XI questions with | Warrington Town

Across the country, supporters are preparing for the new campaign with renewed hope and ambition for the season ahead.

Ahead of the 2026/27 campaign getting underway on Saturday 8 August, we sat down with supporters from the NPL clubs at Step 3 to hear their thoughts on how things are shaping up.

Today, it's the turn of Warrington Town fan Elliot Kehoe.

Last season ended poorly with five defeats from the last six. How do you claw back some positive momentum for this campaign?

It’s going to sound a little cliché, but you’ve got to put any bad season behind you and look to new beginnings really. 

We had a period in the middle of last season where confidence was high and the results were showing that. 

Again it's cliché, but you’ve got to start the season with a few wins under your belt. Confidence is the key, and that is something we were lacking last season.

Local rivals Warrington Rylands got the bragging rights last season, claiming four points across the two games. Does that bring any extra bite to the contest for fans?

Yeah, of course. As fans, it’s the first fixture we look out for when they’re released. 

I must say massive congratulations to them for last season. Not only taking four points off us, but getting to the play-off final. It was brilliant for them to achieve that, especially against some of the teams in the division last year.

Any derby you want to win, and hopefully we can put that right.

Manager Paul Carden is in his second spell with the club now. How would you assess his leadership of the team?

I think Paul is a brilliant manager, but of course I’m going to say that as a fan. 

It’s obviously been a difficult few seasons for him since coming back, but given the signings this summer, it just shows the kind of quality that we can attract. 

All the players speak highly of him, and what Carden brings to the table, how much they look forward to playing for him. 

It’s all about backing him as fans and getting behind the team.

The likes of James Melhado, Bohan Dixon and Jay Harris have left the club in the last 12 months. How significant are those losses?

I think losing Bohan and Jay Harris, two Town legends, to all the fans that go week in week out is never nice. 

But I also think it was the right time to move those players on. Last season was a big transitional year and you could probably see that, with the likes of Jay playing the majority of the season. Maybe age was just catching up with him a little. 

They are two players that will always be remembered to all the Town fans. 

Hopefully we can replace them with other leaders in the group. I think James Melhado was one of the standouts in a poor season last year as well, so to lose him in that position is a little bit disheartening.

Which new face are you most excited to see in a Warrington Town shirt?

I think Ewan Bange is the most obvious one. 

He’s been pretty renowned for scoring goals at this level. Last season we struggled to score goals, as we did the season before when we were relegated, so to bring in a proven goalscorer who’s still relatively young with a really good track record is going to bring lots of excitement to fans.

Which new away ground are you most excited to visit, and why?

I’ve been lucky enough to go to lots of grounds, a lot of away days with Warrington Town. 

The obvious is Bury, an ex-Football League club with a Football League stadium. Their fan base is absolutely huge, and it’s great to see them back on the rise as well. 

Hopefully we can get the better of them this season, which will be a tough task for anybody in the league - let alone Warrington Town.

Which lesser-known Warrington Town player should opposition fans look out for, and why?

One that has gone under the radar is Alex McNally. 

He’s been at Warrington Town before but moved on for more game opportunities. I’ve been fortunate enough to go to some training sessions and seeing him win the bleep test, he’s looking really fit and sharp. 

He looks like he’s put on a bit of muscle mass. Very young, very hungry, and I think he’s someone that will contribute plenty this season.

Who do you expect to be the biggest asset in your squad this season?

Last season was a massive underachievement, but injuries played a significant factor. 

We lost David Morgan, Josh Amis was out for the full season. We signed Chris Doyle, who played three or four games before he was out for the whole season. And you’re talking about three natural leaders on the pitch. 

To have those three back for this season would be absolutely huge. I think if I had to pinpoint one, it would be Amis. 

On his day he’s the best striker in the division hands-down, and that’s me putting my bias aside. If he’s fully fit, that would be a huge bonus.

Do you have any major concerns heading into this season?

Not a lot of concerns. 

There’s still a little bit of time before the season actually starts. You’d probably say we need a right winger now, and then we’d be shaping up really well.

Who do you think are the league’s dark horses this season?

The obvious people would say Bury, Curzon Ashton are there, Stockton Town as well. 

But I have a strong feeling Leek Town will be reasonably strong. They have retained the majority of their squad and they looked decent towards the back end of the campaign, stringing some good results together. 

At this level, keeping the majority of your players and adding quality here and there will be the foundation for a very successful season. 

Who wins the league, and why?

Warrington Town. 

I’m a firm believer that you back your team. We’re a bit of a ‘sleeping giant’, especially after last season. We’ve recruited well with the goalscorers and midfielders, quality that is proven at this level. 

Hopefully that gets us over the line.