FC United captain Dave Chadwick admits it's finally starting to sink in' after a monumental inaugural season was capped by the skipper lifting the league championship in April.

"Now we have all had time to reflect, we are all very proud of our achievements," said Chadwick.

"To be so successful in our first season was fantastic and I can't wait for next season to start now.

"With a couple of new signings, we can do well again."

Most semi-pro footballers might be planning a rest in the summer months, but Chadwick is about to enlist the help of a personal trainer to ensure he is at optimum fitness when the kick-off to the new campaign gets under way.

"One of our new signings Stuart Rudd knows a personal fitness trainer and we are both going down to meet him this week and he is going to give us a programme to follow right up to pre-season," explained Chadwick.

"I didn't have much of a pre-season this year because I was carrying some niggling injuries, so I am hoping to get a good one in this time.

"We have got some exciting pre-season friendlies lined up and I just can't wait to get going again."

Chadwick was also bowled over by the success of the club's post-season friendly with fellow fans club Lokomotiv Leipzig.

"It was brilliant to see 7,500 fans making the trip to Germany and it felt like we were playing in a proper European game with all the flares going off and the foreign chanting," said the central defender.

"It was one of the best experiences of my life and was just reward for all the lads."

Meanwhile, United manager Karl Marginson has added Abbey Hey striker Steve Moore to his squad ahead of next season, and he will join Rudd in the battle for a striking berth next season.

Rudd scored 47 goals for Skelmersdale last season, while Moore bagged 26. The hot-shots will battle it out with fans favourites Rory Patterson and Steve Torpey for a place in the starting line-up.

"Stuart will prove to be a good signing for us," added Chadwick. "He is proven quality."