There will be a familiar face back at Frenchfield Park next season as Mark Boyd rejoins Penrith AFC.

Having briefly featured for the Bonny Blues in 2016, the 36-year-old will again turn out for the Northern League, Division One outfit as player-coach.

Boyd himself readily accepts his best playing days are behind him now and that he expects to be primarily focusing on assisting first-team coach Andy Coyles on the sidelines with player-boss Kyle May still likely to be in action on the pitch.

“I have known Kyle for a long time and he is probably one of the best centre-backs in that league, along with [captain] Grant Davidson,” says Boyd.

“Look, I am going to do pre-season. But my best years are behind me now.

“If I have to play, I will make sure I am in half-decent nick to do it and I think I can still do it.

“But I am expecting to be more on the sidelines than Kyle which will work out fine.”

Carlisle-born midfielder Boyd has played for the majority of the football clubs in Cumbria – turning out for Carlisle United, Barrow, Workington Reds and Carlisle City as well as having a spell as player-manager of Celtic Nation – but had a break from the game after he left Shildon AFC last season.

Boyd explains: “I had a little stint with Shildon last year which didn’t really go to plan for me.

"I was there for three-and-a-half or four months, but I didn’t really have any input, you see.

“Their player-manager was Daniel Moore [another former Celtic Nation player] and he had Micky Barron as his assistant which was fine, but I just didn’t really have a role to play.

“It was a long way to travel, so I decided to knock it on the head. I enjoyed doing the commentary [for BBC Radio Cumbria ] but I miss being in the changing room and I miss being around the lads.

“I have only done two sessions but it is good to be back, although pre-season in the heat is torture!

“Listen, I have been involved in football for my whole career.

“I like being involved and celebrating with the lads on the way home after a 1-0 away win on a Saturday afternoon and stuff like that.

“So, I will be helping out on the coaching side as much as I can. If there is an emergency, I might need to put my boots on.

“Hopefully, I will not be needed that much, but you never know. It is a long season and you might need to use the full squad. So, we will just have to wait and see how it pans out.”

After coming 17th last term, Boyd predicts it will be a challenging season again for Penrith this time around.

He admits: “We have a good group of lads.

“We have nowhere near the kind of budget of some of the other teams.

“I think some people forget how good the Northern League is, it is full of ex-pros. It is a challenge but we will give it our best shot and see where it leads us.

“The pitch looks in really good nick and Billy Williams, the chairman, is as good as gold.

“We have a bunch of young lads who are as keen as mustard and I admire them for testing themselves in the way that they do.

“If we can sort our home form and get the boys nice and organised, we can see where it leads us.

"We have a good, little squad together, we have started pre-season and we will take it from there.

“But I am really looking forward to it. Kyle has been one of the best centre-halves in Cumbria for a long time now and he still keeps himself fit, and me and him get on very well.

“We have friendlies against Carlisle and Workington so, if we can get a decent crowd in, then hopefully we can make a bit of money.”

It is likely Boyd will end up working closely alongside coach Coyles, who is also English Universities’ head coach, in the dug-out.

“I haven’t actually met Andy yet. But he will come back, and me and him will work side-by-side,” Boyd reveals.

“Kyle speaks very highly of him and says he is a very good coach. I will offer him a bit of help on the side, and me and him will be able to work together.

“August 4, we have Hebburn away in the league and we will just take it from there.”

Having played for Penrith two years ago, Boyd also believes he is looking forward to catching-up with the volunteers at the club.

He adds: “I have met all the guys that muck in and help. I am full of respect for those guys.

“They do it for the love of the place and they want their team to exist, and they deserve more credit than anyone else in my
eyes.

“We will do our bit on the pitch.

“But ourselves, Carlisle City and even Workington Reds wouldn’t exist without those people mucking in and helping out for free because they support the club, so I have always admired people like that.

“On the pitch, we will be organised. We will make sure the lads know what is expected of them.”