FC Halifax Town: Tom is happy to play his part at The Shay

The former North Ferriby number two is expected to fill the same slot at The Shay, with the number one shirt taken by ex-Guiseley stopper Steve Drench.

Nicholson says he will be ready to step in when needed but is content to play second fiddle to his team-mate.

“I’m not under any illusions, I know my position at the club and I know that Drenchy, with his experience being at Guiseley for years, is first-choice,” he said.

“But if he gets injured or sent-off I’ll be ready.

“I’m happy being a number two, learning from the gaffer and Drenchy, and if I’m called upon hopefully I’ll do the lads proud.

“It is hard (being second choice) but you’ve got to still do your match preparations, eat right and train properly.

“It’s making sure that when you’re called upon, you’re ready. You don’t want to be drifting off during games or taking it easy during the week, going out at night and eating rubbish food.

“It needs to be in your head that you’re playing every week and if you’re on the bench, so be it, but if you’re playing, you try and keep that number one spot.”

Town are working without a goalkeeping coach this season, something Nicholson is used to from his days under Heath at his previous club.

“We never had one at North Ferriby, but Drenchy’s worked as a goalkeeping coach at Blackburn so he knows the score,” Nicholson said.

“We work well together and if I can see something in his game that needs improving, he’ll want me to tell him and it’s the same with me if he thinks there’s anything wrong in my game, and he will.

“If we didn’t get on it’d be horrendous!

“Last year with Adam Nicklin, we’d known each other since we were 14.

“But thankfully we’ve got a good relationship.

“I’m spending more time with Drenchy than anyone else in the squad in training and match-days so it’s good we get on.

“We do from my point of view anyway - he might say something different!”

Nicholson credits Heath with developing his game after mostly milling around at amateur level before working under the Halifax boss.

“I’ve worked with him for three years now and he’s brought me on leaps and bounds,” said Nicholson.

“I played for a team called Barton Town when I was 18 and won the Central Midlands League, then went to the likes of Bridlington Town and Winterton.

“My mum got poorly so I took a bit of a step back then I was just playing locally for about three years until Billy called me.

“I was just playing in a Saturday league in Hull and he gave me a call to say did I want to come down in pre-season and that was it.

“I did go a year before but it didn’t work out.

“The fitness and training at Ferriby brought me on a lot.

“I played about five times the first season, and about seven or eight last season.”