Ossett United v Consett (29/10/2022)

MATCH BALL SPONSOR THE LINNEY FAMILY

OSSETT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

INGFIELD, PROSPECT ROAD, OSSETT, WF5 9HL

CLUB PRESIDENT: NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

CHAIRMAN: JAMES ROGERS

VICE-CHAIRMAN: PHIL SMITH

SECRETARY: NEIL SPOFFORTH

TREASURER: PAUL BILLING

BOARD MEMBERS: LEE BROADBENT, STUART GARSIDE, JOE HANKS, STEVE

HANKS

MANAGER: GRANT BLACK

ASSISTANT MANAGER: MICK NORBURY

COACH: DAVID BROWN, RYAN PUGH

MATCH ANALYST: VACANCY

MEDICAL TEAM: EMILY CRISPIN

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING OFFICER: KATE HENNIGHAN

HEAD OF MEDIA: CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

MEDIA TEAM: CHRIS CASSIDY, OWEN GERRARD, JON HUNT, KEITH WOOD

PROGRAMME DESIGN: NEIL SPOFFORTH

CLUB HONOURS – OSSETT UNITED, OSSETT TOWN, OSSETT ALBION

WEST RIDING COUNTY SENIOR CUP

WINNERS: 1949/50

WEST RIDING COUNTY CUP

WINNERS: 1958/59, 1964/65, 1965/66, 1967/68, 1981/82, 1998/99, 2018/19

RUNNERS UP: 2000/01

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION

RUNNERS UP: 2001/02

PLAY-OFF RUNNERS UP: 2016/17

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST PREMIER DIVISION

WINNERS: 1998/99, 2003/04

RUNNERS UP: 1998/99, 2000/01

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST FIRST DIVISION

WINNERS: 1986/87

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST SECOND DIVISION

WINNERS: 1988/89

CLUB RECORDS

FA CUP

FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND: 1965/66, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2012/13, 2017/18 (R)

SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND: 2019/20

FA TROPHY

SECOND ROUND: 1999/00

FIRST ROUND: 2001/02, 2004/05, 2012/13

THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND: 2022/23

MAIN CLUB SPONSOR

OFFICIAL TEAMWEAR SUPPLIERS

MATCH BALL SPONSOR: THE LINNEY FAMILY

WELL. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A COUPLE OF WEEKS MAKE!

14 DAYS AGO AFTER THE NARROW DEFEAT TO HEBBURN TOWN THE BOARD MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE DUG-OUT.

INITIALLY ALONGSIDE MARK WARD AND THEN IN RECENT MONTHS AS SOLE MANAGER, JAS COLLIVER HAD WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE THE FORTUNES HERE, AND HE CERTAINLY HAS LEFT THE CLUB IN A BETTER POSITION THAN HE FOUND IT IN PUTTING TOGETHER A SQUAD OF PLAYERS I, AND MANY OTHERS, BELIEVE IS AS STRONG AS ANY WE HAVE HAD HERE. BUT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE RESULTS HAVE NOT MATCHED THE EXPECTATIONS AND ALTHOUGH THE LEAGUE IS STILL TIGHT THERE IS A POINTS GAP JUST STARTING TO DEVELOP AND WE WANT TO BE AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT.

ONCE THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MAKE A CHANGE THE BOARD WERE UNANIMOUS IN

JAMES ROGERS , CHAIRMAN

WANTING TO APPROACH GRANT BLACK AND MANAGEMENT TEAM AND IT WAS A DECISION MADE JUST IN TIME AS HE HAD OFFERS FROM OTHER CLUBS ON THE TABLE INCLUDING OFFERS FROM THE DIVISION ABOVE.

AND MANY ON THE BOARD HAVE WORKED WITH GRANT BEFORE AND IT WAS NO SURPRISE TO SEE THE REACTION HE GOT FROM THE SIDE IN THE GAME AT LONG EATON UNITED LAST SATURDAY DESPITE NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD A TRAINING SESSION.

GRANT AND HIS TEAM, MICK NORBURY, DAVID

BROWN AND RYAN PUGH, MET WITH THE PLAYERS AND TOLD THEM THE EXPECTATIONS AND THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE WOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEY SHOULD BE PART OF THE SQUAD HERE. AND THEY CERTAINLY SHOWED THAT LAST SATURDAY.

THE ADDITIONS OF DANNY SOUTH AND NATHAN CURTIS MADE AN INSTANT IMPACT AND WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE SIDE THIS WEEK ON THE TRAINING PITCH AND THE ADDITIONS TO THE SQUAD MADE I HAVE NO DOUBT THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT.

ENJOY THE GAME

WELCOME TO EVERYONE IN WHAT WILL BE OUR FIRST HOME GAME AT OSSETT UNITED

WE ARE BUZZING TO BE HERE AND AFTER RECEIVING LOTS OF OFFERS AFTER GETTING BELPER TOWN PROMOTED TO THE

PITCHING IN NPL PREMIER DIVISION LAST YEAR WE JUST ALL FELT THAT THIS PROJECT WAS THE ONE THAT EXCITED US THE MOST .

THIS WAS CONFIRMED WHEN WE MET THE PLAYERS AND FANS A WEEK LAST THURSDAY.

THE BUZZ AND EXCITEMENT MADE US FEEL THIS IS GOING TO BE A SPECIAL RIDE .

AFTER A GOOD START AT LONG EATON

UNITED LAST SATURDAY WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE LADS TO FOLLOW THIS UP AND GET ON A WINNING RUN OF GAMES TO STAY AMONGST THE PACK .

TODAY WE FACE CONSETT WHO ARE A GOOD FOOTBALLING TEAM AND WILL BE UP

GRANT BLACK

THERE AT THE END OF THE SEASON SO THIS WILL SHOW US WHERE WE ARE AT AS A SQUAD TO COMPETE WITH THE TOP TEAMS .

