RESURGENT Haxby United Football Club are intent on making a fresh start ahead of the 2012/13 campaign.

The York Minster Engineering League outfit are aiming to bounce back from a torrid season which ended in relegation from the premier division.

The former champions were plunged into chaos when manager Dave Heard quit last September to join Northern Counties East League side Selby Town.

Heard took a host of players with him including his son, Craig, a prolific goalscorer, leaving Haxby struggling to fulfill their fixtures.

New boss Steve Nicholson is now looking to the future and his plans for a fresh start have been boosted by a first-team kit sponsorship deal with the Coppergate Shopping Centre.

“This is great news for the team after a torrid time last season when we were relegated from the premier division,” said Nicholson.

“The team emerged with great credit as early in the season the manager and the full first team squad all left, leaving the reserve team to step in and fulfill the fixtures.

“The lads battled on and their spirits never wavered and they now look forward to a successful season in division one.”

He added: “We are extremely grateful and delighted to wear the Coppergate Shopping Centre logo on our new kit.

“It’s a fresh start for us and a complete change of colours for what we hope will be the start of a new and successful Haxby United.

“I want to say a very big thank you to Deb O’Donnell, the Coppergate Centre manager, for this very kind gesture. I hope this is the start of a long and successful partnership.”

Haxby are on the look out for new players for next season – for the first team or the reserves.

Anyone interested should phone Nicholson on 07807 222598 or club secretary Paul Wishart on 07836 544163.