RICHARD SPYCHALSKI hopes continuity will be the key as Bay Athletic go for a fifth consecutive West Riding County Amateur League title.

The long-serving manager has presided over an unprecedented spell of success, with the Huddersfield side setting a new league record with last season’s fourth title in a row and fifth in six years.

Bay also bagged the West Riding FA and Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup and will once again be the team to beat when the new Premier Division campaign gets under way on Wednesday, August 17.

Spychalski, whose side visit Knaresborough Town for the latest pre-season friendly this afternoon, certainly isn’t complacent, and accepts the history books show all dominant runs come to an end at some stage.

But he believes the solid structure put in place down at Canalside, where the club now have an academy side, means Bay should always be among the top contenders.

“I’ve said before, but it’s true, a lot of our success is down to the focus and determination of the players,” he pointed out.

“They are the ones who go out week in, week out and produce the goods at whatever level they are playing at, and because we run all our sides along the same lines in terms of training and tactics, the idea is that we should always have a supply line of players who can step up.

“The development of Canalside is also important, because we can offer even our younger players great surfaces to play on.”

Having seen Danny Naidole emerge as a dangerman last season, Spychalksi has high hopes of Sam Jerome, the teenage brother of Cameron, the Huddersfield-born Birmingham striker.

There have so far been only a couple of changes to the squad, with powerful ex-Meltham winger George Dawson being signed and seasoned defender Lincoln Adams moving to Frickley Athletic in the Evo-Stik League.

“It’s inevitable some players will get offers from a higher level, and we wouldn’t want to stand in their way,” added Spychalksi.

“But we still have plenty of experience in the side, and players like Steve Smith and Steve Perrin, who can still cut it on the field but have moved into coaching as well, have been invaluable to me.

“We know it will be tough once again this season, but we’re ready for the challenge.”