CRAIG Mahon has already made target number one for ‘little old Curzon’ this season – a brilliant start.
Now he may have to get used to something different, them being noticed elsewhere.
After making the National League North play-offs last season, Curzon Ashton have got off to a flier this time around.
As things stand, Mahon’s side sits second in the table – only former Football League club Scunthorpe United is above them.
Big names like Chester, Hereford, Kidderminster, Scarbrough and Darlington are cast in the shadow of the Tameside Stadium.
Now Mahon may have to get used to a different reputation as he told The Correspondent: “With the way the club is, I understand that everyone calls us ‘little old Curzon,’ but last year, we showed we can battle with the best of them.
“The way we do it is we like being under the radar, we like being out of people’s minds because when we do put on a performance, it’s not expected.
“If we have another season like last season, it would be fantastic, but our focus was to start the season brightly, see where we’re at come Christmas and assess from there.
“It’s a strange league and last year saw a crazy end. We’ve just got to focus on what we’re doing.
“Some of the names are frightening, it’s scary to look at some of them.”
Curzon’s fine start has set a platform for pushing for promotion to the National League, which has seen Tameside representation before.
And much of it is down to the players as they are the ones who are coming good after pre-season started with a 2-0 loss at Northern Premier League West Division side Hanley Town.
“When we played Hanley in the first game of pre-season, I thought, ‘Oh no, we’re getting relegated,’” Mahon quipped.
“But as I said to the lads that night, ‘It’s not about results, it’s about how we progress through pre-season.’
“Football is not difficult. As soon as the lads figure out on the pitch what the other team’s doing, the easier it gets. Most of the time, the lads playing have the answers.
“If you’ve got the answers, go do it. From the side, we’re obviously trying to help but once they cross that line, it‘s down to them.”
Curzon’s start has come after pre-season signings like Isaac Buckley-Ricketts wasted little time in making a mark.
Irishman Mahon still plays but he admits seeing him less frequently on the team sheet will be a sign of things going well.
He added: “I’m still gutted we signed some wingers as I want to play. I was like, ‘That’s my position gone there!’
“I want to play, so if anyone’s not pushing themselves this season, I’ll be pushing them for their spot to the max.
“Hopefully, that will get the best out of them. If I’m playing less, it means the lads are doing the right things on the pitch.”