By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 20:29, Saturday, 17 May 2008

BOSS Jon Roper plans to stay with Seaton next season – if they beat Ellenborough in tomorrow’s E Lamb & Son Amateur Cup final or not.

Jon Roper

The player-coach guided Seaton to fourth place in the Cumberland League First Division in his first year at the club.

It turned in to a rebuilding season for last year’s champs, after losing a string of top performers.

And after denying Ellenborough a place in the SJR Builders Cumberland Cup final last weekend, beating the favourites 5-2 in a try-less semi, the campaign is ending too soon for Roper.

“We have a good set-up with the youth coming through, which gives the club options,” Roper said.

“If they want me to stay with the first-team, that’s fine. Though if they want me to go on the youth side, that’s fine as well. But I will be staying with the club.”

The former Warrington centre is one of three ex-pros not allowed to feature tomorrow for Seaton, who will also be without senior players Paul Hopper, Nicky Penrice, Duncan Moyle, Gareth Key and Mark Tubman.

“I wouldn’t mind if the season carried on, but looking at our injuries, we are down to the bare bones, just as we were at the start of it,” added Roper.

“But our young lads are starting to get battle-hardened and used to the knocks. That’s made a hell of a difference. Callum Phillips, Keith Hunter and Dan Watson have been immense for us.

“To have 11 or 12 players missing from last year and still to finish fourth, it’s not a bad effort.

“At first I found the individual skill level of players wasn’t there. We had to really focus on that, and stop them being robots. They also got a bit of self belief that they were lacking, especially after beating Ellenborough.”

The final will be played at Maryport ARLFC at 3pm tomorrow.

First published at 11:38, Friday, 16 May 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk