Eccleshill United's pre-season has begun with a mopping-up operation at their Plumpton Park ground.

"Unfortunately the bad weather did not bypass us," said new assistant manager Andy Patterson following their first training session this week.

"The clubhouse and the dressing rooms were submerged - it was a terrible scene and not what we wanted to see.

"All the water was pumped out and the carpets have been cleaned - it just one of the little obstacles that you come to expect."

It is a harsh introduction to Patterson's first season working with the senior team at Plumpton Park after he worked with the reserve side last year.

He said: "We won the Reserves' League Cup and finished high in the league.

"That was a very fine effort by the lads because we were pretty much relying on the Academy at the end of the season.

"It was a difficult campaign for the club last year. It started so well under Steve Watson and a lot of the boys that took this club up to fourth in the Northern Counties East Premier Division at Christmas are still here.

"There were changes after that which ended up costing the club. Players moved on - I am thinking of James Hanson and Ben Hardy among others - that we couldn't replace.

"This season, with good luck and not too many injury problems, we are aiming at the top eight and looking to push on in the following season."