WE BROUGHT IN DANNY SOUTH WHO WILL BE THE CAPTAIN AS WELL AS NATHAN CURTIS WHO MADE THEIR DEBUTS LAST WEEKEND AND THIS WEEK HAVE MADE THE ADDITIONS OF DERRY ROBSON AND JANNI LIPKA WHO WILL BOTH ADD STRENGTH TO THE SQUAD .

WE WILL GIVE EVERY PLAYER THE OPPORTUNITY TO EAR N A PLACE IN THE STARTING LINE UP, I HAVE NO DOUBT THE SQUAD WE HAVE IS BETTER THAN THE 13TH PLACE IN THE LEAGUE WHERE WE BEGIN THE DAY, NOW IT IS TIME TO GET OUT THERE , SHOW IT AND CLIMB UP THE TABLE .

ENJOY THE GAME !

THE DUGOUT

T PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

ACCEPTED THE CLUB’S APPROACH TO MAKE A RETURN AND THIS AFTERNOON WILL MARK HIS FIRST HOME GAME IN CHARGE OF OSSETT UNITED AND INSTIGATE THE START OF A NEW ERA IN THE CLUB’S HISTORY.

SINCE OUR LAST HOME GAME WE HAVE MANAGED TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THE WEST RIDING COUNTY CUP COURTESY OF A 4 – 2 VICTORY AWAY AT KNARESBOROUGH TOWN. THE OUTCOME OF THIS ONE LOOKED IN DOUBT WELL INTO THE SECOND HALF BUT A LATE FLOURISH WHICH PRODUCED THREE GOALS – TWO FROM LUKE ALDRICH AND A DEBUT STRIKE FROM YOUNG JACK WILSON – SAW US INTO THE DRAW FOR THE NEXT ROUND. MOST SUPPORTERS STILL RELISH THE EUPHORIA OF THE NIGHT WE LIFTED THE TROPHY AGAINST GUISELEY HERE AT INGFIELD IN APRIL 2019. EACH SEASON IT IS A COMPETITION WE HAVE A REALISTIC CHANCE OF WINNING AND ONE WHICH ALWAYS CAPTURES THE IMAGINATION OF OUR SUPPORTERS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN AT LEAST DREAM OF LIFTING THE CUP AGAIN. SIGNIFICANTLY OUR NAME WILL BE IN THE HAT WHEN THE DRAW FOR THE NEXT ROUND IS MADE. THE SCORE LINE AT KNARESBOROUGH FLATTERED US SOMEWHAT AND DIDN’T REALLY REFLECT THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE – ONE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY RESULTED IN OUR MANAGER JAS COLLIVER BEING RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES AFTER THE MATCH.

THE BOARD WASTED NO TIME AT ALL IN APPOINTING A NEW MANAGER AND BY FRIDAY OF THE SAME WEEK JAS’S SUCCESSOR WAS IN PLACE. GRANT BLACK, NO STRANGER TO INGFIELD SINCE HIS DAYS IN THE HOT SEAT WITH OSSETT TOWN,

IS TENURE CERTAINLY BEGAN WELL ENOUGH WITH WHAT WAS, IN THE END, A COMFORTABLE VICTORY IN DIVISION ONE EAST LEAGUE GAME AWAY AT LONG ATON UNITED. PRIOR TO KICK OFF WE WERE HOVERING JUST ABOVE THE RELEGATION ZONE (REMEMBER IT’S POSSIBLE THAT FOUR TEAMS COULD FACE THE DROP FROM THIS DIVISION COME THE END OF APRIL) AND, THEREFORE, THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM REALLY NEEDED TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. THAT THEY DID THANKS TO A BRACE FROM THE UNLIKELY BUT VERY WELCOME SHOOTING BOOTS OF LUKE HOGG WHO GOT INTO ADVANCED POSITIONS AND TOOK HIS CHANCES REALLY EXPERTLY. SUCH IS THE TIGHTNESS OF THE COMPETITION IN DIVISION ONE EAST THE THREE POINTS COLLECTED HAD THE EFFECT OF CLOSING THE GAP ON A NUMBER OF CLUBS IMMEDIATELY AROUND US AND ALLOWING OSSETT UNITED SUPPORTERS TO BEGIN LOOKING UPWARDS AT THE LEAGUE TABLE RATHER THAN OVER OUR SHOULDERS AT WHAT WAS GOING ON BELOW.

THE TRIP TO LONG EATON, AS IT TURNED OUT, WASN’T THE EASIEST OF BAPTISMS FOR THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM AS OUR OPPONENTS, THOUGH IN THE LOWER REACHES OF THE TABLE THEMSELVES, TURNED OUT TO BE A RESILIENT AND PHYSICAL OUTFIT SHOWN BY THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY SUPERIOR GOAL DIFFERENCE TO ALL

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

THE SIDES AROUND THEM. IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS IN ATTENDANCE, AND BY THE WAY IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT BY THE TRAVELLING FAITHFUL, THAT RIGHT FROM THE OFF THE SIDE HAD A MORE RESILIENT AND SOLID LOOK ABOUT IT AND EVEN I WAS ABLE TO READILY DETECT A MORE STEELY AND DETERMINED ATTITUDE AMONGST THE PLAYERS TO THE TASK IN FRONT OF THEM. AND THAT BEFORE GRANT AND HIS TEAM HAD ANY OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEIR CHARGES EVEN ONCE ON THE TRAINING PITCH.

