Harrogate Railway Past Programme

THE WIDER VIEW

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SEASON 2015/16

PROGRAMME 27

OSSETT TOWN MATCH PROGRAMME EXTRA Kick-off 7.45pm Monday 18 April 2016 2015/16 - 80th Anniversary

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What’s In The Wider View Harrogate Railway AFC Station View, Harrogate HG2 7JA

CONTENTS

CLUB OFFICIALS Chairman

NIGEL CORNER Treasurer

CHRIS PARKES

The Editor’s Wider View 5 Harrogate Railway Clubhouse 15 2014/15 League Table 18 2014/15 Results 19 Trafford Match Report 20 Harrogate Railway 0-5 Trafford 23 Ossett Town’s History 26 Lee’s View 46 Team Sheet 51

Club Secretary

ANN KIRK

Football Secretary

DAVID SHEPHERD Committee

GARY JOHNSON SIMON MERCER ALAN SMITH BEN DRURY CHRIS WATT Media/Press Officer

MARK P DOHERTY HAL BOXHALL-DOCKREE Clubhouse Manager

TERI BUSSEY GARY JOHNSON

FIRST TEAM Manager

LEE ASHFORTH Assistant Manager

SIMON WOOD MARTIN POWELL Director of Football

STEVE GRIME Physio

ALEX FARRELL

Find us on Youtube, Issuu, Google Plus and other social media platforms Just search TheRailFC @THERAILFC

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HARROGATERAILWAY

THERAILFC

Dan Thirkell playing against Trafford

The Editor’s Wider View

A Season of Frustration Welcome to our final home match of the season edition of ‘The Wider View’, our online version of the match-day programme.

Since my last Editor’s notes our relegation from the Evo-Stik has been confirmed, and as fate would have it tonight we play the team fighting us for survival for most of the season, Ossett Town.

I would like to say congratulations to Ossett for securing their league status; the club has always come across very well and were very welcoming towards us when we visited them a few weeks ago, even with so much at stake.

Since going down we have received many messages of support from other clubs and people in non-league circles wishing us the best for the future.

I believe this is a reflection of how Harrogate Railway and in particular Lee Ashforth have handled themselves this season.

We have had our fair share of disappointments and controversy since August, but during that time Ash has been incredibly honest and always treated opposite teams

and officials with respect.

It would be easy to let frustrations get the better of you in such a pressurised position, but people at the club have remained extremely positive, and I think this has to be applauded.

You may have seen this weekend Stan Collymore’s rant about Aston Villa’s relegation from the Premier League and, in my opinion, overly harsh criticism of individuals for lack of effort.

This is certainly not something that can be said about Harrogate Railway.

From the 16 players that make up the match-day squad every week, through to the management team and club officials, everyone has given a huge amount of time and effort that ultimately hasn’t got the rewards that it deserved.

I am convinced that the attitude of everyone at the club and the commitment given by both players and staff will see success return to the club sooner rather than later.

Enjoy the game.

Dockree

allHal Boxh

5

6

Players’ Player of the Year, Alex Low against Trafford

8

Captains, officials and mascot before the Trafford game on Saturday.

2015/16 EVO-STIK LEAGUE ONE NORTH FIXTURES

2015

2016

August

Sat 15 Tue 18 Sat 22 Mon 24 Sat 29

1-1 1-1 3-1 0-6 0-0

D D L L D

Droylsden Spennymoor Town Brighouse Town Scarborough Athletic Spennymoor Town

H A A H H

2-0 4-1 2-0 6-0 3-2 2-1 2-4

L W W L L L L

Spennymoor Town Radcliffe Borough Mossley Trafford

Burscough Ossett Albion Glossop North End

A H H A A A H

EMIRATES FA CUP REPLAY

1-0 4-1 6-3 0-1 2-2 1-1 3-0

L W L L D D L

Mossley Glasshoughton Welfare Warrington Town Northwich Victoria Scarborough Athletic Brighouse Town Clitheroe

A H A H A H A

FA TROPHY PRELIM WRCC EMIRATES FA CUP 3Q

2-3 W 2-3 L 1-3 L Postponed Abandoned

Droylsden Stocksbridge Park Steels Kendal Town New Mills Ossett Town

A H H A H

EMIRATES FA CUP 1 INTEGRO LEAGUE CUP 1

Postponed Postponed 1-3 L Postponed Postponed

Kendal Town Trafford Ossett Albion Farsley Celtic Clitheroe

A H H A H

5-0 L 1-0 L Postponed 3-1 L 0-0 D Postponed

Witton Albion Lancaster City Prescot Cables Farsley Celtic Radcliffe Borough Burscough

