Armthorpe Welfare have announced the appointment of James Baxendale as the Toolstation NCEL Division One club's new first team manager.

A former professional footballer with over 150 appearances at Doncaster Rovers, Walsall and Mansfield Town, Baxendale has played non-league football for the likes of Alfreton Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Worksop Town and Pontefract Collieries.

The latter two clubs saw him move into coaching and he joins Armthorpe having been player-coach at Pontefract Collieries for the last twelve months.

Giving his thoughts following his appointment, Baxendale said: "I'm massively excited by this new role and couldn’t be more proud that my first job as a manager is with Armthorpe.

"I’m a local lad and want to build a side that puts pride into the shirt as well as create an environment that involves the community and creates a buzz about the place.

"Of course, we will have a lot of new faces in the squad, but I want to surprise a few people and see how high we can get up the league table by winning games of football."

He added: "Matthew Flanagan will join me as assistant manager and Andrew Steptoe will come in as first team coach.

"Both lads had spells in the youth system at Leeds United growing up the same time as myself and have gone on to play regularly in the Doncaster leagues. We all share the same ideas on how the game should be played and are a tight knit bunch.

"Looking forward to seeing a good crowd in the FA Vase on Saturday to get this new era off to a flyer!"