STEETON boss Roy Mason is full of hope ahead of the new season starting in a couple of months, with plenty to look forward to.

Sponsorships and season tickets from 2020/21 have been rolled over into 2021/22, given their exciting new Marley venue has still only hosted one game so far.

And the talented young squad that Mason has assembled are all raring to go again, hopefully along with a few new wise heads.

Mason, who called the rollover decisions “a no-brainer”, admitted: “I’ve always said the sponsors are partners for the club, who we want to work with long-term, and most of them are local businesses who have been affected by the pandemic.

“We’ve also arranged so many home friendlies so far because we’re conscious supporters haven’t been allowed in for so long and we want to build something here and engage with them.

“We’re hoping to attract a few people who’ve not seen us either and maybe get some new season ticket holders.

“Plus if the restrictions are lifted fully by June 21, it gives us chance to put plenty of money in the coffers, as financially it’s been hard.”

Mason admitted the initial friendly schedule was in the process of being tweaked, with the home game with Eccleshill United and the trip to Liversedge both set to move.

The game at Campion on July 23 is not going ahead at all, with the Red and Blacks now moving to join Steeton in the North West Counties League First Division North.

Mason said: “I spoke to (their joint-manager) James Bicknell and we felt there was no benefit in playing a direct competitor a week before the league starts.

“I know him well and I was personally delighted to see them come over to our league, as we have that history with Campion in the West Riding County Amateur League, like with Golcar.

“Ilkley have come up too, and when we’ve played them in pre-season, I’ve always been impressed by their football and facilities.

“There’s some nice local representation in the league now, and on the flipside, we’ve got to play the Isle of Man, which will be an exciting trip into the unknown.”

While Steeton are busy arranging friendlies, rolling deals over, and even potentially venturing into selling their own replica shirts and leisurewear, one task in the close season was surprisingly easy.

Mason beamed: “It’s been an easy pre-season in one sense because I was chatting to the lads and everyone wants to stay.

“We have a good, young, new-look side, full of pace and energy, who really started coming together last season.

“They’re all so excited to come back and I didn’t even have to ask them to commit.

“We don’t need any wholesale changes, which we did after an awful 2019/20, but we do need to add another two or three.

“We’ll be playing a lot of Tuesdays and Saturdays, so we need a bit more depth.

“There’s probably some experience needed. We do have Tim Hird and Jerry White in that department, but Tim is a busy man, being a doctor, and Jerry’s wife has just had twins.

“Certainly last season, we only had two centre backs, so that’ s one area we need to strengthen, but elsewhere, we’re just looking at making little tweaks.”