Chaddy look to kick on

FOOTBALL: CHADDERTON are set to hit the ground running when the new North-West Counties League First Division campaign gets under way in August.

The Broadway outfit has just ended a hugely-impressive 2014-15 season — the club’s best in some years. Under the guidance of joint managers Steve Patterson and Mark Cook, Chaddy finished sixth in the table — before eventually losing agonisingly in the play-offs 2-1, to a late strike at AFC Darwen. The side also reached the last 32 of the FA Carlsberg Vase.

In Patterson and Cook’s second season in charge plenty of progress was made with a largely youthful squad, so no wonder the latter has spoken with pride and enthusiasm about the team’s efforts.

Asked about the reason for the side’s success, Cook said: “It’s tough to put my finger on that, but we have built up a real togetherness in the squad over these past two years. All the players are loyal and honest, so Steve and I can’t really ask for much more than that.

“We were down after losing in the play-off semi-final, but overall we enjoyed a great season.

“We’ve definitely got momentum to take into next term now. We’ve got something special going here.”

Collective effort was evident during the vast majority of last season’s games, and not just from the players on the pitch.

Cook, who played for Chaddy for seven years, added: “There are a lot of good guys at our club. People who put in plenty of effort week in, week out. It’s a real team effort, and one we want to carry on next season and hopefully go that one step further.

“There’s a lot to be positive about at our club, both on and off the pitch, so that’s why Steve and I are loving it here.”



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