Toolstation NCEL Division One
Ian Walker hopes Nostell Miners Welfare can push on and have a successful season after a fantastic start.
After seven wins out of nine matches, Nostell are fourth and mixing it up with the two favourites Hallam and North Ferriby – plus the likes of predicted dark horses Brigg Town and Rossington Main.
“Early doors when I was first interviewed I talked to you about Ferriby and Hallam and then I talked about Brigg, Rossington, Worsbrough, Harrogate Railway and I unfairly missed Selby out,” Walker told Non League Yorkshire.
“I don’t think we are million miles away off those sides.
“At the start of the season if you had given us top eight I would have said ‘I’ll take that now’.
“Now we think there could be a top five position and that’s what we’re aiming for.
“If we get into (the play-offs) then anything can happen.
“You go in that dressing room and everyone is enjoying it.
“That’s because we play a brand of football that the lads enjoy playing.
“They are comfortable playing 20 or 30 passes and not going anywhere with it.
“We’re a boring Man City team sometimes but then we do have that bit of pace as well.
“We have good rotation, a good spirit amongst the lads if they’re not selected and we’re doing quietly alright.”
Walker also agrees that Nostell have slipped in under the radar.
“It is always going to be tough for Ferriby and Hallam because they are everyone’s cup final,” he said.
“Whereas the unknowns like ourselves, Worsbrough’s, Brigg’s, Rossington’s, we weren’t everyone’s cup final.
“When you go to North Ferriby it is a special day out for everybody.
“Hallam are the same, they are class.
“I think it is a great league and there’s a top eight forming which I’m absolutely delighted to be anywhere near at the moment.
“There’s a long way to go but at least we’re competitive.
“We don’t talk about money, what people are getting paid at other clubs…we’ve no idea.
“I know what our remit is and our club is sustainable and it is still full of the under 19s team from three years ago.”
If results continue to be successful then Nostell will join ‘everybody’s cup final club’ and it is eventuality Walker is preparing for.
“We’ve already seen it and that’s we changed our shape (for Hall Road),” he said.
“We beat Swinton in the Sheffield Senior Cup and we noticed how they sat in rather than allowing us to open them up or use our pace.
“We are a developing team and we’re looking at being good enough to deal with every scenario.”
Nostell visit FC Humber United tonight.