NORTHERN Counties East League Premier Division side Eccleshill United announced the appointment of Ryan Toulson earlier this month, granting the 36-year-old his first managerial role.

A player well-established in Yorkshire, Toulson has enjoyed spells with Halifax Town, Harrogate Town, Guiseley and most recently Bradford (Park Avenue), where he established himself as a club legend and undertook the role of a player-coach with Avenue.

Toulson has now departed Horsfall, taking over at Eccleshill to help reinforce the Eagles’ hopes of a promotion push.

Speaking about the move, Toulson said: “It’s a really good option for myself, the club have got real ambition to move forward as a long-term goal for the club.

“Obviously in the short-term, the ambition of the club is to match, and if not go better than they did last year (missed out on promotion via the play-offs).

“We’ve got a good understanding that the league is going to be a lot tougher this year with the teams that have come down and those who have obviously been promoted.

“Some good teams are in there paying good money, so it is going to be difficult but at the same time the ambition still has to be the same, and that was a big thing for myself.

“I had that ambition as a player, and that won’t change going into management.”

The 36-year-old has reassured Eccleshill supporters that he will be bolstering their options going forward, in a player and staff capacity.

He said: “Over the last few days I’ve learned that a few of the more experienced players in the club will be leaving and taking up player roles elsewhere.

“But obviously that’s something as a manager that I’ve now go to deal with and manage, and sort of use the contacts that I’ve got to replace them. Hopefully strengthening in those areas too that have been left with gaps.

“I’ve got potential staff in line that I’m working on, a goalkeeper coach, an assistant and a general coach as well.

“I want to get a good mix of staff around me to help me in my first job as a player-manager.”

Toulson went on to praise the ambition of the club, saying: “Yeah I think obviously the club are in line with my ambition, but first and foremost I’ve got to be realistic, it is my first management job.

“And for me I’ve got to look at the short-term goals to start with.

“Obviously we’ve got that long-term goal but I’m realistic and I know it’s going to be tough and not going to be easy.

“People can have every contact in the world, but you’ve got to make it gel and to get a team that are willing to work hard for each other and work hard for the club.”

On leaving Avenue after six years, Toulson said: “It was a really, really tough decision to leave.

“It was a club I had been at for a long time obviously, and Mark (Bower) and Danny (Boshell) gave me the opportunity to step into that coaching role, which has helped me progress and given me a really good understanding of the off-field situations, even with players, budgets and different scenarios.

“That’s helped me out and given me a step up into where I am now.

“Mark and Danny aren’t just colleagues but friends as well.

“I’ve got them and the club to thank for how they dealt with it, they were happy and wished me luck and I appreciate that it was dealt with in a proper manner from their point of view.”

Toulson and Eccleshill’s first game of the season will be held on July 30, as the Eagles welcome Winterton Rangers to the Mitton Group Stadium for their opening league game.