A A H A A H

Tue 2 Sat 6 Sat 13 Mon 15 Sat 20 Tue 23 Sat 27 Mon 29

5-0 L Postponed 5-1 L 0-4 L 1-2 L 0-3 W 1-1 D 0-7 L

Bamber Bridge Warrington Town Glossop North End Spennymoor Town Bamber Bridge New Mills Northwich Victoria Warrington Town

A H A H H A A H

Sat 5 Mon 7 Sat 12 Sat 19 Mon 21 Sat 26 Mon 28

4-2 2-2 1-3 1-3 1-2 5-3 1-1

L D L L L L D

Prescot Cables Witton Albion Lancaster City Clitheroe Burscough Mossley Farsley Celtic

A H H H H A H

Sat 2 Mon 4 Sat 9 Sat 16 Mon 18 Sat 23

2-1 2-1 4-1 0-5

L W W L

Ossett Town Prescot Cables New Mills Trafford Ossett Town Kendal Town

A H H H H A

September

Tue 1 Sat 5 Mon 7 Sat 12 Sat 19 Sat 26 Mon 28

October

Sat 3 Mon 5 Sat 10 Sat 17 Tue 20 Sat 24 Sat 31

November

Sat 7 Mon 9 Sat 14 Sat 21 Sat 28

December

Sat 5 Sat 12 Sat 19 Sat 26 Mon 28

January

Sat 2 Sat 9 Sat 16 Tue 19 Sat 23 Sat 30

February

March

April

May

Sat 21 Sun 22

EMIRATES FA CUP PRELIM

Twitter watch:

EMIRATES FA CUP 4Q

After a tough season I wanted to say thank you to @therailfc_media @NigeC73 @ashforth_lee @THERAILFC 2 games to go let’s give it everything!

Lawrance Hunter @lozzahunter23 @lozzahunter23 @therailfc_media @NigeC73 @ashforth_lee @ THERAILFC top player you are mate Mike Morris @5mozzer

EMIRATES FA CUP FINAL FA TROPHY FINAL

HW

HD

HL

AW

AD

AL

W

D

L

F

A

Diff

Pts

Adj

40

18

2

1

14

2

3

32

4

4

115

33

82

100

0

Spennymoor Town

41

13

5

2

14

5

2

27

10

4

111

32

79

91

0

Northwich Victoria

40

15

2

3

13

3

4

28

5

7

100

40

60

80

-9

Glossop North End

40

14

3

3

9

6

5

23

9

8

77

39

38

78

0

Burscough

40

12

2

6

11

3

6

23

5

12

74

48

26

74

0

Lancaster City

41

10

6

4

7

9

5

17

15

9

72

57

15

66

0

Clitheroe

41

11

1

9

10

2

8

21

3

17

87

84

3

66

0

Trafford

41

11

5

5

8

3

9

19

8

14

77

49

28

65

0

Witton Albion

41

10

3

7

8

4

9

18

7

16

83

69

14

61

0

Farsley Celtic

41

11

2

7

6

7

8

17

9

15

80

49

31

60

0

Ossett Albion

40

9

2

8

10

1

10

19

3

18

54

61

-7

60

0

Mossley

40

11

3

6

6

3

11

17

6

17

78

73

5

57

0

Bamber Bridge

40

8

7

6

7

4

8

15

11

14

71

54

17

56

0

Brighouse Town

40

9

3

7

7

5

9

16

8

16

72

70

2

56

0

Kendal Town

40

6

5

9

6

5

9

12

10

18

57

79

-22

46

0

Prescot Cables

40

7

3

10

5

3

12

12

6

22

64

98

-34

42

0

Radcliffe Borough

40

6

6

8

5

1

14

11

7

22

52

70

-18

40

0

Droylsden

40

6

3

10

5

3

13

11

6

23

65

132

-67

39

0

Scarborough Athletic

40

6

3

12

4

5

10

10

8

22

40

60

-20

38

0

Ossett Town

40

4

7

10

6

0

13

10

7

23

46

92

-46

37

0

Harrogate Railway Athletic

40

4

4

12

2

4

14

6

8

26

50

110

-60

26

0

New Mills

40

0

2

18

0

1

19

0

3

37

26

152

-126

3

0

THIS WEEK...

