Season Preview
Toolstation NCEL Division One
Wakefield AFC
There’s a lot of attention focussed on Wakefield AFC and what they bring to the Division. But can they challenge?
Last Season’s Position 1st in the EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division (promoted)
Manager Gabe Mozzini
Brazilian-American tactician Mozzini is an exciting young manager who performed a miracle last season. After arriving from London in January, Mozzini inherited a mid-table side. He changed the style of play and his side did not lose a game as they went on a run and claimed the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division title.
Opening Five Fixtures Glasshoughton Welfare (h), Shirebrook Town (a), Swallownest (a), Armthorpe Welfare (h), Retford FC (a).
Notable Transfer Movement Wakefield have kept the faith in their promotion-winning squad. Glasshoughton Welfare right-back Tom Booth is one new signing.
One to Watch Jake Morrison
Interview
Gabe Mozzini has reiterated Wakefield AFC’s desire to be challenging for honours.
The new kids on the blocks have big ambitions and they want to be pushing for back-to-back promotions.
“It is still the case (to challenge),” Mozzini told Non League Yorkshire.
“Look, we’re going with the intent to compete and stay top five and get into the play-offs.
“That’s our goal.
“We’re not in there just to stay in the Division.
“We need to go into the league and see how it is but (challenging) is our intent.”
A swash-buckling style of play was big reason for Wakefield’s title triumph last season.
They are likely to deploy similar tactics this year but Mozzini is well-aware his systems need to evolve.
“We need more variations,” he said.
“For the new season fitness levels will be higher so we need work on more variations in training.
“We did have two or three variations we worked on last season in training which worked well.
“We’ll still have those but we need to add a couple more.”
The crowds reached over 600 when the title was won but it remains to be seen if those kind of figures will watch them in the NCEL.
Clubs cannot charge admission in the County Senior League so fans will now need to buy a season ticket or pay £5 for home games.
Mozzini hopes the fans stick around.
“We need to wait until after the first game to see,” he said.
“(We got 500s) when it was free, now it is a fiver to get in.
“We don’t know? We could get the same numbers as last year.
“Hopefully if we can have a good season the crowds will continue to increase.e
“If you think about league football it is much more expensive so we want to provide good football and a good show and hopefully attract fans who cannot afford to spend £50 to £80 on a weekend.”
Prediction Top Half