I HAVE OFTEN COMMENTED IN THESE NOTES IN RECENT WEEKS THAT OUR VOCAL SUPPORT FOR THE TEAM HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT MUTED COMPARED WITH WHAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT. EVEN AFTER OUR COUNTY CUP WIN AT KNARESBOROUGH OUR TRAVELLING FAITHFUL WERE STRUGGLING TO EXHIBIT MUCH ENTHUSIASM AT THE END OF THE NINETY MINUTES BUT THE DIFFERENCE AGAINST LONG EATON UNITED ON SATURDAY WAS VERY

NOTICEABLE AND I’M SURE WOULD HAVE BEEN APPRECIATED BY THE PLAYERS AND THE STAFF ALIKE. THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE BAR AFTERWARDS WAS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED FOR QUITE A WHILE. LONG MAY THAT CONTINUE. HOPEFULLY THIS AFTERNOON OUR HOME SUPPORT CAN ENGENDER THE SAME KIND OF VOLUME OR MORE BECAUSE A WIN WOULD SEE US AT LEAST LEAPFROG TODAY’S VISITORS AND, SHOULD ALL THE OTHER RESULTS GO OUR WAY, WE COULD MAKE A JUMP OF NO FEWER THAN FIVE PLACES UP THE LADDER FROM 13TH TO 8TH IN THE TABLE.

OSSETT UNITED HAVE PLAYED CONSETT ONCE BEFORE WHEN THE TWO MET IN THE FA CUP AT CONSETT ON SEPTEMBER 12TH 2020. AFTER A 2 –2 SCORELINE AFTER 90 MINUTES CONSETT WON THE PENALTY SHOOT-OUT 5 – 4. WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THE NORTH EAST TEAMS ALWAYS PRESENT A STERN TEST OF OUR RESOLVE AND I’M SURE THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE NO EXCEPTION.

ON THE BENCH

GRANT BLACK – MANAGER

GRANT BLACK HAD A SUCCESSFUL PLAYING CAREER BEFORE STARTING HIS MANAGERIAL CAREER HERE AT INGFIELD WITH OSSETT TOWN IN 2016 TAKING THEM TO THE BRINK OF PROMOTION BEFORE MOVING TO BELPER TOWN WHERE HE ENJOYED FOUR SUCCESSFUL SEASONS CULMINATING IN PROMOTION TO THE NPL PREMIER DIVISION . BLACKIE RETURNED IN INGFIELD WITH OSSETT UNITED IN OCTOBER 2022.

MICK NORBURY – ASSISTANT MANAGER

NORBS IS NO STRANGER TO OSSETT HAVING PLAYED FOR BOTH TOWN AND ALBION AND ALSO HAVING A SPELL AS ASSISTANT TO GRANT BLACK AT OSSETT TOWN AS WELL AS WORKING WITH HIM AT BELPER TOWN .

DAVID BROWN – PLAYER/COACH

DAVID BROWN BOASTS A SUCCESSFUL PLAYING CAREER WITH A NUMBER OF CLUBS INCLUDING OSSETT ALBION AND TOWN AS WELL AS SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC AND HYDE AMONGST OTHERS. HAVING QUALIFIED AS A COACH HE HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF BLACK’S TEAM .

RYAN PUGH – GK COACH

PUGHY SPENT HIS PLAYING DAYS AT GOOLE , NEW MILLS, MATLOCK TOWN AS WELL AS A LOAN SPELL AT OSSETT ALBION BEFORE TURNING HIS HAND TO COACHING ALONGSIDE GRANT BLACK AT BOTH OSSETT TOWN AND BELPER TOWN .

EMILY CRISPIN – SPORTS & EXERCISE THERAPIST

EMILY GRADUATED FROM LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY WITH A BSC HONOURS IN SPORT AND EXERCISE THERAPY . SHE IS ALSO QUALIFIED IN FIRST AID AT WORK AND TRAUMA MANAGEMENT WITHIN SPORT .

PLAYER PROFILES

EDD HALL - SPONSORED BY: FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS

EDD JOINED THE CLUB IN JANUARY 2022 AND IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS ONE OF THE BEST GOALKEEPERS AT STEP FOUR AND WAS VOTED AS THE SECOND-BEST GOALKEEPER IN THE NPL EAST FOR THE 21/22 SEASON . EDD HAS NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH EXPERIENCE HAVING PLAYED FOR BRADFORD PARK AVENUE AND FARSLEY CELTIC .

JAKE TEALE

JAKE IS A YOUNG GOALKEEPER, FORMERLY OF YORK CITY , WHO HAS IMPRESSED THE MANAGEMENT SINCE THEIR APPOINT . JAKE IS A KEY MEMBER OF THE SQUAD AND HAS NOT LET THE SIDE DOWN WHEN CALLED UPON .

BRAD BEATSON – SPONSORED BY: LIAM MOORE-MCCLUSKEY

BEATSON IS A CENTRAL DEFENDER WHO JOINED THE CLUB FROM FRICKLEY ATHLETIC DURING THE 21/22 SEASON , MAKING 16 APPEARANCES. THE FORMER SHEFFIELD

WEDNESDAY TRAINEE WAS ONE OF JAS’ FIRST SIGNINGS AND A PLAYER HE HAD TARGETED PREVIOUSLY .

DANNY BURNS – SPONSORED BY JAMES & DAWN ROGERS

CENTRAL DEFENDER SIGNED FROM WORKSOP TOWN . A TALL COMMANDING PLAYER WHO STARTED HIS CAREER AT CAMBRIDGE UNITED BEFORE SPELLS AT BUXTON , BLYTH SPARTANS, NUNEATON BOROUGH AND STAFFORD RANGERS AS WELL AS A SPELL AT FRICKLEY ATHLETIC ALONGSIDE BRAD BEATSON .

DANNY SOUTH – SPONSORED BY THE ADAMSON FAMILY

GRANT BLACK’S FIRST SIGNING, AND CAPTAIN . DANNY SOUTH HAS PLAYED FOR BOTH OSSETT ALBION AND TOWN AND MOST RECENTLY AT BELPER TOWN WHERE HE ENJOYED PROMOTION TO THE NPL PREMIER DIVISION . THERE WON ’T BE A STRIKER IN THE LEAGUE WHO WANTS TO COME UP AGAINST HIM .