Monday 18 April 2016

19:45 Brighouse Town v Bamber Bridge 19:45 Harrogate Railway Athletic v Ossett Town 19:45 Ossett Albion v Prescot Cables

Tuesday 19 April 2016

19:45 Droylsden v Burscough 19:45 Mossley v Scarborough Athletic 19:45 New Mills v Kendal Town 19:45 Radcliffe Borough v Warrington Town

SATURDAY AWAY

KENDAL TOWN MAIN CLUB SPONSOR

Tuesday 19 April 2016

19:45 Northwich Victoria v Glossop North End

THERAILFC

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Lee Ashforth’s Trafford Post Match Reaction

EVO-STIK LEAGUE ONE NORTH

Tonight is our final home game of the 2015/16 Evo-Stik League One North Season

Pd Warrington Town

HARROGATE RAILWAY AFC STATION VIEW, HARROGATE HG2 7JA

11

Ryan Sharrocks and Cameron Lyn battle for the ball during the abandoned game

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Harrogate Railway Clubhouse

Stephen Bromley

Nathan Curtis

2014/15 First Division North League Table

Home

18

Away

All

Goals

#

Team

Pd

W

D

L

W

D

L

W

D

L

F

A

Diff

Pts

Adj

1.

Salford City

42

17

2

2

13

3

5

30

5

7

92

42

50

95

0

2.

Darlington 1883

42

16

3

2

12

4

5

28

7

7

99

37

62

91

0

3.

Bamber Bridge

42

14

3

4

11

5

5

25

8

9

88

58

30

83

0

4.

Northwich Victoria

42

12

5

4

13

2

6

25

7

10

75

39

36

82

0

5.

Spennymoor Town

42

13

5

3

9

6

6

22

11

9

76

45

31

77

0

6.

Scarborough Athletic

42

14

1

6

9

5

7

23

6

13

80

61

19

75

0

7.

Mossley

42

12

2

7

11

4

6

23

6

13

79

63

16

75

0

8.

Harrogate Railway Athletic

42

11

5

5

8

5

8

19

10

13

85

75

10

67

0

9.

Warrington Town

42

10

5

6

9

3

9

19

8

15

65

55

10

65

0

10.

Droylsden

42

13

2

6

7

1

13

20

3

19

98

84

14

63

0

11.

Lancaster City

42

10

3

8

8

5

8

18

8

16

65

53

12

62

0

12.

Farsley AFC

42

12

5

4

6

2

13

18

7

17

73

64

9

61

0

13.

Clitheroe

42

8

7

6

6

3

12

14

10

18

73

81

-8

52

0

14.

Brighouse Town

42

9

3

9

5

6

10

14

9

19

64

81

-17

51

0

15.

Burscough

42

6

5

10

6

7

8

12

12

18

62

73

-11

48

0

16.

Kendal Town

42

8

5

8

4

5

12

12

10

20

81

92

-11

46

0

17.

Ossett Albion

42

8

3

10

5

4

12

13

7

22

49

72

-23

43

-3

18.

Ossett Town

42

9

2

10

3

4

14

12

6

24

48

83

-35

42

0

19.

Radcliffe Borough

42

6

7

8

2

4

15

8

11

23

49

91

-42

35

0

20.

Prescot Cables

42

5

9

7

2

3

16

7

12

23

47

86

-39

33

0

21.

New Mills

42

3

3

15

3

4

14

6

7

29

56

107

-51

25

0

22.

Padiham

42

4

3

14

2

3

16

6

6

30

50

112

-62

24

0

2014/15 Results Date

Opponents

H/A

L/W/D

Score

Kick Off

Competition

21-Aug

Scarborough

A

L

3-2

19:45

League

16-Aug 23-Aug 30-Aug 30-Aug 06-Sep 08-Sep 13-Sep 20-Sep 22-Sep 27-Sep 01-Oct 04-Oct 07-Oct 11-Oct

14-Oct 18-Oct 25-Oct 28-Oct

01-Nov 03-Nov 08-Nov 15-Nov 22-Nov 24-Nov 29-Nov 01-Dec 06-Dec 13-Dec 20-Dec 26-Dec 28-Dec 01-Jan 03-Jan 10-Jan 24-Jan 19-Jan

