Chipchase hopes Gawber will be a force again

EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division 

Scott Chipchase says he hopes North Gawber can have a strong campaign and put last season’s struggles behind them.

Gawber have had a good pre-season and with strikers Carey Welford and Kai Hancock firing on all cylinders, Chipchase is hopeful his side can do well.

“We are looking to push on,” Chipchase told Non League Yorkshire.

“I know we lost to Wombwell Town (in the League Cup) on penalties but for 80 minutes it was all us.

“I’ve had countless people say that to me.

“We will be looking to push into the top four, that’s where me and Dave (Simms) see us at the minute.

“If we get off to a good start everyone is buzzing again and we’re back to how we were (two years ago) very quickly.

“We have drummed into the lads that we need a good start, it makes a massive difference and you can really kick on.”

Although hopes are high, the journey during 2022 has been initially arduous for Gawber.

“It is no secret that we started to struggle towards the end of last season,” Chipchase said.

“We had a lot of injuries.

“We picked up at one point and when we beat Swinton it looked like we were back doing well.

“Injuries hit and we dropped off again.

“Coming into pre-season myself and Dave (Simms) were panicking, we didn’t know what was going to happen.

“A lot of the older lads have come back.

“Carl Woodhead has signed back on and we have made some good signings.

“We have Kai Hancock, Kieran Scargill and that’s two ex-Rec lads who will play a massive part this season.

“Kai has started brilliantly and he scored 15 minutes into his first friendly and he’s exactly the type of player we wanted to bring in.

“He fits into the mould of what we are about.”

If the top four is their aspiration, the field for rivals is wide open and Chipchase agrees.

“(Wakefield getting promoted) has certainly opened the doors for a lot of clubs,” he said.

“Dodworth should be up there and pushing. 

“I’d be very surprised if they wasn’t because they have made some good signings.

“Swinton, Penistone will be strong and we’d like to put ourselves in the next bracket as a surprise.

“We want to be up there and if we keep the players we have now, I don’t think we will be far away.”