Craig Mahon hoping Fylde can take momentum from National League North triumph into new campaign

One of the most enjoyable factors from the league over the past few years has been the overachievements of newly promoted sides, with Scunthorpe and Boreham Wood continuing the trend last season by both making the playoffs after coming up from National League North and South. 

One manager who's hoping his Fylde side will be the team to emulate that feat, is boss Craig Mahon.

The Irishman guided the Coasters to the National League North title last year and is keen to build on that success in their National League campaign this time round.

Speaking exclusively to DAZN News, Mahon said: "There's a fine line where you want to be sort of confident and you want to take that into the next bit. But you also have to realise that the standard and the level has now jumped up a lot as well.

"So we've got to be confident in what we're doing and be proud and take that momentum into the season. But also, it doesn't just happen by chance. You have to work hard for it, you have to do the right things on and off the pitch."

The 37-year-old is one of the youngest managers in a league, which boasts coaches at either end of their careers.

With names such as Lee Clark and Gary Waddock having a wealth of experience, Mahon is eager to learn as much as possible from those in the opposite dugout this season. 

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"It's a challenge because I think if you look at Rob Elliott at Carlisle and what he's done in the past and the teams he's created and how he plays, I think it's for me, it's as much as I'm going to implement my own style and try to put myself up against the best, I'm always willing to learn as well.

"So I'm looking forward to talking to managers and seeing what they do and how they prepared, how they set up, and I've always been someone who looks to learn.

"I've always said to the lads, even in the dressing room, I don't have all the answers. I never claim to. And I'm always still learning like they are on the pitch. So for me, it's to challenge myself, but also learn and see how I can prepare, see how I can do things differently.

"I'm really looking forward to putting myself up against some really top managers."

The National League has proved itself time and time again to be one of the most entertaining leagues around and this year looks to be no exception.

With Barrow and Harrogate returning after being relegated from League Two, as well as big names such as Carlisle, Southend and Hartlepool, too, Mahon believes the quality within the division is just getting better and better.

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"The quality, the size of the clubs, the size of the squads, the budgets that some clubs have as well. It's frightening, and it's exciting. 

"It's a credit to the National League and how it's got itself to this place. And hopefully it just gets stronger and stronger. And then that can sort of filter down into the North and the South as well, and they become stronger.

"But if you look at every club, I think it's nearly full-time in this league now. It's a professional league. It's fantastic to be a part of." 

 

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