We can confirm that following the vacancy at NCEL club Armthorpe Welfare, James Baxendale has been selected to be their First Team Manager, making his first step in management.
All at the club wishes ‘Bax’ well for the future and we thank him for his efforts over his two spells at Pontefract as a player and player/coach as he now makes the next step in his career.
Baxendale had this to say on his time at The Colls;
Congratulations Bax, you make the step up to manager after a player/coach role. How has the experience at Ponte helped your development?
The management team at Ponte are brilliant. Rousey’s drive to make the club better in every area and attention to detail in all aspects, on and off the pitch has taught me things I never realised went off and I will take with me on my own venture.
After two spells at Ponte what has been your overriding thoughts on your time at the club?
I’ve had some of my happiest times in football at Ponte, when I initially signed it was the place that got my love back for football. The second spell has been a different role, but working with people I class as friends and we have worked hard day in day out to improve the team. I will miss characters like Mark and hope that I can build a community like there is at Ponte!
For the group you leave behind, what message do you have for the lads for the season?
For the lads I leave behind.. trust in the hard work you have put in already and express yourselves on the pitch and get the club the promotion it deserves.