STEETON may have lost 1-0 at 10-man Atherton LR on Saturday, but by coming seventh in the North West Counties Football League First Division North, just two places outside of the play-offs, and earning 53 points, they have enjoyed their best season since turning semi-professional in 2018.

Manager Roy Mason could not be prouder, praising his whole team, as well as two club stalwarts who have been by his side for years.

He told the Keighley News: "I'm delighted with our progress.

"My coaches, Stewart Airdrie and Adam Smith, and I were confident of having a good campaign because we felt we'd seen some green shoots from the lads at the end of last season.

"Other than (forward) Kayle Price, we kept the squad together and added a couple of lads to that.

“I’m just disappointed with our form in the first couple of months, because if we’d started the season with the squad that we ended it with, I’m confident we’d have been in the top three.”

A player who was there from July to April, and long before that, was prolific striker and captain Andy Briggs, who bagged a remarkable 35 goals for the club this season.

Mason beamed: “I’m so pleased for him, as I’ve had him at the club since he was 16, so I’ve watched him develop as a player and a person.

“He’s a Steeton lad, who’s come through the ranks at his hometown club, and he worked so hard in pre-season, because he’s had previous issues with injury for us.

“He got himself fit, started every game this season, and scored goals.

“We changed the system after losing Kayle, and it was one that got the best out of him.”

Mason also praised the likes of keeper James Catlow, who saved a remarkable six penalties this season, mid-season additions Arale Mohamed and Raeece Ellington, as well as solid new centre-back partnership Nathan Tayo and Jonny Hodgkinson.

The pairing of the latter meant club hero Alistair Morgan was often kept out of the first team this season, but he started at Atherton, his 311th and final appearance for Steeton.

Mason said: “Alistair joined me here at 17, and neither him nor I probably ever thought he’d reach the heights for us that he has done.

“There’s not much loyalty in football these days, but Alistair is an exception.

“It’s been a mixed final season for him, as he’s been on the bench a lot and I even left him out of the squad altogether one week because of Nathan and Jonny’s form.

“That was one of the hardest conversations I’ve ever had in football, as I knew how disappointed he’d be.

“But he never moaned, he rolled his sleeves up and ended up winning his place back.

“Alistair’s been fantastic for us over the years and I can’t remember him even missing a training session.

“He’d run through a brick wall for you and he’s popular among the lads too.

“He’s got a good opportunity to progress in his career outside of football now, and I’m pleased for him that that’s the reason he’s leaving.”

Aside from Morgan, Mason hopes to keep the rest of the squad, while making a couple of eye-catching additions, for next season.

Sideways movement is not uncommon at this level, and most of Steeton’s neighbours play over in the Northern Counties East League.

Steeton meanwhile, routinely have to make trips to the likes of Cumbria and Merseyside for fixtures.

But Mason said: “We’re happy in the North West Counties League.

“Steeton’s only 20 minutes from the M65, so travelling further is a bit easier for us, and we’ve always had good, competitive games against teams in this organisation.

“The style is a bit different here compared to the NCEL, as I think teams play a bit more football in the North West Counties, so I’d rather stay put.”

He added: “The NCEL Premier Division is very Bradford based, but we’d be moving sideways into Division One, where I think our closest game would be Harrogate (Railway Athletic).

“I can only control what happens on the pitch, but we want to stay in the North West Counties.

“We’ve made welcome progress in this set-up and if we can keep this squad together, with one or two additions, we can have a really good go at getting promoted next year.

“I feel like players see Steeton as a club going places now and I’ve told my lads just to be wary if they get any offers this summer, as they may end up going to a club on its way down.

“We enjoy our football here, and we want to have that environment, while creating a professional one too.

“The key is that we do things with a smile.”