07-Feb 10-Feb 14-Feb 23-Feb 28-Feb

07-Mar 14-Mar 21-Mar 04-Apr 06-Apr 11-Apr

14-Apr 18-Apr 25-Apr

Mossley

Droylsden

Farsley AFC

Garforth Town Burscough Clitheroe Clitheroe

Prescot Cables Brighouse

Colwyn Bay

Darlington 1883

Warrington Town Ossett Albion Kendal Town

Bamber Bridge

Spennymoor Town Droylsden Clitheroe

Brighouse

Scarborough

Radcliffe Boro Salford City

Ossett Town Goole

Northwich Victoria Frickley Athletic Lancaster City New Mills Brighouse

Spennymoor Town Salford City

Farsley AFC

Ossett Albion

Warrington Town Bamber Bridge

Spennymoor Town Padiham

Ramsbotom Utd Darlington 1883 Prescot Cables New Mills

Ossett Town Padiham

Kendal Town Burscough

Spennymoor Town Radcliffe Boro Mossley

Northwich Victoria Lancaster City

H A H A A H H A H A A H A A H H H A H H A A H H H H A H A H H A H A A H A A H H A A H H H A H A A H

D L L

W W W W D L L L L

W L

D L

W L

D

W L

W W W W W W W W D

W L

W D

W W D L L L

W L

W D

W W L

D D

W

5-5 6-1 2-4 1-2 1-3 1-0 3-1 2-2 1-2 3-2 7-1 1-2 2-3 4-3 1-1 2-3 4-3 2-1 1-1 3-0 4-3 1-4 4-0 2-1 2-1 7-1 0-1 3-0 1-4 1-1 1-0 4-2 2-1 0-0 1-2 5-1 1-1 3-1 1-5 1-2 1-2 3-1 2-0 0-0 4-0 1-3 0-1 2-2 2-2 3-0

15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 19:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00

League League League

FA Cup League League

FA Cup League

WRCFA Cup FA Cup League League Leagur

League League

FA Trophy League League League League League League League

Doodson Cup League

Doodson Cup League League League League League League League League League

Doodson Cup League

Doodson Cup QF League League League League League League League League League League League League

19

Trafford Match Report

Red Cards, Goals and that End of Season Feeling A controversial early red card for Simon Parkes paved the way for Trafford to record a one-sided 5-0 win at Station View.

Connor Martin followed up Aaron Burns’ free kick immediately after the dismissal to give Tom Baker’s men the lead, before Christopher Palmer finished coolly three minutes later.

20

byshire put the icing on the cake with Trafford’s fifth, heading home from a corner.

Lee Ashforth made two changes from last weekend’s 4-1 win over New Mills replacing Charlie Clamp and the recalled Paul Beesley with Matty Lovegreen and George Mason.

Burns converted from the spot six minutes after half time, while substitute Liam Davies made it four with another composed finish in the 64th minute.

Railway started well and went close through Harry Coates powerful strike, though Trafford looked equally threatening in the early stages as Andrew Langford headed wide at the back post.

Five minutes before the final whistle another substitute Mark Der-

With 12 minutes gone, Burns raced through on goal side by side

with Parkes who looked to outmuscle his opponent with a shoulder to shoulder challenge only for the referee to deem the collision worthy of a straight red card.

Before the home side had chance to regroup, Burns stepped up and struck the resulting free kick towards Chandler Hallwood who kept out the effort, but couldn’t prevent Connor Martin burying the rebound.

Still coming to terms with the dismissal, Railway then found themselves two down when Palmer raced into the left channel space left by the departed Parkes and finished well.

Continued on page 23

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Harrogate Railway 0-5 Trafford Ashforth’s men soon regrouped and created a couple of chances themselves as George Mason tried an ambitious effort from 30 yards and Nathan Curtis beat three players before sending a teasing ball across the face of goal.

As the half continued, Trafford’s man advantage began to show with the visitors passing the ball around nicely and forcing Hallwood into a diving save to keep out Burns’ low strike.

Railway’s young stopper was called into action again before the half time whistle as he beat away Martin’s cheeky attempt to score at the near post.

Just six minutes after re-emerging for the second 45 Trafford were given the opportunity to add a third from the spot after Burns beat Hallwood to Lawrance Hunter’s back pass and went over the leg of the onrushing keeper.

Stephen Bromley went close to pulling one back for Railway in the 62nd minute when he connected with Hunter’s inswinging cross, but could only divert the ball past the post.