PLAYER PROFILES

HARRY GAGEN – SPONSORED BY: LJB JOINERY

AFTER A LOAN SPELL AT INGFIELD IN 2020, GAGEN SIGNED PERMANENTLY FOR THE CLUB UPON HIS RELEASE FROM BARNSLEY FC. ‘GADGE ’ ESTABLISHED HIMSELF IN THE FIRST TEAM LAST SEASON , WINNING THE PLAYER’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD .

CONNOR HODGSON – SPONSORED BY: JAYNE OGLEY & RED BRICK FM

CONNOR IS A SUMMER SIGNING FROM BARNSLEY , A CLUB HE JOINED AT THE AGE OF EIGHT . HE IS EQUALLY ADEPT IN A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND MADE APPEARANCES IN THE BARNSLEY U 23 SIDE TO AIDE HIS DEVELOPMENT . HODGSON WAS TARGETED BY SEVERAL CLUBS BEFORE AGREEING TO JOIN OSSETT UNITED .

LUKE HOGG

OSSETT UNITED ’S BOARD AND GARY WIDDOP SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR FOR 2021/22, HE SIGNED FOR WHITBY TOWN IN THE SUMMER. JAS COLLIVER WAS DELIGHTED WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE COMBATIVE MIDFIELDER BACK TO INGFIELD AROSE , HOGGY SIGNING AN INITIAL ONE MONTH LOAN DEAL IN SEPTEMBER 2022.

MICHAEL HOLLINGSWORTH – SPONSORED BY: SCOTTISH SUPPORTERS CLUB

FORMERLY OF BOSTON UNITED , GRANTHAM AND MATLOCK, HOLLINGSWORTH HAS ALSO PLAYED FOR PICKERING TOWN AND FRICKLEY ATHLETIC . IN 2012/13, WAS VOTED “APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR” AT NOTTINGHAM FOREST . HE IS A NATURAL LEADER AND WILL BRING EXPERIENCE , QUALITY AND WORK ETHIC TO OUR MIDFIELD .

EIVIND JOHNSEN – SPONSORED BY: MOZ & MARV

A RECENT SIGNING, EIVIND HAS MOVED TO THE UK TO STUDY FROM HIS NATIVE NORWAY WHERE HE PLAYED FOR DRAMMENS BK

PLAYER PROFILES

OLI METCALFE – SPONSORED BY: SPOFF & KATE

OLI SPENT THE SECOND HALF OF THE 21/22 SEASON ON LOAN FROM GUISELEY BEFORE MAKING THE MOVE PERMANENT THIS SUMMER. THE CENTRAL MIDFIELDER HAS GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AS HE LOOKS TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF IN THE SIDE . METCALFE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS A KEY PLAYER AT INGFIELD .

GEORGE THEWLIS – SPONSORED BY PAUL COOPER

YOUNG MIDFIELDER WHO HAS SPENT HIS YOUTH CAREER AT LEEDS UNITED AND BRADFORD CITY . HAVING TRAINED WITH OSSETT UNITED HE DID ENOUGH TO EARN HIMSELF A DEAL AT THE CLUB .

JANNI LIPKA

HIGHLY RATED MIDFIELDER WHO HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE FOR HYDE UNITED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS WHERE HE EXPERIENCED PROMOTION TO THE NPL PREMIER DIVISION . JANNI JOINED BELPER TOWN IN THE SUMMER BEFORE GRANT BLACK BROUGHT HIM TO INGFIELD IN OCTOBER 2022

DAN WASSELL – SPONSORED BY: OSSETT TOWN JUNIORS

DAN IS YOUNG MIDFIELDER WHO PREVIOUSLY PLAYED FOR OSSETT TOWN JUNIORS FROM THE AGE OF FIVE , BEFORE JOINING SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY AS A 15-YEAR-OLD . THE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER PLAYED FOR WEDNESDAY ’S U 18S AND U 23S AND WILL BRING DANGER AND EXCITEMENT TO ATTACKS. CURRENTLY DUEL REGISTERED AT ARMTHORPE WELFARE

LUKE ALDRICH – SPONSORED BY: THE HANKS FAMILY

LUKE IS A SUMMER SIGNING FROM ECCLESHILL UNITED WHERE HE SCORED 25 TIMES LAST SEASON AS THE CLUB NARROWLY MISSED OUT ON PROMOTION TO THE NPL. ALONG WITH HIS EYE FOR GOAL, HE IS A SELFLESS PLAYER AND LOOKS TO CREATE SPACE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIS TEAMMATES.

PLAYER PROFILES

NATHAN CURTIS – SPONSORED BY ROY TAYLOR & RICHARD FARRELL EXCITING FORWARD THINKING PLAYER WHO HAS LINKS TO BOTH OSSETT TOWN AND ALBION , SIGNED FROM TADCASTER ALBION AFTER A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL SPELL AT BELPER TOWN CURTIS WILL ADD SKILL, ENDEAVOUR AND GOALS TO THE OSSETT UNITED SIDE .

OLLIE FEARON – SPONSORED BY: KEITH & KATH WOOD

MUCH SOUGHT AFTER IN THE SUMMER, COLLIVER WAS DELIGHTED TO ADD FEARON TO THE SQUAD THIS SEASON . OLLIE AVERAGED A GOAL EVERY TWO GAMES LAST SEASON AND IS A HARDWORKING FORWARD WHO WILL MAKE THE SIDE STRONGER ON AND OFF THE FIELD .

B

SIGNED FROM GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY , BRAD WILL BRING EXPERIENCE AND COMPETITION TO A TALENTED OSSETT UNITED FORWARD LINE . AS WELL AS A SUCCESSFUL NON -LEAGUE CAREER IN ENGLAND BRAD HAS ALSO PLAYED IN SWEDEN , THE PHILIPPINES AND AUSTRALIA.

