IMAGINE being on course for three trophies only for the season to be cut short early and vanish, this was the case for Harry Brown's Ilkley Town.

The West Yorkshire League Premier Division side were flying high in second on the verge of promotion to Step Six, while on the cup front they were in the final four of the West Yorkshire League Cup and the Wharfedale & District FA Cup, and the last eight of the West Yorkshire League Cup.

The central midfielder played a crucial part in that success, featuring 18 times in the league for Simon Armstrong's side.

In March, the FA decided to void and expunge Steps Three to Seven in the non-league pyramid, meaning all Ilkley's efforts amounted to nothing.

Brown is determined to bounce back whenever the 2020/21 campaign is allowed to start and thinks promotion is certainly the target once again.

He said: "It was frustrating to not get promoted but we have to use it as motivation and try challenge for the title in the upcoming season.

"We were able to show that we can be up there challenging, being the only team to take points off (runaway leaders) Beeston last season.

"I think the improvement we showed as a squad from the year before to this year was excellent.

"The coaching team gave us areas to improve in, and we were able to do that, it is not to say we can’t improve again next season.

"I think we have the squad able to do that and if we can perform at the high level, we showed this year consistently, I believe we have as good a chance as anybody."

Brown was also the club's second highest scorer last term with 13 goals to his name, only one behind prolific striker Tom Smith.

Finding the back of the net is a skill the midfielder has always possessed and he hopes to continue helping his side out in that department.

Brown added: "I always aim for double figures as an attacking midfielder, so it was nice to achieve that this season.

"It always feels good to be able to statistically contribute to the success of the team so it would be nice to match meeting individual goals with achieving team success next season."

Recently, the young player spent some time at the Ultimate Football Coaching Academy in Leeds, a youth development hub for players aiming to advance their career in the sport.

He said: "It is a good programme. I loved my time at UFCA, both as a player and as a coach. It was a great experience to have two years training and playing as an academy player would.

"We had a great team with some players who have gone on to do some great things both on and off the pitch.

"I had the chance to play at a high level both against academies and semi-professionals so playing wise it really pushed me to be better.

"I also had the chance to become a coach at the junior academy which has been great for my development both on and off the pitch as you get to see the game from a different side."

Evan Seaman