Shelley FC have announced a raft of signings – and a pre-season friendly against FC Halifax Town.
Among the new arrivals at Storthes Hall Park are teenage midfielder Ben Ireland, the son of former Huddersfield Town midfielder Simon Ireland.
The 18-year-old midfielder was previously at Halifax.
Also switching to West Yorkshire League side Shelley is seasoned former Halifax defender Paul Stoneman.
The 42-year-old helped the Shaymen win the Conference title back in 1998.
Stoneman, who also played for Blackpool, had a spell as joint manager of Bridlington Town with Shelley boss Ash Berry.
Ireland, 18, and Stoneman, who has spent the last four years as player-manager of Newcastle side West Allotment Celtic, will get the chance to face Halifax , of the newly-named Vanarama National League (formerly Conference) at Storthes Hall on Wednesday, July 29.
So too will Berry’s other new faces, Josh Ingham, Steve Wales and Matt Jackson.
Ingham is moving from AFC Emley and fellow midfielder Wales from Nostell Miners Welfare.
Jackson scored 24 goals for Shelley’s Yorkshire League Premier Division rivals Beeston St Anthony’s this season.
Shelley finished 10th as well as reaching the Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup final.
And experienced boss Berry is keen to push on.
“We’ve come a long way in a short period of time, and we have invested heavily in the ground, rather than in the team,” he explained.
“We also have a thriving junior section, with 24 teams playing each weekend.
“And next season, we’ll have an Under 19 team in the Northern Alliance, which is another big development for us.
“But at first-team level I think we should have finished higher than we did this time, and we want to move forward.”
The visit of Halifax to Storthes Hall follows previous high-profile friendlies against FC United of Manchester and a Leeds United XI.
