All change for the champions as Albion prepare for new season
PREPARATIONS for Tadcaster Albion's assault on the NCEL Premier Division are well under way with club president Kevin Derry, below, eagerly anticipating the start of their new campaign next Saturday.
It's all change at The Park this season. They will have a new chairman in the form of former Guiseley and Harrogate Railway supremo Rob Northfield who was officially unveiled at the club's recent AGM last week.
The current committee and members were unanimous in their decision to appoint Northfield of current sponsor 2 Inspire as chairman.
Representatives of the club met with the FA's legal advisor's t to discuss various formalities including the incorporation of the club.
Derry is looking forward to stepping into the unknown.
He has backed boss Paul Marshall and his men to build on last season's successes, when Albion won the Northern Counties East League Division One title- the first trophy in the club's 118 year history.
"Everyone seems to be pulling together this season," said Derry.
"The club is in a really good position at the moment, it's taken the pressure off everyone and it's a good place to be.
"It's really good.
"The season has come around really quickly.
"It seems like it was just last week that we played our last game but that's not bad. We're looking forward to it this season.
"It's going to be really difficult league this year. There's Farsley who have dropped down. There's also Scarborough and Bridlington who are strong, we've also got one or two local derbies.
"But we're looking a lot stronger. Paul has worked hard to bring one or two players back in. Rob Ellis has come back to the club, he's a fantastic signing for us and if you look at the midfield now it's probably one of the strongest in the league.
"From last season someone said to me you probably need to strengthen the spine a little bit. Paul's done that and we're looking good because of it."
It promises to be a tough start to the campaign for Marshall's side.
They face a trip to Parkgate in their first league clash next Saturday before Tuesday's President's Cup first round clash at home to Barton Town Old Boys.
Then the whole club is looking forward to their trip to West Allotment Celtic in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on August 14.
"It's a tough start," continued Derry.
"But we've got to do it. Of course we're looking to start well in the league but we're back in the FA Cup this season too. We were unlucky in the FA Vase away at Whickham last season.
"A poor decision cost us in that one. West Allotment will be tough Northern League side but we're good enough to go up there and win it."
As regards to Marshall, Derry thinks Taddy's most successful boss ever can go from strength to strength and continue to push the club forward.
"When you think of the achievements of Paul and what he did last season it's just remarkable," he added.
"He was chairman, first team manager, juggling a lot of different roles, scouting teams and doing all sorts of work mid week but he did it and he won us the league- remarkable.
"Now with Rob (Northfield) coming in it's taken the pressure off him a bit. He did a fantastic job last season, hopefully we can go on and do it again."
Albion kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw against Silsden, Carl Stewart scoring Tad's goal.
They followed this with a 2-0 defeat against Ossett Town but bounced back with a superb 3-0 victory over Leeds Carnegie.
Last Saturday they drew 1-1 with Bishop Auckland at home thanks to Tom Wollard's goal, before their local derby clash against Bardsey last night.
Albion's pre-season culminates on Wednesday with the visit of a USA U-21 international side (7.45pm ko). On Sunday, Tad will host a charity family fun day on Sunday in support of the Help for Heroes campaign.
Meanwhile about his new appointment Taddy chairman Rob Northfield said: "Following the success we all enjoyed last season, it is clear to anyone visiting Tadcaster Albion we have entered a new era.
"An era of getting things right not only on the field but as importantly off the field as well. We will put into action our values of fun, treating people with respect, and therefore making the club an even more important part of the community."
Tadcaster Albion 2010/11 fixtures: 07/08/2010 NCELP A Parkgate 3:00pm; 10/08/2010 PC1 H Barton Town Old Boys 7:45pm; 14/08/2010 FACEP A West Allotment Celtic 3:00pm; 21/08/2010 NCELP A Selby Town 3:00pm; 28/08/2010 NCELP H Thackley 3:00pm; 30/08/2010 NCELP H Hall Road Rangers 3:00pm;
04/09/2010 FAV1Q H Prudhoe Town 3:00pm; 07/09/2010 NCELP A Long Eaton United 7:45pm; 11/09/2010 NCELP H Brighouse Town 3:00pm; 18/09/2010 NCELP A Armthorpe Welfare 3:00pm; 25/09/2010 NCELP H Pickering Town 3:00pm; 02/10/2010 NCELP A Nostell Miners Welfare 3:00pm; 09/10/2010 NCELP H Bridlington Town 3:00pm; 16/10/2010 NCELP A Maltby Main 3:00pm; 23/10/2010 NCELP H Winterton Rangers 3:00pm; 30/10/2010 NCELP H Liversedge 3:00pm; 06/11/2010 NCELP A Lincoln Moorlands Railway 3:00pm; 13/11/2010 NCELP H Hallam 3:00pm; 20/11/2010 NCELP A Farsley AFC 3:00pm; 27/11/2010 NCELP H Arnold Town 3:00pm; 04/12/2010 NCELP A Dinnington Town 3:00pm; 11/12/2010 NCELP H Scarborough Athletic 3:00pm; 18/12/2010 NCELP A Scarborough Athletic 3:00pm; 27/12/2010 NCELP H Parkgate 3:00pm; 08/01/2011 NCELP A Hall Road Rangers 3:00pm; 15/01/2011 NCELP H Selby Town 3:00pm; 22/01/2011 NCELP A Thackley 3:00pm; 29/01/2011 NCELP H Long Eaton United 3:00pm; 05/02/2011 NCELP A Brighouse Town 3:00pm; 12/02/2011 NCELP H Armthorpe Welfare 3:00pm; 19/02/2011 NCELP A Pickering Town 3:00pm; 26/02/2011 NCELP H Nostell Miners Welfare 3:00pm; 05/03/2011 NCELP A Bridlington Town 3:00pm; 12/03/2011 NCELP H Maltby Main 3:00pm; 19/03/2011 NCELP A Winterton Rangers 3:00pm; 26/03/2011 NCELP A Liversedge 3:00pm; 02/04/2011 NCELP H Lincoln Moorlands Railway 3:00pm; 09/04/2011 NCELP A Hallam 3:00pm; 16/04/2011 NCELP H Farsley AFC 3:00pm; 23/04/2011 NCELP A Arnold Town 3:00pm 30/04/2011 NCELP H Dinnington Town 3:00pm; tbc LC2 H Maltby Main.
FAC=FA Cup; FAV=FA Vase; LC=NCEL League Cup; PC=NCEL President's Cup; NCELP=NCEL Premier Division; Frdly=Friendlies.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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