Silsden stoked to host Campion as first of three derbies

Joint-manager Matt Cavanagh is delighted, telling the Keighley News: “Sometimes we ask for Friday nights, just because the town’s cricket club is attached to us, so it can make it easier playing on a separate day to them.

“A Friday night game for ourselves, the crowds seem to be higher too, so it felt like a no-brainer to try and kickstart the season off like this.

“It’s a local derby against a good side in Campion, who made the play-offs last season.

“It’ll be a tough test for us but it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

Silsden’s next two home games after that are also Bradford District derbies, against Thackley and Albion Sports respectively.

On paper, it should represent a huge early-season financial boost for the club, as they can expect three fair-sized crowds in the space of less than three weeks.

Cavanagh said: “It’s a tough task, because you’re asking a lot of the volunteers, in order to make sure they’re available.

“It’s also three local derbies, so your energy levels need to be on point.

“All three of those games are against very good sides, so we’ll need to be at it, but we’ve got to play every team at some point.

“Teams probably won’t want to come and play Silsden either and they’ll all be a good test for us.

“It’ll also be beneficial because hopefully we’ll get decent numbers coming to watch us and with positive results in those derbies, those crowds might stay.”

Silsden finished in mid-table last season but looked on course to join Albion and Campion in the play-offs for much of the campaign.

Silsden and Albion's two games last season both finished 2-1 to the away side, but it was Sports who ended the season in a far healthier position, and went on to reach the play-off final. (Image: Linda Gartland.)

Talking about rectifying that, Cavanagh said: “We had a positive start, so there were a few things we had to go away and highlight when the season finished, number one being finding that consistency and balance across the season, and making sure we can solve that problem.

“But there’s not one easy game in football, and if you don’t turn up on the day, regardless of whether you think you’re a better side, it's work rate that wins you football games.

“That’s something we’ll be focusing on a lot this year.”

Silsden have retained many of their key attacking players from last season, which saw them hit 76 league goals in 38 games, only the top three and sixth-placed Penistone Church finding the net more often.

A delighted Cavanagh said: “It’s really important we get that cohesion with the players, rather than a big turnaround of lads, because they know what worked well for us.

“It was a good group last season that got on well, so we wanted to keep that spirit together but we highlighted we needed to make a few changes and additions.

“Hopefully we’ve got a better squad now than last year, so let’s see how we get on with it.”

Silsden have recruited heavily in defence, hardly surprising given they conceded 66 times last season in the league.

But Cavanagh said: “We did highlight that area of the pitch, but as an individual, I’m big on defence starting from the front.

“We’re still looking to improve in specific areas but right now, we’ve got a good 20-man squad and it’s up to the lads to perform to earn the shirt.

“At the same time, I’m really pleased with where we’re at at the minute.”