J

VERSATILE LEFT SIDED PLAYER, STACEY HAD A FOUR YEAR SPELL IN VIRGINIA, US WHERE HE WAS PART OF A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP AT BLUEFIELD COLLEGE . ON RETURNING TO ENGLAND HE HAS PLAYED FOR ALFRETON TOWN AND FRICKLEY ATHLETIC

JACK WILSON – SPONSORED BY: BSP HYDRAULICS

SIGNED ON LOAN FROM BRADFORD CITY , JACK IMPRESSED FOR THE BANTAMS IN A PRESEASON FRIENDLY AGAINST OSSETT UNITED , THE FORWARD HAS GREAT ABILITY AND WILL HOPE TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHARLIE WOOD AND BREAK INTO THE BRADFORD CITY FIRST TEAM SQUAD AFTER A LOAN SPELL AT INGFIELD .

OE STACEY – SPONSORED BY: STEVE MAUD

RAD GRAYSON – SPONSORED BY JOHN BOWKER

OUFC

DERRY ROBSON

A TALENTED AND VERSATILE MIDFIELDER, DEZ HAS VAST NPL EXPERIENCE AND HAS A PROMOTION ON HIS CV AS RECENTLY AS LAST SEASON . ROBSON MOVED TO CLEETHORPES TOWN EARLIER THIS SEASON BEFORE GRANT BLACK TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING HIM TO INGFIELD

MARK FODEN (GOALKEEPER). AGE 26. GLASGOWBORN MARK IS AN EXPERIENCED KEEPER WHO SIGNED IN THE SUMMER. CAME UP THROUGH THE YOUTH RANKS AT HARTLEPOOL UNITED BEFORE JOINING ROSS COUNTY AND HAVING LOAN SPELLS AT STIRLING ALBION AND STENHOUSEMUIR. AFTER A SEASON AT GATESHEAD HE HAD A SPELL OUT OF THE GAME BEFORE JOINING BLYTH SPARTANS IN MARCH 2019. AFTER PLAYING TWO GAMES ON LOAN AT CONSETT EARLY IN THE 2019-20 SEASON HE JOINED HEBBURN TOWN PERMANENTLY AND BECAME THEIR FIRST-CHOICE KEEPER. PLAYED AGAINST CONSETT IN THE DELAYED 2020 FA VASE FINAL AND WON PROMOTION TO THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE WITH HEBBURN AT THE END OF THE 2020-21 SEASON. HE MISSED ONLY ONE GAME LAST SEASON, BUT WAS RELEASED AT THE END OF HIS CONTRACT IN THE SUMMER WHEN A NEW MANAGER CAME IN. MADE HIS CONSETT DEBUT IN THE FA CUP AT GOOLE ON 6 AUGUST.

ROSS COOMBE (GOALKEEPER). AGE 23. RETURNED IN OCTOBER 2021 TO THE CLUB WHERE HIS NORTHERN LEAGUE CAREER BEGAN. CAME UP THROUGH THE U21S RANKS AND MADE HIS FIRST-TEAM DEBUT AGED JUST 17 IN MARCH 2017. THE FOLLOWING SEASON SAW HIM ENJOY AN EXTENDED RUN IN THE TEAM BEFORE AN INJURY COST HIM HIS PLACE. AFTER MAKING A TOTAL OF 45 APPEARANCES FOR HIS HOMETOWN CLUB ROSS MOVED TO SOUTH SHIELDS EARLY IN 2018-19. HE SPENT TWO SEASONS WITH THE MARINERS. AFTER BEING LOANED TO STOCKTON TOWN AND HAVING SPELLS WITH WHICKHAM AND WEST AUCKLAND TOWN HE'S BACK AT CONSETT, WHERE HE'S KEEN TO KEEP IMPROVING AND PROVED A MORE-THAN-DEPENDABLE DEPUTY. WILL PUSH MARK HARD FOR THE NO:1 SHIRT.

KARL BYRNE (DEFENDER). AGE 26. DEFENDER KARL STARTED HIS CAREER AT SOUTH DUBLIN CLUB CABINTEELY IN HIS NATIVE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND'S

PLAYER PROFILES

SECOND TIER BEFORE SWITCHING TO NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE FRICKLEY ATHLETIC IN MARCH 2019, MAKING EIGHT APPEARANCES BEFORE THE SEASON'S END. THAT SUMMER HE JOINED NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH CLUB BOSTON UNITED IN JULY 2019 AND MADE EIGHT APPEARANCES FOR THEM TOO BEFORE LEAVING ON A FREE TRANSFER FOR BRADFORD PARK AVENUE IN MARCH 2020. HE SIGNED FOR ANOTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH SIDE BLYTH SPARTANS IN JULY 2021, AND PLAYED 17 GAMES FOR THEM LAST SEASON, BEFORE BEING RELEASED IN THE SUMMER. NORMALLY A RIGHT-BACK, HE CAN ALSO PLAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MIDFIELD, AND HIS ATTACKING STYLE HAS ALREADY MADE HIM A FANS' FAVOURITE. MADE HIS CONSETT DEBUT IN THE FA CUP AT GOOLE ON 6 AUGUST.

DARREN HOLDEN (DEFENDER). AGE 28. A SUMMER 2018 SIGNING, THE LEFT-BACK MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON HIS DEBUT AS A SUB VS. GUISBOROUGH, WITH THE ASSIST FOR OUR WINNING GOAL. PLAYED 58 FOOTBALL LEAGUE GAMES OVER FOUR SEASONS FOR HARTLEPOOL UNITED AND FEATURED IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR GATESHEAD AND GUISELEY, WITH SPELLS AT SOUTH SHIELDS, JARROW ROOFING, WEST AUCKLAND AND ROSS COUNTY. LOVES TO GET FORWARD AND JOIN THE ATTACK. AN UNUSED SUB IN THE 2017 VASE FINAL FOR SOUTH SHIELDS, HE FIGURED IN ALL BUT ONE GAME OF OUR RUN TO THE FA VASE FINAL, SCORING A FINE GOAL VS. LUTTERWORTH. NOW HAS MORE THAN 130 APPEARANCES FOR THE CLUB TO HIS NAME AND HAS RE-SIGNED FOR ANOTHER SEASON, THOUGH HE'LL MISS THE FIRST TWO GAMES THROUGH SUSPENSION.

