Mayfield Mustangs U16 team of 2013

Andy Battersby coach, Mayfield Mustangs U17

Mayfield Mustangs U16 team of 2013 will become Mayfield U17 in 2014 with a new look side and with new coaching staff. 

Steve Gartland has now stood down after eight years  service.

Luke Fowden, Jack Rush, Callum Ogden and Jack Higginson have signed professional contracts, while Declan Sheridan is making ground with first team selection.

The new coaching team is made up of Andy Battersby and Damien Corcoran:

Andy is a RFL level 2 coach who has previously coached at Rochdale Cobras and on the Service Area Programme.

As a player, Andy has played for over 30 years, he started at junior and high shools, before spending a few years around the Oldham scene, and then playing locally for over 21 years at Todmorden, Littleborough and now in the second team at Mayfield, as the resident veteran.

He has two sons who have played at Cobras and on the Service Area teams.

Damien (Damo), is currently applying to the RFL for his coaching badges and assists at a younger level too.

His playing career also spans some 25 years. He started in the Kirkholt U8 side before moving to Spotland, playing with the Connoly's and Whittakers, and then moving to Rochdale Cobras and finally settling in the same Mayfield second team as Andy.

He has two sons both playing in the junior ranks at Mayfield.

The coaches are going to be starting the new year with a rigorous training plan leading up to season start in March of 2014.

The league is likely to be made up of mainly U17 teams and Andy is confident the team can over achieve on expectations in its first season if training is well attended in January.

Andy said: "We need to work on our fitness as the combination of superior fitness, hard work, strong defence, and organised, sustained attack is the key to a sound team.

"We have many new players coming in and, having lost two of the pivots in the team, it is important we train together a lot to get the understanding and communication going as early as possible." 

Anyone wishing to contact Andy about training or about joining the team should contact him on 07917 018599.