New NCEL season preview – Nostell MW

Toolstation NCEL Division One

A few years of lucky escapes have caught up on Nostell and they find themselves back in Division One. There have been changes across the board. Kev Allsop is the new chairman, while Graham Nicholas is now in charge of the first team. There have been mass departures on the playing front and the side is now basically unrecognisable to last season. Just Fidel Mhlolo, Ryan Donoghue, Steve Smith and Frank Zalo are still with the club.

Manager

Graham Nicholas

Nicholas and Nostell suit each other for many reasons. Both need to rebuild their reputations. The Crofton Community Centre’s training facilities also suit their new manager’s methods. Nicholas, the only candidate interviewed for the post in May, had two-and-half successful years at Garforth before his disastrous reign at Ossett Town was terminated in February.

Opening Five Games

Maine Road (A) – Emirates FA Cup, Knaresborough Town (A), Penistone Church (H), Worsbrough Bridge (A), Teversal (H).

Player Movement

In: Danny Harris (Garforth Town), Richard Watson, Ash Preece (Garforth Town), Craig Robinson, Ryan Mottley-Henry, Lucas Middleton (Glasshoughton Welfare), Stefan Connor, Emmanuel Bernard, Jack Kirk, Sam Smith, Sam Pashley, Kyle Smith, Tom Rose (Yorkshire Amateur), Tom Smith, Jordan Lodge, Jamie Austin, Joel Dixon.

Out: Andrew Davis (Pontefract Collieries), Jamie Allsop (Garforth Town), Simon Poole (Garforth Town), Matthew Johnson (Garforth Town), Ed Hall (Brighouse Town), James Beaston (Garforth Town), Jack Waldron (Armthorpe Welfare), Blaine Kellett, Luke Gordon, Neil Bennett,

One to Watch

Danny Harris

After two brilliant seasons at Garforth which accumulated in collecting a few awards at their presentation night, it is a huge surprise to see Harris playing NCEL Division One football. Many expected him to be testing himself in the Evo Stik this year. There was interest too. That he isn’t in the Evo Stik is Nostell’s gain as he’s going to be a star player for them.

Prediction

Mid-table/Bottom half

Nostell have some good young players, but there are some missing ingredients. More experience is needed along with a striker capable of leading the line.

Interview

Anybody who knows Graham Nicholas won’t be surprised by his aims for Nostell Miners Welfare over the next ten months.

Nicholas memorably claimed in July 2014 during his reign at Garforth that he was aiming to win the title – a statement that meant with plenty of eyebrow raising.

But he wants high standards and that’s why he made the brash claim. So it is no shock that he has high hopes for Nostell.

“I always set high expectations and I’ve come here to do well and get the club promoted and back where they belong,” Nicholas told Non League Yorkshire.

“For years they have struggled and have always been at the bottom of the Premier Division. My job is to say ‘let’s have a good go and let’s try and win the league’.

“We have built a brand new side and it has been difficult to attract players because of the budget. It will take time, but we have brought in quality players so there is no reason why we can’t do well.

“If you bring in the right players, anything is possible. I’m confident that we have the balance right in terms of the signings.

“I wouldn’t take a job if I was aiming to be mid-table. No matter where I am I say: ‘let’s be positive’ and if you’re going to manage a team you have to be positive and believe you can win the league.

“I’ve worked hard for the last six weeks recruiting this great bunch of lads and I thought it pays off.”

His appointment in May as Nostell’s new manager ended a three-month exile from the game.

The former Garforth chief was sacked by Ossett Town in February after failing to win any of his eleven league games in charge – a calamitous run which dragged Ossett into serious relegation danger.

It also left his reputation in tatters.

The enforced break allowed a period of reflection and Nicholas said: “It (the sack from Ossett) knocked me for six, I didn’t expect it and I needed more time.

“Players were leaving and I couldn’t understand why, I do now.

“I went straight back to coaching at Barnsley academy, just to try and enjoy it again.

“There are a lot of regrets because I left Garforth where there are some great people. In hindsight I wish I had finished the season off at Garforth because we had some great lads and we were doing ever so well.

“I genuinely believe we would have finished high up the league and I let a lot of players down there, I realise that.

“I left to test myself at a higher level and so did some of the players. Some will say it backfired and there will be one-or-two smiling because of that.

“I don’t think it went wrong, I just needed more time.”

His relationship with Garforth, a club he helped rebuild and guided to a West Riding County Cup, is at a low ebb. If he was ever to take his Nostell team to Garforth for a competitive fixture in the next few years, he would receive a hostile reception.

That is because of the vast number of players he took or attempted to take to Ossett with him.

Some of those who did step up a level found life tough in the Evo Stik and soon left. Others eventually adjusted and Nicholas said he was pleased to see some of his ex-players thriving.

He added: “Ossett made a good decision in appointing Grant Black because he knew players in that league. Full credit to him.

“But look at Simon Rogers. There were question marks over him, but look at the performances he put in at the end of the season.

“Andy Hawksworth proved he could step up. These are the players that people questioned and said were not good enough. Look at Luke Mangham. Lee Morris at Goole is raving about him. Jack McCarthy is at Hyde and doing well.

“These are the players I had at Garforth and I was told it was laughable that I had taken them to Ossett and told that they’re not good enough. I’d like to think I’ve played a part in their development and making them some of the player they are today.”