Toolstation NCEL Division One
James Bicknell says league leaders Campion’s incredible form is down to a “team effort”.
Campion have began the season in almost unprecedented fashion after winning 16 and drawing one of their opening 17 league games.
As the draw was on the first day of the campaign, Campion have won 16 on the spin and they are 11 points clear of second placed Horbury Town.
“Honestly it is a team effort,” Bicknell told Non League Yorkshire.
“It doesn’t matter who plays, everyone is mucking in.
“The team spirit is phenomenal and that’s one of our greatest attributes.
“We have a lot of a new lads and to create such a great environment where everyone gets on in a short space of time has been brilliant.
“That’s what we set out to achieve early in pre-season.
“It clicked straightaway in pre-season.
“Everyone is buying into the club and everything we are doing.”
Long-serving Bicknell has been joint managers with Lee Ashforth since 2019 but his tenure goes back even further.
He was manager during their rise from the West Riding County Amateur League and he admits the current period is the most exciting since he arrived at Manningham Mills.
However, he adds that Campion’s feet are firmly on the ground despite their strong position at the top.
“Oh 100% it is (the most exciting),” he said.
“We have been up there in the County Amateur and got promoted to the NCEL.
“There was the season where we ran Grimsby close which was a good one.
“At the moment we have 16 league games on the trot so how can you not be excited?
“But we look at one game at a time.
“I know it is a bit boring but I don’t think we can look any further than the next game.
“Me and Ash are the same. I think if you start looking further forward, people start getting ahead of themselves.
“No-one is going away – your Horbury’s and Harrogate’s and Rossington’s. Look at their results.
“Harrogate are 11 unbeaten so they are not going away.
“In theory you’d say we were 13 points in front of Harrogate because of our goals difference.
“All it takes is a couple of defeats and a couple of draws and your gap has gone.
“We’re having a good season so far but let’s be honest if you have a bad second half of the season all your hard work in the first is gone.”
Bicknell also paid tribute to their first team coach Ronnie Reason for his contribution to the cause.
“His coaching and analysis has been second to none,” he said.
“We film all our games and his analysis on them has been class.
“He’s been brilliant.”