SILSDEN have announced their retained list of players as they return to pre-season training.

The Cobbydalers began pre-season training last Saturday with plenty of familiar faces in attendance.

Captain Josh Kaine and fellow defenders Dan Illingworth and Matty Moses will be with the Sils for the 2019-20 campaign.

Midfielders Joe Mitchell, Arley Barnes, Luke Rhodes and player-assistant manager Craig Bentham have all put pen to paper and will form the engine room, while Mark Everingham, Will Storrie and Josh McKiernon have also committed for another season.

Top scorer Aidan Kirby also stays and will be looking to better last season’s goal tally, while Laurence Sorhaindo will be looking to kick on after showing plenty of promise through the second half of last season.

Chris Wademan will rejoin the squad in the autumn on his return from a spell at Riverside Olympic FC in Australia.

Youngsters Harry Parsons, Devon Ridley, Harrison Hardisty-Blackwell and Ben Darkins will all be hoping for their break after being in and around the first-team squad last season.

Manager Danny Forrest said: “These lads have given me absolutely everything and I’m confident this core group of players has what it takes to help the club progress.

"A lot of them have been with me almost three years now, I know what I’m getting with them and I’m confident we can help them go and improve again.

"With some exciting additions in the pipeline it’s shaping up nicely.”

Silsden kick off their batch of friendlies with a home clash against Avro on Saturday, July 6. This will be followed by further home games against Ossett United on Wednesday, July 10 and Hyde United three days later.

Forrest's side will then travel to Nelson for a clash on Friday, July 19.

Ilkley Town will be Silsden's next destination on Tuesday, July 23, with a trip to Barrowford Celtic planned for just two days later.

Their pre-season programme will be completed with a date against Charnock Richard on Saturday, July 27.

Silsden have been moved into the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division from next season as part of the Football Association's adjustments to the National League System.