West Yorkshire League: Ripon City install Freeman as new chairman

The former player replaces long-standing chairman Sue Dennison, who stood down from the role at the turn of the year.

City have installed Gary Camplejohn as the club’s new treasurer, while assistant manager Dan Metcalfe has been confirmed in the role of secretary.

Eric and Mark Tyson, Kevin Field, Kenneth Ferguson and Mark Abbott will also be part of the new committee at Mallorie Park.

Metcalfe said: "It’s a committee full of youthful enthusiasm and we've already had some great ideas bandied about.

"We are already wanting our first committee meeting and we're hopeful that we can move the club forward both on the field and off it."

City were forced to elect a new committee after the shock departure of several members of the committee over the new year.

Dennison called an end to her long association with the club as she wanted to pursue other interests.

Her husband, Rob also stepped away from the club, while Andrew Young resigned as secretary after four years in the role.

Fellow committee members Paul Brown and Loz Ayton have also stood down from their roles.

Freeman, a Ripon resident, is a school teacher and has played at Mallorie Park for almost 20 years.

He retired from playing three years ago due to injury.

Metcalfe said the new chairman is intent on growing links with Ripon City Panthers Junior Club to safeguard the future of the club.

He added: "I am sure he will do a grand job in the role. He said it was a privilege and he wants to move the club forward.

"As has been said, the old regime has left and we have to make sure we get things right.

"We want to be open about what is going on at the club on and off the field."

On the pitch, Ripon face a season-defining clash against Leeds Modernians at home on Saturday.

Modernians are directly above City in the West Yorkshire League Division One and a win would lift the club out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

The Reds’ management can call upon a full-strength squad again and Metcalfe believes Saturday's "positive" meeting will be reflected in performances on the pitch.

"I think the players are going to buy into what we are hopefully going to move forward with," he said.

"There was a big representation from the players at the meeting.

"We asked them to share their views and it was good to get their feedback. I feel like three points are massive at the weekend.

"It would be great to get out of the relegation zone, especially with all the changes off the field."