Eccleshill United did not have the best of starts to their pre-season schedule with the players having to blow away the cobwebs of their close-season break while a mopping-up operation was going on in the buildings.

"Unfortunately the bad weather did not by-pass us," said new assistant manager Andy Patterson following their first training session this week.

"The clubhouse and the dressing rooms were submerged - it was a terrible scene and not what we wanted to see.

"All the water was pumped out and the carpets have been cleaned - it just one of the little obstacles that you come to expect."

It is a harsh introduction to Patterson's first season working with the first team at Plumpton Park.

The former Bradford City youth has decided to channel his energy into coaching, and new boss Mick Watson was delighted to hand him the No 2 role.

"It gradually dawned on me that I wanted to be on the coaching and management side over the last three or four years," said Patterson.

"When I was released from Valley Parade I got involved coaching Bradford City Ladies under-18s. I enjoyed it and one thing led to another.

"The previous manager at Eccleshill (Steve Watson, who is no relation to Mick) gave me the opportunity to run the under-19s last year.

"I ended up working with the reserves and we won the Reserves' League Cup and finished high in the league.

"That was a very fine effort by the lads because we were pretty much relying on the Academy at the end of the season.

"It was a difficult campaign for the club last year. It started so well under Steve and a lot of the boys that took this club up to fourth in the Northern Counties East Premier Division at Christmas are still here.

"There were changes after that which ended up costing the club. Players moved on - I am thinking of James Hanson and Ben Hardy among others - that we couldn't replace.

"This season, with good luck and not too many injury problems, we are aiming at the top eight and looking to push on in the following season."