Toolstation NCEL Division One
Darren Barnes says Horbury Town’s fairytale start to life at Step 6 has created unprecedented interest in his club.
After four wins, 18 goals and just two conceded, new-boys Horbury are top of the table ahead of the home game against Shirebrook Town tomorrow.
To say the last three weeks have been beyond their wildest dreams is an understatement and Barnes is thrilled for the club.
“We wouldn’t have believed we could have done this,” Barnes told Non League Yorkshire.
“Not only have we won four, scored 18 and conceded two, we have also had the highest attendance in the league which is impressive.
“It is testament to the work going in off-the-pitch.
“We’ve had a lot of comments about the facilities – obviously negative comments – but we take that in tongue-in-cheek because we know the hard work going on to improve the ground.
“What we’re doing on-the-pitch is helping massively off-the-pitch because we are generating more income through the crowd and we’re getting more of a fan-base.
“People are wanting to come and watch us and we are at the moment the talk of the NCEL.
“We have not just won games, we have won in a convincing manner and people are looking at that.
“It is brilliant. We’re little Horbury in terms of we have come out of nowhere but in terms of the community, it is massive for the town.”
Horbury hammered Ollerton Town 5-0 in the season opener before a stunning 3-0 win at title favourites Rossington Main.
Parkgate were dispatched 6-2 in the first game under the new floodlights.
Horbury then slaughtered Glasshoughton Welfare in a 4-0 win on Tuesday night.
Clearly the manner of the wins has surpassed expectations.
“I suppose I would have been happy with six points because we didn’t know what to expect, it was a complete unknown,” he said.
“Not one single person is getting carried away because we have won four games.
“We’re there to be beaten now, everyone wants to beat you.
“We were top of the pile in the West Yorkshire League for large parts last season but we were only winning games by a goal or two.
“The levels we have jumped up to is a lot.
“Against Ollerton we had five chances and scored five and we had a goal conceded.
“They had four good chances and missed them.
“We had a bit of luck on our side, I would say, but everything went our way.
“Going into the Rossington game, one of the favourites, they are a very good side and they were good so we had to be at our very best.
“That was our toughest game yet but it was a fully deserved 3-0 win.
“They had one half-hearted overhead kick which skimmed off-the-bar.
“Going into the Parkgate game, I never thought we’d score five goals in a game this season, let alone half-an-hour.
“We showed great character against Parkgate as we were behind twice through our own doing and then we absolutely blitzed them.
“They couldn’t get anywhere near us and it could have been more than 6-2.
“Glasshoughton was a complete and controlled performance all over the pitch.
“Possession-wise it must have been 70% us. It was total domination.”
Top of the tree they are, but Barnes is not setting any lofty target.
“Your first target would be stay in the league, especially if you are a new team but for us it is just win the next game,” he said.
“We could lose the next game or the next two-or-three and no-one will be talking about us.
“The games are coming thick and fast. We have Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday.
“As the game goes on the league table takes care of itself, I suppose.
“If we get beat on Saturday it is no shock because I still say we’re underdogs because until we have played everyone once and we have seen everyone.
“You talk about the league table in January.”
Horbury’s side contains the majority of the lads who played for them in the West Yorkshire League and Barnes added: “The depth of the squad is incredible.
“I have 22 players and the competition for places has made everyone raise their games.
“The lads from last season and the lads who have come in are on board with what we are doing.
“It is showing and we’re enjoying our football because there is no pressure.
“I’ve not said we need to get in the play-offs or ‘do this’. We’re playing to enjoy it and and that’s showing.
“We have created a good environment for the players.
“It is a well-run club and the environment makes the players want to be here and they’re behind what the club is trying to achieve.”