With the season only 5 weeks away their are only 10 mid week training sessions and a couple of Saturday's left to fine tune this seasons squad. Personally it's been great to see the high numbers that are attending training – keep it up lads.

Playing wise as usual a few have left and a few have come in. Across all three teams there has been a change in Captains, let's support Tom, Josh and Rob.

I'd like to wish last seasons Captain Paul Mallaband as he departs us.All the best, he has represented the club brilliantly for the last three and half years, Captaining two. Due to his new job he has relocated close to Altringham Kersal and is going to play down there. Adam Lee who has come through the juniors at Burnley and played numerous senior seasons has also moved and is now closer to Skipton, we wish him well and will see him on the pitch earlier than we thought as we travel there on the 18th of August for a pre season friendly. We have also lost three backs, Tom McGuiness who is off to Australia in early September, Ali Marjot who for last two seasons has been teaching locally is moving back down south and Gerhard Botha who is back in South Africa, we wish them all well.

Player recruitment so far has seen approximately 10 news players come to training with all of them being able to add to the growing player pool and will strengthen all our three teams.

One new development this summer has been Training.The usual Tuesday and Thursday evening sessions at 7pm have gone ahead , but specialist sessions have took place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings – targeting the lads who work shifts giving them also a chance to do a pre season. Compared to the past when they played their last game in April and not touched a ball until the first Saturday in September. On the back of this we are averaging 30 lads training week in week out now – great but as Coach you always want a few more, so get in touch if your new to the area ( 07988122186 ) or if club player get yourself along to the next session.

Moving forward, like I said earlier, 5 weeks to the first game keep remembering what we have done at training so far and increase the intensity moving into August, whilst also developing team work off the pitch, whether it's on the Hebden Bridge trip on Saturday 30th of July, the new players welcome night in August ( date to be confirmed ), Bank Holiday Saturday over at Thornton – selected or not - let's travel as one big squad the support will be welcome. Then all three teams together after the first full round of fixtures on Saturday 3rd of September.

Finally cheers to Jimmy Mac for his June Fitness Work, even at the time players may have hated it ,continued fitness work will help us finish games off strong as we move into the 90th Season for the club.

Cheers Si
Onwards & Upwards