JAMES METCALFE (DEFENDER). AGE 19. CENTREHALF JAMES IS FROM SWALEDALE, NORTH YORKSHIRE, BUT THE CLUB DIDN'T HESITATE TO SIGN HIM LAST

THE STEELMEN

SUMMER AFTER HE IMPRESSED IN EARLY PRE-SEASON GAMES. A FORMER DARLINGTON YOUTH PLAYER, HE'S ALSO PLAYED FOR RICHMOND MAVERICKS IN THE WENSLEYDALE LEAGUE, AND MADE HIS NORTHERN LEAGUE DEBUT FOR PENRITH WHEN HE WAS JUST 16. HE SAYS HIS BIGGEST INFLUENCE IS LIVERPOOL AND NETHERLANDS CENTRE-BACK VIRGIL VAN DIJK. MADE HIS DEBUT AS A SUB IN THE FA CUP AT WHICKHAM ON AUGUST 6 AND GOT HIS FIRST START AGAINST WEST ALLOTMENT FOUR DAYS LATER. HE MADE 19 APPEARANCES AND SCORED 3 GOALS LAST SEASON AND IS RELISHING THE THOUGHT OF STEPPING UP TO THE NPL.

ARJUN PUREWAL (DEFENDER). AGE 32. SIGNED IN MARCH 2017 FROM JARROW ROOFING, ‘ARJ’, WHO IS THE TWIN BROTHER OF HEBBURN'S AMAR, HAS MADE 184 APPEARANCES FOR THE CLUB. A NORTHERN LEAGUE WINNER AT DARLINGTON, HE PLAYED HIGHER UP THE PYRAMID FOR THE QUAKERS, DURHAM CITY, BLYTH SPARTANS AND WHITBY TOWN, AS WELL AS HAVING TWO SPELLS AT BISHOP AUCKLAND. A PANJAB INTERNATIONAL, HE WAS SUPPORTERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND A DURHAM CHALLENGE CUP WINNER IN 2017-18. AN ENORMOUSLY RESPECTED CLUB CAPTAIN, HE FIGURED IN ALL, BUT ONE GAME OF OUR FA VASE RUN, SCORING A VITAL GOAL VS. DEAL TOWN IN THE FIFTH ROUND. SADLY, HE'LL MISS THE START OF THE SEASON AS HE RECOVERS FROM A FRACTURED FOOT.

DAN CAPEWELL (DEFENDER). AGE 26. A COMMANDING CENTRE-BACK WHO WAS SIGNED FROM NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE DUNSTON ON 21 JANUARY. DOMINANT IN THE AIR AND GOOD ON THE GROUND, HE HAD BEEN WITH THE TYNESIDERS SINCE 2016, HAVING PREVIOUSLY PLAYED FOR BEDLINGTON TERRIERS AND NORTH SHIELDS ATHLETIC. HE WAS NOMINATED FOR NORTHERN LEAGUE YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN DUNSTON’S TITLE-WINNING SEASON OF 2018-19 AND WAS NAMED SUPPORTERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR. MADE HIS CONSETT DEBUT ON 22 JANUARY I

N THE 2-0 WIN AT NEWTON AYCLIFFE AND GOT HIS FIRST GOAL V RYHOPE ON 12 FEBRUARY - THE FIRST OF 4 IN 13 GAMES. MISSED SEVERAL GAMES IN THE PROMOTION PLAY-OFF DUE TO A BADLY BROKEN NOSE, BUT RETURNED FOR THE PLAY-OFF FINAL, IN WHICH HE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE. SIGNED PERMANENTLY IN THE SUMMER.

BEN MILBURN (DEFENDER). AGE 19. A BIG, PHYSICAL CENTRAL DEFENDER WITH LOTS OF PACE, WHO WAS PART OF THE SUMMER INFLUX OF FRESH FACES TO BELLE VIEW. HE STARTED LAST SEASON AT BLYTH SPARTANS, AND THEN FEATURED FOR WHICKHAM BEFORE SWITCHING TO NORTH SHIELDS, WHERE HE WAS PART OF THE SQUAD WHICH PIPPED CONSETT TO THE NORTHERN LEAGUE TITLE. A TALL, STRONG, QUICK PLAYER WHO IS GOOD IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND, HE STARTED HIS CAREER AT THE HIGHLY-RATED PARK VIEW YOUTH SET-UP, AND ALSO REPRESENTED DURHAM COUNTY. A NATURAL LEADER, AND A GOOD COMMUNICATOR, HE MADE THE TRANSITION FROM YOUTH TO SENIOR FOOTBALL SEAMLESSLY AND HAD TRIALS AT SUNDERLAND ACADEMY. MADE HIS CONSETT DEBUT IN THE FA CUP AT GOOLE ON 6 AUGUST. MARK MCLEOD (DEFENDER/MIDFIELD). AGE 35. ANOTHER OF THE SUMMER'S NEW ARRIVALS. BEGAN HIS CAREER AT DARLINGTON WHEN THEY WERE IN THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE, CAPTAINING THEIR YOUTH TEAM. AFTER LOANS TO CONFERENCE SIDE HARROGATE TOWN AND NORTHERN LEAGUE DURHAM CITY, HE MADE HIS FIRST-TEAM DEBUT IN MARCH 2006. AFTER SIX APPEARANCES FOR THE QUAKERS, AND A SPELL OUT ON LOAN AT WORKINGTON, HE WAS RELEASED AT THE END OF 2006-07. AFTER A SPELL WITH SWEDISH LOWER LEAGUE CLUB OSTAVALLS IF, HE JOINED NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR, AND THEN SUNDERLAND RCA, WHILE STUDYING, BEFORE HIS CAREER TOOK HIM TO LONDON. HE JOINED WALTON & HERSHAM OF THE ISTHMIAN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, AND ALSO PLAYED FOR CHIPSTEAD, HARROW BOROUGH, AYLESBURY AND

UXBRIDGE. AFTER RETURNING NORTH IN 2021 HE SIGNED A ONE-YEAR DEAL WITH HEBBURN TOWN, WHO HAD JUST BEEN PROMOTED TO THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE, AND ALSO SPENT A MONTH ON LOAN WITH SEAHAM RED STAR.

