Potters Bar Town still need to establish themselves as a step three club according to manager Lee O'Leary - but that doesn't mean they can't surprise a few people along the way.

The Scholars joined the third tier of non-league football, three steps before the Football League in 2018 but have only completed one full season with the last two campaigns ending early due to the pandemic.

But the Potters Bar club have not stood still in that period and the LA Construction Stadium is a far cry from the one that first hosted Isthmian League Premier Division football, with additions of new stands, branding and bar area.

And the boss believes they are improving leaps and bounds on the pitch too.

He said: "We have to establish ourselves at this level and I know that may sound like I’m being pessimistic but that’s the case.

"We’ve had two seasons where COVID has hit and we haven’t finished them.

"So really we’re only in our second season at this level, that’s the way I look at it, and it takes years to establish yourself.

"But step by step the process is taking shape and we are getting stronger as a group of players and as a club.

"That’s what needed to be able to compete at the right end of the table.

"We’re taking massive strides off the pitch but that’s being matched on it too.

"It’s really positive.

"It’s a new group of lads who haven’t really played together before but it is enjoyable and they are receptive to not only hard work but new ideas.

"I’ve said it before but year by year we are getting stronger and stronger and stronger, not just the starting 11 but the whole squad.

"We’ve got a tough job to whittle the numbers down as we have a big squad and some players will be disappointed.

"But we’re really happy with the squad as it and we’re only really looking to add maybe one in the forward area as we’re a little bit light there but the base of the squad is there."