Boss Birch impressed by how New Mills youngsters have 'bought into' club ethos

Birch and joint manager Mike Norton arrived at Church Lane last September and helped turn around the club's fortunes.

When last season was declared null and void due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Millers had won seven and drawn one of their previous 12 contests.

Now Birch wants to replicate that form going into the 2020-21 North West Counties League First Division South campaign, which kicks off on October 3.

"To be honest, when the league was null and voided it was a difficult time for everyone, but putting everything aside and purely from a football point of view, we were disappointed it got stopped," Birch said.

"When we first came in it took a bit of time to build the squad and we were starting to see signs of a settled squad and a good bunch of lads.

"We've carried it on in pre-season, improved the squad and got them very fit.

"We've worked them hard but, fair play to the lads, they've bought into it."

While the campaign is yet to kick off, Birch has been happy with what he's seen so far.

"I'm not stupid, it's only pre-season and it means nothing," he added.

"But there are signs that are good and the lads are playing football with a smile on their face and enjoying it.

"We want that, we all work hard all week and when it comes to football it should be a nice placed to be."

New Mills have bolstered their squad with the signings of Adam Gardiner and Bed Egson.

Forward Gardiner joined The Millers in early 2020, making several appearances from the substitutes bench before the premature end to the season.

Edgson has joined the Millers on loan for the start of the 2020-21 season from Northern Premier League Matlock Town.

New Mills kicked off their pre-season friendlies with a goalless draw at Avro, before a proposed fixture against Matlock Town was postponed.

A 2-2 draw with Trafford followed, as did a 4-1 defeat away at Ashington.

On Friday New Mills were beaten 3-2 by Northern premier League outfit Ramsbottom United.

Despite having a number of regulars unavailable, Adam Gardiner gave the Millers an early lead.

The visitors responded by taking a 3-1 lead.

Ben Edgson pulled one back just before half-time, but neither side could add to the tally in the second half.

"Me and Mike have been impressed how we've moved the ball around," Birch added.

"We've been aggressive out of possession, which is the way we want to try to play.

"We're not not going to try to over play because of the levels we're at and the pitches we play on won't always allow us to play nice football on the floor.

"But where we can we are going to try to move the ball about on the floor and be aggressive out of possession.

"We've got a young lads, we've got a lot of 19-21 year-old lads. Fit lads, and that’s the way we try to go with it, young hungry lads."