Eagles director of football Mark Ellis is delighted with the way the blend of local and overseas players have begun the season.

A number of youngsters from Ellis’s soccer college, which develops young players from abroad, have been integrated into the Eccleshill squad.

It has gone well as United have won three of their first four league games with some solid displays from young Americans, Bradford boys and a budding Donovan Ricketts.

Keeper Thag Bell comes from the Caribbean, while striker Joe Spivack and defender Kjell Gordesson, both from the States, have impressed.

Locals Andy Howland and Marcus Edwards have both scored twice and Matt Dempsey, who started out as a youth at the club before captaining Sheffield United’s reserves, has returned.

Ellis said: “Matt is an ex-college student of mine, so we have a good relationship.

“He has agreed to come back to us for now and we have promised not to get in his way if the right league club makes him an offer.

“He is enjoying his soccer at the moment and it’s nice to see a smile on his face.

“The other lads who were already here have risen to the challenge and are enjoying the competition for places with the foreign boys coming into the squad.

“Thag is a regular in the Bermudan squad and is second choice behind a more experienced lad. We also have Nahkki Wells, who is another who has played in a couple of World Cup qualifiers.

“We are waiting for international clearance for CJ Lyle, who has represented the USA at under-17s level. Joe was with the New York Red Bulls as a lad so they have all had a good grounding and been properly coached and will continue to be.

“I am only in an upstairs role at Eccleshill but I try to take in as many games as I can when I’m in England and I’ve been delighted with what I’ve seen. The club is buzzing at the moment and is a great place to be around.”