Hesketh: 'I think Lucas will be a Football League player'

How do you sum up last season?
“It was a superb season. We’ve developed so many young players through the juniors, the U18s and the U23s and it’s proving highly successful for the club.

"We’ve got a philosophy at the club – I’ve not signed anyone over 21 for the last five or six years.

“At Christmas we were 22 points adrift, 36 goals behind and then fell three games from the end. Pressure is hard to cope with in football and Thornton stumbled.

"But then they came back and won their last six games to win the league and every credit to them. It was a great experience for our lads and I was thrilled.

“We beat Slyne 2-1 in the final and they came back hard at us in the second half. But I’m so proud, the average age is around 20 and I love seeing them develop as they have.”

Best side you faced and best player?
“Tempest United. We lost our chance to stay in the league race that day but Tempest were excellent.

"It was convincing I have to be honest. Matty Davies ran us ragged that day. It was the complete centre-forward’s performance and I congratulated him afterwards. He was too much for our young defenders.”

Players in and out
“We’ve seen Lucas Weaver move to Colne in the Northern Premier League. That’s our job, we can’t be clogging the system. We give these lads at 16/17 the chance to play first team football and help move them on and up.

“Lucas rang me to ask about Colne after Phil Brown showed interest. I think he will make it and will become a Football League player, I really do. He’s a real talent.

“Guy Hall has been with FC United on their trip to Jersey and Colne have put seven days in on Ellis Wallbank so I don’t expect to see them with us this season.

“The U16s won the Lancs Cup and the league and two or three of those will make the step up and have impressed in pre-season friendlies.”

Aims for the season
“Top two. I’ve got to be realistic – we have lost some of our better players – but top two is the target.”