Athersley Recreation have announced that their head coach for their first ever NCEL Premier Division season will be Sean Margison.

He replaces Simon Houghton who took up the job of manager at Shaw Lane Aquaforce last week.

Margison has a long distinguished career with Recreation, having played for the club for over fifteen years before managing their reserve side.

A club statement said: "He has shown his capabilities after taking the Reserves from the South Yorkshire Amateur League with two promotions and then taking them to two more promotions in the County Senior League into the Premier Division for the upcoming season.

"He fully deserves his promotion to the first team and his knowledge will ably assist last season's successful management team of Peter Goodlad and Jason Dodsworth."

Manager Peter Goodlad added: "This is a great appointment and is pleased that Sean is ready to make the step up and again shows that the club's in-house recruitment policy works."