Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Outgoing Jason Dodsworth is all set for his final game as the joint manager of Athersley Rec.
Dodsworth is bowing out after 12 years in a management capacity with the Rec on a Saturday and Sunday. He was given guard of honour in his final home game before the 2-0 defeat to Maltby Main last week, but his real goodbye is after the visit to champions Tadcaster Albion tomorrow.
Athersley are not mathematically safe yet, but the outlook is much better than it was four weeks ago after the defeat at Garforth Town. Athersley were in serious trouble until three straight victories put them on the brink of safety.
“This has been the toughest season for us to deal with,” Dodsworth told Non League Yorkshire.
“I don’t think some people realise how hard a league it is for a club like us who hasn’t got a budget.
“To get players in is a job itself and to stay in this league is a big achievement for us as club.
“It is also an achievement to compete at this level because there is so much money thrown about on players.
“Sometimes me and (joint manager) Sean (Margison) don’t look at it like that. We’re disappointed if we haven’t played well, but we are up against it every week. Credit to the lads they have dug in and fingers crossed we are in the Premier next year.
“I feared the worst after the Garforth game. We picked out Liversedge, Garforth and Brigg as potential wins going into the relegation fight and we lost all three of them.
“It did cross my mind that we could be doomed, but credit to the lads for being fantastic by winning three out of the last four.”
Until this season, Dodsworth served as the assistant to Rec legend and founder Pete Godlad throughout their glorious runs of success.
Dodsworth ranks the shock Hillsborough Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup triumph over Evo Stik Premier Division side Frickley as his favourite memory.
He said: “I’ve got a lot of memories because I’ve been here 13 years.
“On Sundays we have won so many trophies at Bramall Lane and other places. But during the first year we came into the NCEL, getting promotion was brilliant. It was beyond our wildest dreams.
“We kicked on from that and winning the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup has to be the biggest thing we have ever won. It is probably the highlight for me.
“Everybody wrote us off and that night, people might have thought we were the Evo Stik side because we outplayed Frickley and maybe could have won by a bigger margin.”
It is unclear if Margison will continue in sole charge of Athersley after Dodsworth departs.
Whilst he is vacating the dugout, Dodsworth is not disappearing into the sunset. He will still be a regular feature at the club.
“You will definitely see me on the sidelines because I love this club,” he added.
“People from the outside don’t see what it is like. There is a great spirit and it grabs hold of you.
“I can’t see myself doing anything other than being there. I’ll be definitely in-and-around the club next year helping out where I can, I’ll just have my two kids in toe.
“I would like to thank all players old and new, and all the people I’ve worked with all these years including volunteers, directors, fans and most of all Porky (Pete Goodlad) and Marg, it’s been fantastic.”