There is no hiding from our disappointment in finishing in eight place this season, however we are very happy with the foundations have put in place in our first year with the club. We inherited an aging squad and most of the side that was relegated last season elected to move on, so we have put significant effort into bringing the age profile of the squad across our senior sides down. To this end we rebranded our fourth team as an U23 outfit and this has had a tremendous impact on our ability to recruit young players and give them exposure to men’s football.

We were a penalty shootout away from a place in the district cup final, a result that ultimately signalled the beginning of a downturn in our form. That game saw both our goalkeeper and top scorer ruled out for a significant length of time, it was also the final game for our vice-captain before he moved on to pastures new. Ripping the spine out of the side was difficult to overcome at that stage of the season. The following week we were a win away from going top of the league (albeit with the sides who ultimately finished in the top two had games in hand), but a heavy defeat at Horbury began a run of poor performances that cost us promotion.

It’s been a difficult division to navigate this season, many likening it to the Championship in the way any team can take points from “better sides” on their day. We experienced this first hand, looking back at some of the points we have dropped from winning positions early on in the season perhaps we just lacked that bit of experience at times to grind out a result. Turn a few of those draws into wins and things maybe go differently, but that’s football and a part of the development of our young group. We congratulate Littletown, Oxenhope and Horbury on their promotion. There are good sides in Robin Hood, Harrogate Railway and Ilkley coming down with some real quality coming up from Division 2 in the form of Kellingley, Shelley and Harlow Hill. Our target next season is promotion, but we’re under no illusions that the division will be any easier in 24/25!

We have with a number of coaches who have expressed an interest in our reserve team management vacancy and will be in a position to announce this appointment next week. It’s important to us that the reserves continue to develop and challenge for first team places while also providing a pathway for players stepping up from the U23s into West Yorkshire League football.

We have plans in place for the next steps forward for our third team after Neil and Sharpey stepped down from their management positions at the end of the Craven League season, and while we are sad to lose them from the coaching staff we are pleased that they will remain on the club committee. Ian Cormack will be staying on in his capacity as U23s manager and we’re hoping to supplement his group with some of our promising players turning 16 this season from the youth setup.

This time of year is quiet for the players but probably the busiest behind the scenes. On a player front it’s always a balancing act between going after potential new signings and keeping hold of the players you have. It’s a talented group that naturally attracts interest from elsewhere, but we’re pleased to have retained the majority. We wish Brad Longhorn and Mason Brewis well as they seek out new challenges, while Ethan Sharpe jets off for a new life in the USA. Clint Francis is also returning home to the States. We’re boosted by the return of Ant Friend to our ranks however and look forward to seeing what kind of talent our second annual open trials day can unearth next month.

Our thanks to the sponsors, volunteers, committee and supporters for an eventful first campaign with the club. We are hard at work preparing to do it all over again!

Finally, our best wishes to George Duncan who is again battling ill-health.