Two minutes later and first half substitute Davies netted a fourth Trafford goal after Martin had turned provider with a well weighted through ball beyond the Railway backline.

The hosts continued to create good moments though, with Hunter curling over a well struck free kick and Chris Ovington’s replacement Harry Brown just a few feet away from converting Bromley’s cross.

The eighth placed visitors had two golden opportunities for a fifth when first, Derbyshire fluffed his lines from eight yards following Palmer’s pull back, then Burns was denied one-on-one by Hallwood who produced a fine save low to his left.

Trafford’s number ten stepped up to take the kick and made no mistake in adding to the score-line Substitute Derbyshire eventually with a low finish. added a fifth and final goal of the

afternoon as he towered higher than anyone inside the box to head home in the 85th minute.

Harrogate Railway: Hallwood, Parkes, Hunter, Low, Lovegreen, Thirkell, Mason, Coates, Curtis, Ovington (Brown, 50), Bromley (Wood, 82) Subs not used: Clamp, Mellor, Barrett Sent off: Parkes Trafford: Saunders, Jacobs, Neville, Langford, Granite, Ledson (Davies, 28), Palmer, Duggan, Martin (Derbyshire, 72), Burns, Horrocks (McDonagh, 63) Subs not used: Spencer, Caldecott Goals: Martin 13, Palmer 16, Burns 51, Davies 64, Derbyshire 85 Booked: Ledson, Burns, Duggan Referee: A. Bannister

23

24

Dan Barrett against Ossett Town

Ossett Town’s History

In 1936, at a public meeting chaired by the Mayor of the Borough of Ossett, a former Yorkshire League referee called John Carter was given the task of bringing to Ossett the highest possible standard of football The new club, to be known as Ossett Town Football Club, played in the Leeds League (later renamed the West Yorkshire League in 1939), played on a pitch behind the Fern House Working Mens Club on Wakefield Road and used various local pubs as headquarters.

26

During World War II, the team switched to the Heavy Woollen League and had to use a pitch on Back Lane when the army commandeered Fern House.

After the war in 1945, Town joined the Yorkshire League and three years later won the West Riding County Senior Cup, beating Salts 4–2 at Bradford City’s Valley Parade. In 1950, Town finished 3rd, our best position in the Yorkshire League, scoring a record 120 goals that season.

Attendances at some games were well over 1,000, during the 1940s and 1950s, the Yorkshire League contained the ‘A’ teams of Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Doncaster and so on, top players learned their trade in these teams, such as John Charles, Denis Law, Ray Wilson, Peter Swan, Tommy Taylor, Jackie Charlton and many others.

In January 1957, Derrick Black-

burn was transferred from Ossett Town to Swansea Town for £1,350.

This fee enabled Ossett Town to acquire the Ingfield site in the centre of Ossett and the club moved to their new ground in 1959, just after being relegated from Division 1, Town bounced straight back at the first attempt, but were relegated again in 1962.

By 1970, Town were members of the newly formed Division 3.

About this time, the long serving player, Frank Lloyd, became manager and he signed up two former Newcastle & Huddersfield strikers, Len White and Jim Kerray.

Frank eventually became secretary and was replaced as manager by John Riley. Town were promoted in 1973, but were relegated back to Division 3 in 1975. Again Town

Continued on page 31

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Trafford Snapshot

29

FOOTBALL IT’S NOT JUST FOR BOYS We want more girls, parents and teachers to realise that girls can play.

That it’s not just a sport for boys. That girls who play football at home, or with their friends, or at school are just girls who love football.

They need cheering on just as much as boys do.

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won promotion from Division 3 in 1976, but this time they stayed up and won promotion to Division 1 in 1978. However they were relegated again in 1980.

In 1982 Town again won the County Cup beating Bradley Rangers 2–0 at Huddersfield Town’s Leeds Road ground in the final season of the Yorkshire League finishing runners up in Division 2.

Ossett Town joined the newly formed Northern Counties East League in 1982/83. Initially they played in Division 1 North to 1984, then Division 1 Central for a year before joining Division 2.

Graham Firth became Chairman in the mid-1980’s and it was 1987 that really saw the start of the rise in fortunes at Ossett Town. Mickey Bullock was appointed manager and Town won the Division 2 Championship in 1988/89.

