The Farsley players will be exerting themselves on the training pitch only this weekend after enjoying their first warm-up game on Saturday.

Neil Parsley and the club want to restrict Saturday friendly games but were more than happy to accommodate Championship neighbours Leeds United.

Brian McDermott’s men cantered to a handsome victory at Throstle Nest but it was still a fantastic day for Farsley.

The squad may have been given the runaround by the likes of Matt Smith, Ross McCormack, Dominic Poleon, Aidy White, Luke Varney, Noel Hunt and the like but it was an invaluable experience.

The club also made a lot of money on the day, not to mention a lot of friends. Leeds club officials and supporters posted warm and sincere complements regarding Farsley on various social media outlets, many of them official statements from Leeds.

For Parsley it was all about the hard work the players had to put in for 90 minutes on one of the hottest days of the year. It was all about preparation for the new season and getting his revamped squad involved.

Latest signing Rob O’Brien led the team out as captain, with Aiden Savory and Matty James leading the strikeforce. Ben Middleton and Patrice Liburd, the veteran defender who began his career at Valley Parade, were tried out in the centre of defence and did well against the top-class opposition.

Last term’s number one keeper Tom Morgan performed heroics against the waves of Leeds attacks, pulling off a string of fine saves.

The central defensive pairing was an experiment because James Riley is the only fully fit centre back from last season’s squad.

Matt Dempsey, who partnered Riley for much of last term, is in hospital recovering from an operation and is ruled out for up to four months.