Mossley announce new skipper

Mossley have announced their new captain and vice-captain for the upcoming season.

After the departure of long-standing skipper Andy Keogh, Lilywhites boss David Fish has appointed Mark Lees as his new team leader.

Lees, 35, is a former Mossley Juniors players, and rejoined the club last summer after making a dozen appearances in the Covid curtailed 2019/20 campaign.

A popular face around the Tameside football scene, he counts Hyde United, Ashton United and Stalybridge Celtic among his former clubs.

He has also had spells with Stockport County, Buxton, New Mills, Wythenshawe Town, Matlock Town, Guiseley and Altrincham.

His understudy will be the bustling Will Shepherd.

Fish has rewarded the 22-year-old after impressing over the past two years, cementing his place in the starting line-up since re-signing from Colne in the summer of 2022.

He made his debut in the Northern Premier League for Warrington Town in 2021 after his release from Salford City.

He made one appearance off the bench for the Ammies, a 6-0 loss against Manchester United Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, in which Hyde United right-back Harry Ditchfield also made his debut.

“Both Leesy and Shep are big characters that have the respect of other players and epitomise everything I want this squad to be,” Fish told Mossley’s website.

“Fans will have seen that on the pitch, but they don’t see the professionalism in everything they do.”

After threatening a late play-off run, the Seel Park outfit fell away during the final month of last season, going seven games without a win and finishing 15th.