The following season Town gained promotion to the Premier Division and won the League Cup beating Vase finalists Bridlington Town 1–0 at North Ferriby’s ground – Bridlington Town won the FA Vase that season and were

managed by our current manager, John Reed.

Under the Chairmanship of Graham Firth floodlights were installed, the pitch re-laid, new dressing rooms built and the social club extended as Town prepared to move up the pyramid, also the record attendance of 2,600 was set when Town entertained Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in 1988.

The President of Ossett Town, John Carter, died in 1994 at the age of 88. He had performed every role within the club, including chairman, secretary and team manager.

In 1998/99, Town under manager Trevor Best, were unbeaten at Christmas and top of the table, however Best left the club and was replaced by Gary Brook, Town finishing runners up to local rivals Ossett Albion but due to ground grading issues The Unicorn’s were denied promotion meaning, after nine seasons in the Premier Division, Ossett Town gained promotion to the Northern Premier League.

Finishing eighth in the first two seasons in the higher league Town

finished runners up in 2001/02 and thought they had gained promotion to the Premier Division, but this time the ground grading rules worked against them and promotion was denied as ground improvement work was twelve hours late. Ossett Town appealed this decision, but the decision was not overturned.

That decision was a catalyst for a period of struggles for the club, first a number of key players left the and Town just avoided relegation finishing in 20th place, Gary Brook leaving the club at the end of the season.

In 2003/04, Scott Cooper started the season as manager, but by October Town were bottom of the league and Steve Richards took over as manager, Town finished 14th.

However, because of the newly created Conference North Division Town found themselves promoted to the Premier Division – it was supposed to be the top 13 but the demise of Telford United created an additional place.

In 2005/06, Ossett Town achieved their best ever performance in the

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FA Cup, reaching the 4th qualifying round. Town lost 2–3 to Leamington who were drawn away at Colchester United in the 1st Round, losing 9–0.

Despite the cup run, Town were in the relegation zone, a few weeks later the manager Steve Richards was replaced by his assistant, Steve Kittrick, results improved considerably and Town eventually finished 11th and a year later 10th.

In 2007/08, after a bright start, Town were surprised in November when manager Steve Kittrick resigned to become Guiseley manager. A number of players left the club and new manager Simon Collins had to endure a miserable run of results as he brought in a lot of new players, including former Huddersfield Town colleagues, Simon Baldry and Chris Billy.

Town finished the season in 18th and avoided relegation on goal difference.

Despite being clear favorites for the drop in 2008/09 the side finished an impressive 12th place. Manager Si Collins brought in his old Macclesfield Town manager Peter Davenport as an advisor and the results and performances started to improve.

Sadly, the season was overshadowed by the death, on 8 March at the age of 80, of long serving player, manager and secretary Frank Lloyd. The directors room at the ground was renamed The Frank Lloyd Hospitality Suit in his memory, inside there is a photograph of him with the FA Cup taken a few years earlier when it visited Ingfield.

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In July 2009, Simon Collins resigned after a dispute with the committee over the size of next season’s budget and was replaced by a joint management

team made up of reserve team manager Paul Lines and former Bradford Park Avenue reserve team manager, Mick Couzens.

The partnership was not harmonious and in October, Couzens resigned after an argument with Lines, who continued as first team manager until the club appointed former Hull City and Wolves player Peter Daniel as manager, Lines reverted to reserve manager.

The appointment was not a success with Peter Daniel resigning in March and Lines was again was re- instated as first team manager until the end of the season. The club finished second from bottom but avoided relegation due to the closure earlier in the season of Newcastle Blue Star and King’s Lynn.

Phil Sharpe was appointed manager in June 2010.

Hebrought in former Ossett Town player Paul Sykes as assistant.

Sharpe used his contacts in local football around Leeds to bring in some youngsters. The season got off to a bright start; but financial difficulties at the club saw some player’s leave and results deteriorated. with the team losing 14 of 16 games from mid-October, leaving the team situated precariously close to the relegation zone.

Phil Sharpe took charge for the 2010-11 season but with a tight budget and under-par performances Town suffered relegation to the Northern Premier League Division One North after only one home win all season. The only relegation the club suffered under the chairmanship of Graham Firth.

Town kept faith with Phil Sharpe for the 11/12 season and added Eric Gilchrist to the dug-out, the ex Ossett Albion manager of many years, as Sharpe’s assistant.