KIEREN APLIN (DEFENDER/MIDFIELD). AGE 22. GATESHEAD-BORN LEFT-BACK OR MIDFIELDER KIEREN SPENT SEVERAL YEARS AT THE NEWCASTLE UNITED ACADEMY, WHERE HE WAS A REGULAR IN THE U18S PREMIER LEAGUE, AND ALSO PLAYED IN THE FA YOUTH CUP. AFTER HIS TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP CAME TO AN END IN JULY 2018 HE SPENT THE FOLLOWING SEASON AT NORTH SHIELDS, WHERE HE HAD COME UP THROUGH THE JUNIOR RANKS. SIGNED FOR CONSETT IN JULY 2020 AND SPENT PRE-SEASON AT BELLE VIEW BUT JOINED NATIONAL LEAGUE SIDE GATESHEAD ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2020 WITHOUT MAKING A COMPETITIVE APPEARANCE. MADE HIS COMPETITIVE DEBUT IN THE FA TROPHY V FARSLEY CELTIC BEFORE THE SEASON WAS CURTAILED. RE-SIGNED WITH THE HEED FOR 2021-22 BUT WAS LOANED OUT TO NPL SIDE HEBBURN TOWN. CALVIN SMITH (MIDFIELD). AGE 35. RETURNED IN SUMMER 2017 AFTER A SEASON AT JARROW ROOFING. HIS FIRST SPELL, AFTER SIGNING FROM SPENNYMOOR TOWN IN 2012, SAW HIM SCORE 26 GOALS IN 208 GAMES, INCLUDING SOME SUPERB LONG-RANGE STRIKES. A CLASS ACT, WITH A GREAT RANGE OF PASSING, HE WAS A DURHAM CHALLENGE CUP WINNER IN 2018, AND WAS JOINT-PLAYER OF THE YEAR. 201920 SAW HIM SCORE 18 GOALS – HIS BEST-EVER SEASONAL TALLY. AN EVER-PRESENT IN THE VASE RUN, HE SCORED TWICE IN EXTRA TIME AT ATHERSTONE AND GOT THE GOAL V BITTON WHICH TOOK US TO WEMBLEY. MADE HIS 400TH APPEARANCE FOR THE CLUB AT NEWTON AYCLIFFE IN JANUARY. PLAYED ALL BUT ONE GAME LAST SEASON BUT MISSES THE START OF THIS SEASON THROUGH HIS FIRST-EVER SUSPENSION. SPENT SOME OF LAST SEASON AS AN EMERGENCY CENTREBACK.

ZAK ATKINSON (FORWARD). AGE 26. ZAK WAS CONSETT'S FIRST SIGNING OF THE SUMMER, JOINING FROM NORTHERN LEAGUE NEIGHBOURS WHICKHAM, AS THEY EMBARKED ON A MAJOR REBUILDING PROGRAMME. A PACY STRIKER WITH A GOOD PHYSICAL PRESENCE, HE AGREED TERMS DESPITE BEING WANTED BY SEVERAL OTHER CLUBS, INCLUDING SOME AT HIGHER LEVELS. ZAK HAS ALSO PLAYED FOR BLYTH TOWN, ASHINGTON, BISHOP AUCKLAND, BLYTH SPARTANS AND SHILDON, AND SCORED 15 GOALS IN 37 APPEARANCES FOR WHICKHAM LAST SEASON. HE'S NOT JUST A GOALSCORER, HOWEVER: HE ALSO PROVIDED 10 ASSISTS FOR THE HIGHWAYMEN, AND HE'S ANOTHER PLAYER WHO'S LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE. MADE HIS CONSETT DEBUT IN THE FA CUP AT GOOLE ON 6 AUGUST.

CYRIL GIRAUD (FORWARD). AGE 22. PACY ATTACKER CYRIL GIRAUD WAS ANOTHER OF THE RAFT OF SUMMER SIGNINGS, JOINING FROM FORMER NORTHERN LEAGUE RIVALS THORNABY. THE FRENCHMAN STARTED HIS CAREER WITH CHÂTEAUROUX IN THE FRENCH THIRD DIVISION BEFORE BEING RELEASED. AFTER COMING TO THE UK TO STUDY,

COLIN LARKIN (FORWARD). AGE 40. SIGNED IN SUMMER 2021 FROM SUNDERLAND RCA, COLIN WAS A HUGELY POPULAR CHOICE AS SUPPORTERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR AT THE END OF OUR 2021-22 PROMOTION SEASON. CAPPED AT U17 LEVEL BY THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL AT WOLVES, AND ALSO PLAYED FOR KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS, MANSFIELD TOWN, CHESTERFIELD, NORTHAMPTON TOWN AND HARTLEPOOL UNITED. DROPPING INTO NON-LEAGUE, HE HAS BEEN AT LINCOLN CITY, HARROGATE TOWN, GATESHEAD, AND WEST AUCKLAND, BEFORE MOVING TO RCA IN 2015. SCORED ON HIS CONSETT DEBUT AT NORTHALLERTON ON AUGUST 4 AND GRABBED 17 GOALS IN 40 GAMES

A

IS FOR ALIEN: DO YOU BELIEVE?

