Penford and long-standing midfield partner Craig Bentham could expect to be the first names on John Deacey's teamsheet after dropping down to Conference North from League Two outfit Bradford City this summer.

But Penford saw a host of big fish flock to the smaller pond of Valley Parade during his seven years with the Bantams and almost automatically claim a first-team shirt and he wants nothing more than a fair fight with the present incumbents at Throstle Nest.

Penford said: "I am excited about the move – it's a new challenge for me. I never got out of the role of being an apprentice at Bradford – at least that's what it felt like anyway.

"Having come through the ranks, I could never break out of the mould of a junior player and start to feel like a first-team regular and it was frustrating.

"I first played for the first team when I was 18 and whenever I started to feel like I had made it I would get knocked back again.

"Last year summed it up. I played 16 games, I thought I had done well setting up goals and scoring as well, and then they didn't offer me a new contract.

"But I think it was time to move on anyway.

"It felt a bit like leaving your parents home, and getting on with it on your own. I will go to Farsley as a first-team player and I am really looking forward to it."

Penford, who is now 23, had hoped to stay in the Football League following his release from Bradford but it wasn't to be, and the Leeds-born player is more than happy to drop down into the semi-pro ranks.
He knows all about Farsley past and present.

He played against their junior ranks for Pudsey during his schoolboy days and Bentham has brought him up to date with Celtic post their meteoric rise – which culminated in them plying their trade just one league below City in the Conference last season.

Bentham had a successful loan spell at Throstle Nest and, had he stayed until the end of the term, Farsley would possibly have escaped relegation back to Conference North in May.

And Penford is now hoping he can help them bounce back at the first time of asking.

Penford, who joined up with his new team-mates for the start of pre-season training this weekend, said: "It was an easy decision to make coming here.

"I know Craig had a really good time here last season and I get on well with him – we've played together since we were 16.

"I was watching how they were getting on last season and they did look like they would survive at one stage and I now want to help Farsley get back into the Conference where they belong.

"I am really looking forward to it – it sounds exciting.

"John Deacey has said the amition is to go back up.

"He has not said it will be a walk in the park or anything, but the intention is to do our best to win promotion.

"And while I am disappointed to drop out of the league, I intend to make it a step back to go forwards.

"I will also be playing first team football and more often than not it was just not the case at Bradford.

"When you are not involved on a Saturday and you are sat in the stands it is frustrating but, hopefully, at Farsley I will be playing.

"I played alongside Craig with the under-16s, the youth team, the reserve team and the first team at Bradford and it would be nice to continue that partnership at Farsley.

"But there are four central midfielders here so the competition will be good.

"I can't just expect to play and I will fight for the right to earn the shirt."