HAVING crashed into the proverbial glass ceiling several times, is this the season Warrington Town finally burst through?

The club’s efforts to reach the National League North have found roadblocks thrown in their way, from one-time-only “super play-offs” to global pandemics.

Last season, their play-off final at Scarborough Athletic was in the balance until Mitch Duggan – rightly or wrongly – was sent off, effectively ending the match as a contest and Yellows eventually succumbed to a heart-breaking defeat.

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Warrington Town were beaten in last season's Northern Premier League Premier Division play-off final by Scarborough Athletic. Picture by Karl Vallantine

They could perhaps be forgiven for thinking a divine power is determined to keep them at Step 3 but tomorrow, their latest bid for promotion begins in earnest as they welcome Morpeth Town to Cantilever Park to kick off the new campaign.

> Click here to see Warrington Town's full fixture list for the 2022-23 campaign

“The league is a very good one – it was last season and there’s some good teams come in this season,” manager Mark Beesley said.

“There’s not much between the top and the bottom, which you’ve got to be pleased with.

“For us, every game will be tough and the addition of the local teams from around here will make it better.

“It only enhances the league, for me.”

Beesley has been at the heart of the aforementioned journey for nearly six years, first as assistant manager before taking the top job in November when Paul Carden departed for AFC Telford United.

He took over in an effort to keep things on the rails and with former Town player Dave Raven at his side as his assistant, they guided Yellows to a memorable play-off semi-final win at South Shields.

Both will hope that is not the crowning glory of their time in charge but having had chance to mould the squad more in his image, will we see more of Beesley’s footprint on the team’s style of play?

Warrington Guardian:

Mark Beesley is about to embark on his first full season as Warrington Town manager. Picture by Darren Murphy

The signs have been promising in pre-season, with their friendly matches featuring plenty of attacking swagger despite the absence of lead strikers Jordan Buckley and Josh Amis for much of it through injury.

“We still haven’t changed that much,” the manager said.

“We’ve had to make a few new signings due to players moving on, but we feel like we’ve improved the standard of the squad.

“The way we’ll play is the way myself and Dave (Raven, assistant manager) want us to.

“Hopefully it comes out in the results because that is the key to it at the end of the day. You win nothing by winning pre-season games.”

There has been a fair bit of turnover in the squad, with Town catching the eye with their business despite the loss of some key men.

Long-serving skipper Mark Roberts has retired and mainstays such as goalkeeper Dan Atherton and centre-half Matt Regan have moved on along with the likes of James Baillie and Ben Hough.

However, a trio of signings from National League side Altrincham – goalkeeper Tony Thompson and defenders Tom Hannigan and Andy White – have added know-how to go with promising younger additions Mikey Howard, Oliver Putnam, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Preston loanee Josh Seary.

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Goalkeeper Tony Thompson is one of the new faces at Warrington Town for this season. Picture by Lewis Tate

“They’re good characters, first and foremost. They want to stay fit and do well,” Beesley said of his new signings.

“We spoke to the players during the off-season and told them to make sure they stayed fit so we could go straight into football.

“Credit to them all – they’ve come back fit, lean and sharp. Training has been tough but also enjoyable.”

As the manager alluded to, there are new rivals to contend with this year as for the first time since pre-Covid, there has been movement into and out of the division.

Guiseley have come down from the National League North while four new teams have entered from below – Liversedge, Belper Town, Marine and most significantly from a local point of view, Warrington Rylands.

The sides are due to meet at Cantilever Park on September 6 before the reverse fixture at Gorsey Lane on January 14.

“They’re a good team who have some good players and I’m sure they’ll do well,” Beesley said of their neighbours.

“I’m sure they will say the same but it’s good for us as we can go and scout opposition teams just around the corner.

“It’s good for the town – there will be excitement when the derby games come around so it’s a positive.”