Steeton manager Roy Mason is worried about the future of football in Keighley. According to Mason, there is a lack of football talent in the area, with very few players coming through. The team only has one local player, Josh Kaine. Mason expressed his concern, saying, ‘I do worry for the future of football in Keighley, to be honest.’ In addition to the talent shortage, Mason is also worried about Steeton’s ability to compete against wealthier teams in the North West Counties Football League First Division North.
Steeton is in need of a goal-scoring forward to replace the departed Andy Briggs and Kayle Price. So far this season, they have only scored 21 goals in 16 league games, which is less than all but the bottom three teams. Mason acknowledges the financial challenges faced by non-league clubs, stating, ‘There’s a lot of money in non-league, and some players get offered silly sums that we couldn’t dream of. We have to look for rough diamonds and develop our own players.’ Despite the obstacles, Steeton has made significant progress since moving up from amateur football five years ago. However, they struggle to attract large crowds and secure sponsorships in the current economic climate.
Mason emphasizes the difficulty of acquiring a new striker with limited resources, saying, ‘Good goalscorers can get offers from higher-level clubs or those that can provide better financial incentives.’ Steeton’s attacking threat has diminished since the departure of Manny Amole and Raeece Ellington in September. Despite this setback, the team remains just six points away from the play-off positions.
Reflecting on the departure of Amole and Ellington, Mason admits, ‘Losing Manny was a blow, as he’d only been at the club for five minutes. But he got an offer from a higher level, so I can understand his reasoning.’ Ellington, on the other hand, received a professional contract in Slovenia, fulfilling his dream of playing football full-time. Mason acknowledges the impact of their absence, particularly Ellington’s creativity in the team’s strong start to the season.
Despite recent challenges, Steeton has shown signs of improvement, winning their last league game and delivering a strong performance in the West Riding County Cup. However, their scheduled match against Ashton Athletic was postponed due to bad weather, resulting in a 12-day gap before their upcoming league encounter against Holker Old Boys.
Holker Old Boys have won their last seven games, including a cup clash against Steeton. Mason acknowledges the controversial refereeing decisions in that match, stating, ‘I don’t like to hide behind poor refereeing, but there were some bad decisions. We had a goal disallowed for a non-existent foul and a player sin-binned when it should have just been a yellow card.’ Despite the setbacks, Mason remains optimistic and believes his team deserves better results.
In conclusion, Roy Mason’s concerns about the future of football in Keighley reflect the challenges faced by Steeton. The lack of local talent and financial constraints make it difficult for the club to compete with wealthier teams. However, Mason remains determined to develop young players and find hidden gems within their limited resources. Steeton’s recent performances show promise, and they continue to strive for success despite the obstacles they face.