Hine: 'I'm excited for what's ahead'

How do you sum up last season?
“To finish eighth in the league and get to the Richardson Cup Final with such a young set of lads was a great achievement.

"For 75% of them it was their first season at that level so I thought we did well.

"We took a punt on them rather than bring people in who wanted money.

“They will learn from the cup final experience (Tempest won 5-0) with the occasion and everything. They won’t want that feeling again.”

Best side you faced and best player?
“Fulwood for me. Their football at times was brilliant. From their goalkeeper to up front everyone could play football.

"Matty Davies tore us apart in the cup final – his movement, his footballing IQ. He is the sort of player that makes other people better footballers.”

Players in and out
“We’ve got the same squad largely as last year, no one has left. Everyone has bought into it.

"We’ve got four in too, one is an experienced lad which will help on the pitch with game management which we lacked sometimes last year.”

Aims for the season
“We’re looking at top five this year. We’re a year more experienced and we need to raise the levels again.

"The lads are a pleasure, they’ve done the hard yards in training, all the horrible stuff and they have worked so hard.

"They want to be coached and be improved and take it on board. I’m excited for what’s ahead.”