Season Preview
Toolstation NCEL Division One
Beverley Town
Unless you have been asleep for the last week but the excitement levels have been rising at Beverley Town due to a certain player. Expectation levels must be rising too as the club prepare for their historic first game at Step 6.
Last Season’s Position 2nd in the Humber Premier League (promoted)
Manager Dave Ricardo
The popular ex-Selby Town and Hall Road Rangers tactician has returned to his hometown club to steer their ship in their historic first season at Step 6. Ricardo previously won back-to-back Humber Premier League titles in his first spell as Beverley boss.
Opening Five Fixtures Athersley Rec (a), Ollerton Town (a), Parkgate (a), Rossington Main (h), Shirebrook Town (a).
Notable Transfer Movement Daniele Mannini – ex-Serie A star. Need we say more.
One to Watch James Piercy
Interview
Razzmatazz sums up the signings at Beverley Town this summer.
That’s even before the arrival of Daniele Mannini.
The expectation levels must be rising but in an interview conducted before Mannini’s arrival, Dave Ricardo was keen to cool the excitement.
“What happens if there is three-or-four injuries,” Ricardo told Non League Yorkshire.
“I remember when I was in charge of Barton.
“When I went into Barton we flew from bottom to something like tenth and we didn’t get beat for three months.
“Everyone expected us to be challenging in the second season and then Ferriby came along.
“We were looking forward to seeing the season and we were going to go for it and that happened and put the mockers on it.
“Anything can happen.
“I’m trying to limit our expectations at the minute, that’s probably the best term.
“I’ll be the first person jumping up and down getting the champagne out if we do well but I’m old enough and ugly enough to know x,y and z can go wrong.”
That’s not to say Beverley won’t be aiming high.
“When I was recruiting players this year I couldn’t speak to them honestly and say we’ll settle for 15th place,” he said.
“The club will be happy themselves for us to be solvent and make a good fist of it this year.
“That’s probably the right approach economically in this day and age.
“The last thing you want to do is chuck daft money at it and go bust.
“That’s no way to run a club.
“We’ll take it softly softly in terms of the financial aspect but in terms of players and management, play-offs (are the aim).
“No-one is big headed enough to say we’re going to win it.
“I’ve seen the Brigg squad which played us in pre-season and I’ll be very surprised if they are not in the first two.
“In terms of ourselves if we finish fifth we sneak into the play-offs and that would be a fantastic season, beyond our wildest dreams.
“We have a lot of players who have played higher and we have a lot of players who it is their first time at this level and it is about gelling quickly and getting us firing.“
Prediction Play-Offs Contenders