The former Castleford man, who oversees training at the club’s two open-age teams and the U18 side, is delighted with the response from his charges since pre-season training started.

And the club is pleased at the way all three teams have worked together and believes the venture will be a successful one.

The club is also hard at work off the pitch, with former Featherstone Lions man Andrew Carroll arriving at Quarry Lane with a reputation for strong commercial, organisational and management links throughout the game, both professional and amateur.

Carroll said: “I have been involved in this game for more than 30 years, and I’m happy and proud to be involved with Upton, who deserve to be back in the higher echelons of the amateur game where they once were.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside open-age coach John Joyner, relieving him of a lot of the routine stuff, which will allow him to carry on with the business of preparing the players.

“I hope to bring an air of professionalism to the team environment and assist in bringing some success to the club.”

Upton’s backroom team received another boost when long-time secretary Dave Baddeley became the recipient of the Yorkshire League’s clubman of the year trophy at their AGM in Wakefield.

Wakefield District League official Roger Fagge said: “I have known Dave a long time and seen first-hand his hard work in many capacities for the Upton club – for many years attending meetings all over Yorkshire, organising fixtures, going to discipline meetings, and generally working behind the scenes doing loads of thankless tasks that are needed to run an amateur rugby team for decades.

“This award is very much a deserved recognition of all his efforts.”

On the pitch, Upton are looking for a coach to run their second team.

Applicants for the voluntary position should ring club president Ian Hobson on 07939 578782.

The club is still looking for players for all its squads.

Anyone interested should contact Andrew Carroll on 07748 605480 for more information.