Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
From an outsider looking in, Yorkshire Amateur have an almighty attacking force with four top Non League strikers from the last ten years leading the line.
Ash Flynn, the greatest NCEL forward of all-time partners Gibraltar International Adam Priestley, Roy Fogarty and their manager Nathan Cartman.
However, Cartman, who began last season scoring goals for Scarborough Athletic in the NPL Premier Division, does not intend to be player/manager.
He wants to concentrate on managing.
“The plan is not to play at all,” Cartman told Non League Yorkshire.
“I am looking to bring another striker in during the next couple of weeks.
“We’ll see how it goes, I’ll be signing on and if I’m needed I’ll play.
“The plan is just to manage. I think it would be hard to manage and play.
“A lot of people have said ‘why are you stopping’?
“I’ve won the NCEL Division One, won the NPL Division One play-offs, I’ve won the NPL Premier Division with two different clubs and I’ve played in the National North.
“I’ve won personal accolades but as much as you want to win trophies, I have been given a good opportunity at Ammers to take the next step.
“That’s where I want to be in the future. I had to think about it but I’ve won enough as a player and now I want to win things as a manager.”
Former Harrogate Railway, Darlington and Farsley Celtic great Cartman was handed the keys to the Ammers throne following the resignations of joint managers Craig Ogilvie and Neil Sibson.
The pair stepped down following the disappointment of their forced relegation back to the NCEL for failing to meet ground grading deadlines.
Despite their demotion, Cartman has kept the majority of their NPL squad and added quality in the likes of Flynn and Eddie Cass.
Their business has been done quickly and Cartman admits his squad is almost complete.
“I’ve been on the phone all the time,” he said.
“First and foremost we had to sort out the current squad and find out who wanted to stay and who wanted to leave and stay higher.
“I wanted to get them nailed down first before looking around.
“It was hard (to persuade players to stay) because we have been demoted and players were obviously going to get offers to stay (in the NPL).
“It has taken a bit of persuasion and I’d like to think they are staying for me as well.
“I’ve kept most of the squad so we’re looking at bringing five-or-six in which I have probably brought in already.
“I still think we may need two-or-three to strengthen.
“Like every manager I’ve played under always said, if there is an opportunity to strengthen the squad then I will.”
The persuasion talk presumably centred on his ambition to be successful in 2022/23.
“The aim is get promoted as soon as we can,” he said.
“That’s the number one priority.
“Like I have said to the people behind the scenes, the players and management need things in place so we have something to aim for.
“We don’t want to finish top of the league and have nothing to play for because we can’t go up.
“Things behind the scenes such as the ground need sorting.
“As far as I’m aware the ground is going to be sorted over the next few months as they are on with it now.”
Whilst aiming high, Cartman admits the title race field is full of quality riders.
“I’ve said to everyone I have spoken to that this year will be the toughest year to win the league because of the teams and the budgets a lot of the teams have,” he said.
“Let’s be honest, the game is changing and there is a lot of money in the lower end leagues.
“Our league is pulling players from higher up the ladder.
“It is going to be a tough league and you have your likes of Hallam where Craig (Denton) has done a great job to get them promoted.
“Ferriby are strengthening, Emley will strengthen, Barton will strengthen and there’s more teams who I haven’t named.
“You also normally have one team who is not expected to be up there who does well.
“It is definitely going to be the toughest league at Counties level for a while.”