NPL Division One East
Liversedge
Liversedge are another club who have pulled off the unthinkable by reaching the Northern Premier League for the first time in their history.
‘Sedge nearly made it in 2006 during the Eugene Lacy era but ground grading meant they couldn’t go up.
They never came close again until Jonathan Rimmington picked a struggling club off the floor in 2015 and raised them to unprecedented heights.
The Manager
Jonathan Rimmington
Rimmington was a hugely-successful junior manager with Rothwell before taking his team – which included Vaughan Redford and Cody Cromack – to Liversedge to be the club’s under 19s in 2014.
He replaced Alan Colquhoun as first team chief the following year and he has slowly built ‘Sedge into a giant.
Opening Five Fixtures
Lincoln United (a), Tadcaster Albion (h), Knaresborough Town – FA Cup (h), Stocksbridge Park Steels (a), Marske United (h).
Notable Movement
In: Kurt Harris (Brighouse Town), Jack Stockdill (Ossett United), Josh Grant (Brighouse Town), Charlie Marshall (Garforth Town), Nicky Walker (Alfreton Town), Ben Atkinson (Farsley Celtic), Gavin Allott (Worksop Town).
Out: Ash Flynn (Golcar United), Jimmy Ghaichem (Dearne & District).
One to Watch
Paul Walker
The hugely-popular former Bradford (Park Avenue) and Farsley Celtic star is back in the NPL.
Interview
Jonathan Rimmington admits he will reflect on the journey Liversedge have taken when they make their Northern Premier League debut tomorrow at Lincoln United.
The idea of ‘Sedge playing NPL football back when Rimmington assumed the first team manager’s in 2015 was unthinkable.
“Sedge were besieged by pitch problems due to record-breaking rainfall and they flirted with relegation for most of his first campaign until they pulled off the great escape.
The last few years have seen the club become a force and promotion to the NPL was confirmed in May and Rimmington is thrilled to see ‘Sedge playing at Step 4.
“Yeah (the club’s first NPL game) is a massive occasion,” Rimmington told Non League Yorkshire.
“For us to be even competing at this level compared to where we were when I first took over six years ago, it is crazy really.
“I’ll reflect on not having (long-time friend and assistant) Simon (Emery who passed away last year) there. He started it off with us.
“Joe Walton is still with us from that first game at Clipstone (in 2014).
“He was a centre-half and he could be starting upfront for us on Saturday.
“That is another great thing for Joe.
“Jack Hardaker is injured at the minute but he played in that first game before he went to America.
“From that first year Kevy (Tarangadzo) is still with us.
“We’ve gone from not being able to afford water bottles and things like that to being able to sign Nicky Walker and Paul Walker – players you would have never thought we had a chance of signing.
“We had no money for years and you want to see the ground now.
“It is unbelievable – there’s new terracing, new decking.”
‘Sedge may have made it to Step 4 but if the club have their way then the story is not over.
Rimmington remains ambitious and he wants ‘Sedge to push for further glory.
“The expectation for us is that we want to finish in the top six of the league,” he said.
“We want to challenge.
“We’re not here to make up the numbers of the Northern Premier League East.
“We’re here to compete with the bigger clubs.
“We want to compete with the Frickley’s and the Taddy’s who have been there for a few years.
“I think it will be tough but I think we have the players and the inner strength.”
What excites Rimmington is the NPL Division One East and all the mouth-watering fixtures.
“Listen, the league is unbelievable,” he said.
“There’s four or five new teams from the North East and we’re still competing against old foes like the Ammers, Pickering, Brid, Worksop, Ponte.
“Every game is going to be a battle and have some spice in it.
“If we’re off our game in one game we’ll get beat.
“We can’t afford that as I feel we need to collect points early and try and put a marker.
“You have teams like Marske who are well-established clubs.
“When I first came in (as manager) Taddy were the big boys of the Northern Counties East and now we’re going to be playing against them which is quite exciting.
“We have them at home next Tuesday so that’s a mammoth game for us to be locking horns with Taddy who now established in the league.”
Just 78 people attended Rimmington’s first home game in charge back in August 2015 – the 2-1 win over Thackley.
Crowds rarely strayed above 100 that season but now in 2021, Rimmington expects hundreds will be flocking to Clayborn for most games this year.
That’s another marker for how far the club has come.
“The pandemic has definitely helped us because when we came out of lockdown last year we could have 150 people coming, we were getting over 500 applications for tickets,” he said.
“People wanted to watch football and quite a few of them have stayed.
“Some games we might struggle, but when it kicks off properly I’m hoping we’ll get some good crowds.”
Prediction
Promotion Contenders
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There are some VERY good players signed up there- Wakka & Gav Allott are no kids, granted, but still capable at that level. Ben Atko was a v useful player at Throstle Nest and I for one was sad to see him leave. Not out of place in the confs 2nd div at all. He could have got a much better placed (in the non-league structure) club, Im certain. Kurt Harris is a good defender too. I doubt there’ll be many clubs in NPL 2nd div above them come May ’22