Cleator Moor Celtic’s new manager Brian Dawson can’t wait for the North West Counties season to start on July 30.
Dawson, and assistant Craig Routledge, have joined Celtic from Workington Reds Development squad and seven players have gone with them.
Carl Lightfoot, Tom Houghton and Reuben Butterworth are among those switching from the Reds while ex-Carlisle United youngster Connor Hammill and Luke Ivison, who has some NPL experience with Reds, have also signed on.
“We lost some of the club’s senior players and had to reshape the squad, with the result that it’s going to be a younger group.
“In preparing for the new season we are trying to make it inclusive, with the reserves and Under-18s involved in our training sessions.
“As a result we have been getting over 30 players and the sessions have gone really well,” he told Cumbria Crack.
Indeed today there will be a special in house game at Inglenorth Park when Dawson win take a look at his squad in action against one another.
The friendly fixtures start officially on Tuesday with a trip to West Cumbrian neighbours Whitehaven Amateurs.
There’s a trip to Carlisle City next Saturday followed by a game with Millom on the July 13.
No game has been arranged for Saturday July 16 when the club has a number of players unavailable, but Dawson is looking for a friendly on Tuesday, July 19.
Preparations conclude with an attractive home friendly with Crook Town on July 23 and a visit from neighbours Windscale on Tuesday, July 26.
“By then I hope we will all be raring to go for the first match, a trip to Streeton in the League,” says Dawson.
