Handley pleased to repay volunteers

Nick Handley admits winning promotion has been a chance for himself and Duncan Bray to give something back to the volunteers at Pontefract Collieries.

Pontefract are in pole position to win the Toolstation NCEL Division One title, but the first job was completed when a top two spot was secured with the 7-0 demolition of Lincoln Moorlands Railway on Saturday.

That has been the main objective for quite a while as Pontefract have been perennial challengers for promotion for many years.

Simon Houghton and Brendan Ormsby have previously tried and failed to take them up.

Handley and Bray took over in December 2012 and the former said: “It (promotion) is massive for the club.

“(Secretary) Trevor Waddington and the people behind the scenes, (chairman) Pat (Monaghan), (treasurer) Steve (Hunt) and everyone else have really wanted it.

“We promised to deliver and they have fully supported us.

“They have been tremendous to me and Duncan from promoting us from assistants and then having the faith in us to say ‘we believe you’ll do the job for us’.

“It is lovely to repay them.

“I have been here six years and we have always been there and there-abouts.

“To finally push us over the line is a personal milestone for me and Dunc.”

Pontefract can become champions if they win at Hallam tomorrow night and then beat AFC Mansfield at home at the weekend.

One victory could be good enough if Clipstone fail to win one of the last three games.

On the chance of winning the Division, Handley added: “We’ll just take the next game at Hallam.

“We know Hallam is difficult away from home, especially on a midweek.

“Hallam don’t get beat easily on a midweek so we know we have another difficult game to come.

“We’ll take the next game and see what comes from there.

“Clipstone won on Saturday and we don’t put any daft statements out there.

“We’ll take on Hallam and then see what happens after Saturday. We are going to go for it though.”