Anchors awaiting news of promotion bid
STOCKTON Town have been handed a major boost as their preparations for a historic season get underway.
The Anchors are set to compete at the highest level in their history as they await news of their application for promotion into the Northern Premier League.
Confirmation that they will be promoted alongside fellow Northern League clubs Hebburn Town and Shildon is expected over the coming days and the trio will compete alongside Dunston UTS and Marske United in a new ‘North Division’ at step four of the non-league pyramid. Stockton confirmed that long-serving midfielder Max Craggs will depart as work commitments prevent him from taking on the extra travel at a higher level.
But there have been no such problems for the rest of the Anchors squad as manager Michael Dunwell has confirmed 16 first-team players have committed their future to the club.
The likes of defensive stalwarts Adam Nicholson and Tom Coulthard, former Hartlepool United star Jonathan Franks and highly-rated winger Kevin Hayes will all remain with the club as they look to continue their remarkable progress through the non-league system.
Dunwell expressed his delight over the news and is clearly focused on making an impact in the Northern Premier League next season. He said: “It’s an exciting period for us, going into the new league, and there’s more travelling. It’s probably a bit unusual with how many players are staying, but that’s how committed they are to wanting to play for Stockton.
“They’ve all told us that the travelling doesn’t affect them, and that they want to be at the club. They know they get looked after here, and we try to be as professional as we can.
“The higher up we go, we’ve got to raise our standards as will they, and I’m sure they will,” he added.
“They’ve shown that to us, they’ve shown it at Northern League level, but now they need to do it at a higher level.
“We’ve got half of the squad that have done it at a higher level already, and for some it’s going to be all new to them, but I’m sure they’re going to relish the challenge.”