Northern Counties East League Division One

Finished 14th P42 W15 D10 L17 F79 A67 GD12 Pts55

Two former Bradford City men encountered very differing fortunes in the Eagles’ hot-seat last term.

The season began with Ian Banks in charge and the club looking to build after flirting with promotion in the previous campaign.

Early promise faded, Bantams’ former midfielder and assistant manager Banks thanked the club and took his leave, and while Mark Ellis had a brief stint as caretaker boss, Bobby Davison was being lined up to take the reins.

Eccleshill were knocked out of the League Cup in just their second game of the season but Banks led them to success in two FA Cup rounds, bringing in much needed funds.

There was also an away victory against Athersley Recreation, who pushed Albion Sports all the way for the title before finishing runners-up and being promoted alongside the Eagles’ local rivals.

October brought a mixed bag of results and then the brutal winter caused untold fixture chaos and training problems, as it did for every club.

Banks, a former No 2 at Valley Parade to Nicky Law, was succeeded by Davison, who had been City’s assistant manager under Colin Todd.

It took him some time to settle but most of that period incorporated a run of seven out of eight fixtures being lost to the weather.

Davison then began to weave his magic and the Eagles tasted defeat just once in an 11-game run - a sequence that lifted them from relegation danger.

The campaign tailed off somewhat and ended tamely with just one win from the last seven league games but by then the Eagles were in mid-table safety.

It was a difficult experience but a learning curve for the young squad liberally peppered with overseas players.

From the home game against Rossington Main on April 10, the Eagles had to cram in six games in 13 days and still had two fixtures to fulfil to complete their season.

That brought home the harsh reality of football in England to the squad but they embraced it and emerged as stronger individuals.