Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Jon Wragg admits Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915’s opening day home battle with Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves is the perfect way to start the season.
Wragg and his two lieutenants Ryan McDonald and brother Matt played for Stocksbridge’s reserves for years and enjoyed great success during their time at Bracken Moor.
The Wragg’s of course were team-mates with Jamie Vardy for a few years and even went on holiday to Ibiza with him.
So for Wragg to be facing off with the Park Steels in his first ever competitive match as a manager, it couldn’t have been planned in a better way.
“It is a fitting first game,” Wragg told Non League Yorkshire.
“It is the first time since we have been promoted that we have faced Stocksbridge.
“Although I don’t know as many people in the reserve set-up now, it will be good to play them.
“Obviously myself, Matt and Macca (Ryan McDonald) played for Stocksbridge and we also have two or three lads who have been in the (Stocksbridge) reserve ranks.
“They’re looking forward to it as well.
“It is a shame it isn’t at Bracken Moor as I can’t wait to go back up there.
“But when I saw the first fixture I was really happy.
“I think me and Matt were there for five seasons in our late teens and early 20s and I went back when I was 34 and did two seasons before I got an ACL injury while playing for Stocksbridge (reserves) which ended my football career.
“So I had a couple of spells under Steve Shutt who was there for 15 years.
“Ryan McDonald who is part of our coaching staff he was there for 15 years so obviously it is a special game for him and he was captain of the reserves a lot of years as well.”
Former Dinnington Town and Parkgate defender Wragg was elevated to the Red Rose throne when Matt Griffin stepped down in June after three years in charge.
Wragg had been his assistant throughout Red Rose’s rise from being a lowly Division One to being able to compete with the top sides in the Premier Division.
Because of the pandemic, Ecclesfield have yet to complete a full campaign in the Premier.
According to Wragg, the main aim is to push on from two good showings in the aborted campaigns.
“We’re looking at improving from where we have been over the last couple of seasons,” he said.
“You’d expect the likes of Swinton and Dodworth to be strong again.
“Traditionally over the last couple of years you’ve looked at Gawber’s, Penistone reserves who have been in behind them.
“You’d have to look at Wakefield as well.
“I think it is about getting closer to teams like that and getting in the mix with them.
“We have been really lucky that we have kept 90% of our squad together which helps at any level.
“We’re not going to be bedding in many new players and the squad is still quite young but they have had two or three years experience in County Senior football.
“We’re not going to be there to make the numbers up.
“We want to do well and improve the players we have got and I think we have done over the last couple of seasons.
“I was looking at the league table and since coming up we have got results off everyone apart from Swinton.
“We have made a lot of progress and we’re competing with the sides I mentioned earlier.
“It is probably about doing it more consistently this season and that’s what we will be looking to do.”
The real notable exit from Ecclesfield this summer is Kenan McKenzie Gray – their lethal goal-scorer who has joined Toolstation NCEL Division One side Shirebrook Town.
His departure was anticipated and Wragg has reacted to fill the gap.
“We expected to lose Kenan because we knew what the situation was going to be,” he said.
“If you’re going to score 20 goals in the County Senior League in a disrupted season then you’re always going to get interest.
“We have also lost a couple of lads (Mark Groves and Alex Radford) who have retired.
“We have replaced Kenan with a lad called Jacob Rickards who has a good pedigree.
“He was at Worksop Town and Rainworth when he was younger. He’s still only 21 I think.
“He’s a good signing for us.
“We’ve signed another good lad called Ash Simpson who has a good pedigree and has come through the Stocksbridge youth and reserves set-up.
“Lawrie Wilson has played a lot of football at Northern Premier League level so like Buxton, Alfreton and Matlock to name a few.
“He is a quality player who will bring a lot of experience to help our younger lads.”
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