Coach McNeil wants flying start

Non-league by SIMON SMEDLEY
CHADDERTON’S former Football League star and current coach Matty McNeil is hoping his young team hit the ground running on Saturday.

After a disappointing end to last season in the North-West Counties League First Division, Chaddy kick-off their 2014-15 campaign this weekend away at Daisy Hill, and McNeil is keen to see an improvement.

McNeil, who played for Macclesfield Town and Stockport County in the Football League between 2006 and 2009, said: “Pre-season has gone pretty well. We’ve played four games and we’ve remained unbeaten.

“Along with joint-managers Steve (Patterson) and Mark (Cook) we’ve worked the players hard from the word ‘go’.

“They were back in early for pre-season training and it’s looking good now.

“We’ve scored plenty of goals and a number of young lads have stepped up from the reserve team and impressed.”

Chaddy eventually closed last season in 13th place in the table, despite having earlier reached as high as sixth position.

McNeil doesn’t want to see a similar situation this time around, particularly given that end-of-season play-offs have been introduced, offering at least three more clubs the chance of aiming for promotion.