Town had many good games in both the cups and the league but there was a lack of consistency overall and league performances were below-par. Phil Sharpe stepped down and he was replaced by his assistant Eric Gilchrist as caretaker manager. Town finished the season in 17th place.

Season 2012/13 saw a new man at the helm with the appointment of Craig Elliott as first team manager. With a number of new players being brought in, it took time to find a settled side and the team finished a credible 12th in the league, ending up the highest placed West Yorkshire team. However, this season will go down as a cup season with the team arguably playing in their biggest game of the club’s history, when we lost away to Stockport County in the FA Trophy. Town also reached the semi-final of the County Cup before going out to FC Halifax Town.

2013/2014 was a momentous

season on and off the field, first of all Graham Firth stood down as chairman after 28 years, taking up the Honorary President role at the club. The members voted for the Junior Chairman, James Rogers, to be his replacement.

The club also lost some key players to clubs in higher divisions, the biggest been Ryan Qualter who stepped up to the Conference North.

Despite this on the field an excellent FA Cup run was ended at Colwyn Bay in the third qualifying round and the league form was superb, the club enjoying a run of just three defeats in 23 games at one point.

Despite this Craig Elliott decided he could take the club no further just 24 hours before a game in February, stepping down two divisions to a job in the NCEL First Division.

Full back Steven Jeff was asked to take over as caretaker manager which he did admirable, winning four points from two games. It would have been six but for two penalties conceded in injury time against New Mills!

John Reed, assisted by Clive Freeman were the big name replacements to run the side and they guided the club to an impressive eighth place finish.

Once again there was a high turnover of players at the club, a number of youngsters joining the side such as Brad Dixon from Leeds United and Nathan Curtis from Bradford City.

The on field performances were very inconsistent leading to a 18th place finish in a tough division.

The majority of players, a year older and with a lot more experience have re-signed for the 15/16 season.

Tuesday 2 June 2015 saw the untimely death of honorary President Graham Firth, age 64. He dedicated his life to this football club, taking the mantle from John Carter to bring the highest level of football to the area, something that can be said he did.

It is now up to the members of Ossett Town to honor the memory of Graham by continuing the work and progressing this football club as far as possible.

Above all we are a family club...

Jack Stockdill scores during the original game to make it 3-0

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Simon Parkes prepares to take a throw-in during the Ossett Town game

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Harry Brown against Trafford on Saturday

Greg Kidd playing against Trafford earlier this season

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Lee’s View Welcome to Ossett Town for tonights final home match of the season, Congratulations to Grant Black and his team on avoiding relegation and when you look over a season they deserved it as they accumulated more points than we have.

The season is now all but over and its been a rollercoaster of a ride thats ended disappointedly.

I am sure you are hurting as

much as we are but as a club we now need to bounce back and try to get back into the Evo-stik league if a reprieve is not forthcoming.

points from our remaining games.

In next Saturdays edition there will be a piece that will include the thank yous and the individual players that I believe deserve the praise from this season.

The counties is a very difficult league with only one team getting promotion and therefore the club will be in for a hard task and it will take Thanks for your support some effort to get the club back to its current status. rth Lee Ashfo Saying that nothing is impossible and we will be trying to finish the season with 6

Ossett Town

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Nathan Curtis

DANIEL THIRKELL

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Team Sheet

Match

Harrogate Railway

Ossett Town

01 Chandler HALLWOOD 02 Luca MELLOR 03 Lawrance HUNTER 04 Alex LOW 05 Harry BROWN 06 Daniel THIRKELL 07 Chris OVINGTON 08 Charlie CLAMP 09 George MASON 10 Nathan CURTIS 11 Stephen BROMLEY

01 Chris BACKHOUSE 02 Andy HAWKSWORTH 03 Brad KILBURN 04 Dan MONFREDI 05 Simon ROGERS 06 Isaac ASSENSO 07 Sanchez PAYNE 08 Steve RIDLEY 09 Alex PETERSON 10 Danny FROST 11 Anthony MACKIE

12 Simon WOOD 14 Will PEERS 15 Matty LOVEGREEN 16 Dan BARRETT 17 Lee ASHFORTH

12 David BROWN 14 Alexander MCBURNIE 15 Nathan QUINLAN 16 Liam SCHOFIELD 17 Nick WOOD

Manager Lee ASHFORTH

Manager Grant BLACK

officials

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Referee Paul Tomes Assistants Robert Woodburn Samuel Wright Assessor Gerald Taylor

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