A fresh start for everyone - Geener

Paul Geener

Swapping one camp for the other led to some restless nights for Paul Geener in the lead-up to last week’s Napier Windows Ltd Standard Cup semi-final.

A 23-year association as a player and coach with Waterhead at an end, Geener’s fresh role as joint-coach alongside Craig Farrimond at Shaw Hall Bank Road got off to a positive start.

Geener’s Saddleworth Rangers side saw off Waterhead 18-10 at Peach Road to land a place in the showpiece final against either Rochdale Mayfield or Oldham St Anne’s.

His present task at Rangers, starting this weekend’s opening league clash at Dewsbury Celtic, is similar — turn around fortunes that saw the club relegated to Division Two last season.

Geener feels the signs point to better days ahead for the Greenfield club: “We have a few new players and I am learning about the squad too. It’s a fresh start for everyone,” he said.

One player looking to catch the eye as a regular performer is half-back Mick Diveney.

“He is back on it and raring to go more than most,” said Geener, who has also welcomed ex-Waterhead players Josh Brown, Harry Godfrey and Ash Wildman into his Rangers squad.