PENISTONE Church will look to finally make the play-offs this season after five consecutive top eight finishes in the NCEL Premier Division.
Since being promoted into the top flight of the NCEL in 2017, in the seasons not impacted by Covid-19, they have finished seventh, second, sixth, fifth, sixth then eighth.
They have never played in the play-offs due to changes in the number of teams promoted but will be looking to do so this coming season by finishing in the top five.
Manager Stephen Lenthall left at the end of last season and the joint-managers now are John Whitehead and Brett Lovell.
Whitehead said: “As a club, we’ve always been the bridesmaid and never the bride.
“It might be something similar again because budgets have a lot to answer for and ours is modest.
“There are some big clubs coming into the league with big budgets and we have to rely on us being a hard-working group of mates.
“Sometimes there is a lack of quality but that’s to be expected.
“Automatic promotion might be a bit of a push but will be looking to get in the play-offs and that would be a really good achievement.
“We have a lot of players who have been brilliant servants to the club over the years and it would be great to offer them the chance of promotion.”
On taking over from Lenthall, Whitehead said: “Stephen promoted me to joint manager last season and Brett was our assistant last year.
“We bounce off each other well.
“We played together for years and get on particularly well.
“We want to go up the levels as coaches and we’re pretty certain we can do that at Penistone.
“The facilities are there to go up to the next level.”
Penistone have been preparing for this season for almost two months.
“We have had a good pre-season.
“We started on June 9 which is obviously pretty early.
“Me and Brett haven’t had much time off. We want to work with players in pre-season then stick with that group.
“We’ve signed two centre-backs, a goalkeeper and a midfielder.
“It’s been a good, intense pre-season with a lot of fitness-based stuff.
“We’re looking forward to the season and spirits are high.”
Church will be joined this season by fellow Barnsley club Wombwell Town who gained promotion last season.
Whitehead said: “Wombwell Town are another local team.
“That adds a little bit of grit between the teeth when playing them.
“They have good players and a decent budget so they will look to make a mark on this season.”
Penistone begin the season at home to Handsworth on Saturday.
