Pitchero Non League

Gary Norton

The Moatmen won promotion from the East Midlands Counties League last Saturday, and Norton admitted he is weighing up guiding the club to the challenge of a new league against new priorities off the field.

The 37-year-old became a dad this season, as well as earning a promotion at work, and is worried he will not be able to give the club the required attention.

Norton, who also lost his father and best friend this season, said: "With what happened with my dad and my mate, and having a kid, football was put into perspective.

"Then I got this promotion in my job and I started to wonder how I was going to fit it all in as it's difficult to juggle my time.

"I spoke to the club about it and we said we'd talk about it at the end of the season." At the start of February, Gresley looked out of the title race, and Norton admitted that at that point, he had all but decided to leave at the end of the campaign.

But a twenty-game unbeaten run, culminating in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Gedling Miners Welfare that saw them crowned champions, has whetted his appetite once again.

"Going back a few months, I was definitely going to step down, but having got promoted, I would like to take on the challenge and get us off to a good start in the new league," he said "But I'm worried that I'm not going to be able to give Gresley the 100 per cent commitment they need.

"I missed a midweek game a few weeks ago, and I've missed a few training sessions.

"It's not fair for me to do that and still expect 100 per cent from the players."

Whoever is at the helm, Norton said the club would prefer to be playing in the Midland Alliance next season, rather than the Northern Counties East League, where a large majority of the teams are from Yorkshire.

"Whichever league we are in will be competitive," said Norton.

Tags: News | East Midlands Counties League

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