CSL Premier title race is wide open – Church boss Briggs

EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division 

Penistone Church Reserves head honcho Scott Briggs says he believes the Premier Division title race is wide open.

The departure of champions Wakefield AFC has opened up the opportunity of winning the league to several teams.

“It does seem like a level playing field (this season),” Briggs told Non League Yorkshire.

“I was secretly pleased Wakefield went up because with them you are talking about money.

“They could buy anybody and it did spoil it a little bit.

“We were lucky we played them when we did at the beginning of the season.

“If they had played like they did from January from the beginning of the season they would have hardly dropped a point.

“We won 1-0 at their place in October and I don’t think (the Wakefield) players knew each other at the time.

“Come January it was like a different team and they had more togetherness.

“There doesn’t seem to be an outright favourite this year and it could be anyone’s this year.

“I’m relishing the challenge of trying to be up there.”

Church finished fourth last season and Briggs is aiming to emulate or better that standing.

“You want to do well in everything, in both cups and the league,” he said.

“We are wanting to be up there again but I know that things change and you don’t really know until the season starts.

“You don’t really know who has signed who so my goal will probably be top four.

“I know we said top five last year and I feel we did well until March came along.”

Church host Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves this afternoon.