Toolstation NCEL Division One
Jimmy Whitehead is in a positive mood about how Athersley Rec’s preparations are going for the new season.
Whitehead is preparing for Athersley’s return to Division One and the Rec boss says he has a happy camp.
“Pre-season has gone really well,” Whitehead told Non League Yorkshire.
“We have had a lot of new players to have a look at.
“We came back a week or two before a lot of teams and everyone has trained really well and took everything on board.
“There’s nothing better than looking at players in games after seeing them train for a while.
“I’m pleased with numbers and I’m pleased with their attitude and it has been enjoyable.
“We had a tough season last year. We got relegated, but people have come back and they want to play for us and that’s the most positive thing.
“Now us as coaches need to select the best side that we think will help us win games this season and do well.”
Athersley have lost their opening two pre-season fixtures – to Dearne & District and Swinton Athletic.
Both are Step 7 opposition but Whitehead has dismissed the relevance of the results.
“We don’t look into (pre-season) results too much,” he said.
“We have probably used 30 players in those two games.
“It has been pretty much putting out one starting eleven in one half and another in the other.
“I think (against Dearne) we made nine changes and against Swinton it was the same.
“We certainly learnt a lot as managers.
“(Against Dearne) we only had two players who started who played for us last season so we’re almost starting again so those two games were put on almost as training games as appose as friendlies.
“I wasn’t really expecting that much out of them.
“We left some of our players from last year out because we wanted to look at new ones and you also have holidays and people working.
“Even if I wanted to put out my best eleven from what I have seen from last season and the new signings, I don’t think we had that eleven available to play in those games.
“Overall we did well in parts.
“I’m not really bothered how people from the outside look into (the results).
“I’m only interested in what happens in our camp.”