Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Steve Lenthall has hailed Penistone Church’s team spirit.
Lenthall is approaching the opening game of his first full season in charge and he has kept everyone from last season bar one plus two confirmed additions.
Church forged real unity last season when they went on an unbelievable run which almost led to them gate-crashing the promotion race and Lenthall says the camaraderie is huge ahead of the new season.
“(Team spirit) is a massive factor,” Lenthall told Non League Yorkshire.
“I said it at the Sheff Club (friendly) and the Ossett friendly to all the players that money can’t buy what we have got.
“(Team spirit) is a big thing we believe and our team spirit and the togetherness of the squad is first class.
“You could write any cheque and you won’t get what we have got.
“It has proved that in pre-season.
“The lads pulled together (last season) and I kept saying that in interviews with you and other people.
“The lads dug in and bought into what we wanted to do with the different style of play.
“The pleasing thing is we have taken the style of play into pre-season which is why we have played three and won three.
“I know it doesn’t mean you’re going to win leagues but we have started with a winning mentality so it is all good at the minute.”
Goalkeeper Harry Ambler and Cameron Simpson are the only new signings at Penistone.
Not that Lenthall needed to bring multiple new players in.
“We have kept everyone apart from Luke Stewart who has left us because it was too far for him to travel with the cost of diesel,” he said.
“It is a massive loss to us but we have gained three younger ones – Cameron Simpson, Harry Ambler and another lad who has had an injury in pre-season. We haven’t announced him yet.
“Because we have kept everyone the squad picks itself.
“We have had a couple of reserve team players train with us and they have done really well and like last year we have looked within the club rather than out of it.
“As soon as we finished the season I had a chat with everyone as a group and asked them about going forward into this season.
“I left it for two-or-three weeks and I just rung everyone individually and asked them what their thoughts were and their goals for themselves.
“They all said they wanted to stop with us and have a good season with myself and Jubby (John Whitehead).
“I know teams have come in for certain players but thankfully they have decided to give a go with us.
“It is like I said to the secretary (Dave Hampshire), teams are going to come in from higher leagues I would have thought for certain players.
“Our budget is nowhere near as high as they are for NPL sides but (the players) have stopped with us and hopefully we can be successful.”