NOT QUITE IN ALIENS BUT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE WE’RE THE ONLY FORM OF LIFE! B

THERE IS A FEW I COULD NAME BUT IT HAS TO BE LEE FRECKLINGTON

IS FOR CRUSH: WHO WAS YOUR FIRST?

IS FOR DESTINANTION, WHERE WAS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY?

IS FOR EAT: WHAT IS YOUR PRE MATCH MEAL ?

IS FOR BALLER, WHO IS THE BEST YOU’VE PLAYED WITH? C D E F

IS FOR FIVE, YOUR ALL TIME DREAM 5-A-SIDE TEAM IS..? G

MEGAN FOX

USUALLY SOME FORM OF PASTA

BUFFON , ROBERTO CARLOS , RONALDINHO, CRISTIANO & MESSI

MIKE TYSON , CRISTIANO RONALDO & MARGOT

ROBBIE

IS FOR HERO. WHAT SUPERPOWER DO YOU WANT?

IS FOR GUEST: WHICH THREE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO DINNER? H

TIME TRAVEL I

IS FOR ISLAND : WHICH TEAMMATE WOULD YOU WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND?

NONE OF THEM � PROBABLY BURNSY OR BEATS

BECAUSE I KNOW HE LOVES MY COMPANY J

IS FOR JOKE. TELL US ONE…

MY DOG FELL IN THE CANAL THE OTHER DAY, A LOVELY GERMAN TOURIST JUMPED IN AND SAVED HIM. “WRAP HIM UP, KEEP HIM DRY, HE’LL BE OK. “THANKS” I REPLIED “ARE YOU A VET?” “VET?” HE REPLIED “I AM SOAKING”

K

IS FOR KARAOKE. WHAT’S YOUR TUNE? TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS L

IS FOR LATE. WHO TAKES THE LONGEST IN THE DRESSING ROOM

IS FOR MUSIC. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST? GUNNA

IS FOR NICKNAME. WHAT DO YOU GET CALLED?

STACE

IS FOR OPPONENT. WHO IS THE BEST PLAYER YOU HAVE FACED?

LEE HENDRIE

PROBABLY ME TO BE HONEST, UNLESS HOLLI IS APPLYING HIS TAN… M N O P

IS FOR PROFESSION. WHAT DO YOU DO AWAY FROM THE GAME? Q

I WORK FOR A COMPANY CALLED SPORTS RECRUITING USA. WE HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF PLAYERS GAIN SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE USA TO PLAY ELITE FOOTBALL & EARN A DEGREE AT UNIVERSITY.

IS FOR QUIZ. WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALIST SUBJECT?

WORLD FLAGS OR CAPITAL CITIES R

IS FOR REWIND. WHAT FILM DO YOU WATCH OVER AND OVER?

PRISONERS

S

IS FOR SPORT.. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE OUTSIDE FOOTBALL

I DON ’T PLAY ANY OTHERS REALLY , BUT ENJOY WATCHING BOXING AND UFC T

IS FOR TROUBLE. HOW MANY RED CARDS HAVE YOU HAD?

IS FOR UNBELIEVABLE. WHAT’S YOUR HIDDEN TALENT I CAN’T SAY I HAVE ONE

IS FOR VROOM. WHAT IS YOUR DREAM CAR?

IS FOR WHO. WHO DO YOU SUPPORT?

LAMBORGHINI HURACAN

NEWCASTLE UNITED

WELL, NONE WHEN I WAS ASKED TO COMPLETE THIS, BUT NOW ONE THANKS TO THE LAST HOME GAME… U V W X

IS FOR X-RAY. ANY BROKEN BONES? Y

A FRACTURED WRIST WHEN I WAS YOUNGER , SAVING A PENALTY! BROKEN NOSE AND CHEEK TOO

IS FOR YOU. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS?

SARCASTIC , HUMOROUS (SUBJECTIVE ), TENACIOUS Z

IS FOR ZOO. IF YOU COULD BE

SILVERBACK GORILLA

FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS

AGED 8 TO 12 AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING LITERACY AND A LOVE OF READING. AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, LAST YEAR SAW HIM RELEASE HIS FIRST BOOK, YOU ARE A CHAMPION – AN INSPIRATIONAL BOOK TO GUIDE AND EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE –AND THIS YEAR HIS FIRST CHILDREN’S NOVEL, THE BREAKFAST CLUB ADVENTURES, WAS PUBLISHED. NOT ONE TO REST ON HIS LAURELS, RASHFORD HAS FOLLOWED UP YOU ARE A CHAMPION WITH A SECOND INSPIRATIONAL LIFE GUIDE FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS – YOU CAN DO IT.

FOOTBALLERS ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ROLE MODELS AND WHILE A LOT OF FOOTBALLERS DO TRY TO SERVE THIS PURPOSE, FEW REALLY EMBRACE AND TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE WAY THAT MARCUS RASHFORD HAS. AS WELL AS HIS PERFORMANCES ON THE PITCH, OFF IT, IN RECENT YEARS HE’S REALLY STEPPED UP, IN PARTICULAR WITH REGARD TO HIS FIGHT FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS. IN ADDITION, IN 2021 HE LAUNCHED A BOOK CLUB AIMED AT CHILDREN

STYLED AND DESIGNED IN THE SAME DYNAMIC AND ENGAGING WAY AS HIS FIRST BOOK, YOU CAN DO IT MAINTAINS, TOO, THE POSITIVE, INSPIRING AND MOTIVATIONAL APPROACH AS IT TACKLES REALLY IMPORTANT THEMES, SUCH AS KINDNESS, TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE, RESILIENCE AND COMMUNITY. THE BOOK DOESN’T SHY AWAY FROM DIFFICULT ISSUES TOO, OPENLY RAISING THEM AND TACKLING THEM IN WAYS THAT ARE RELATABLE, WISE AND CONSTRUCTIVE. THE SENSE OF INCLUSIVITY IS ALSO REALLY PROMINENT AND THE WAY THE BOOK ENCOURAGES POSITIVE DIALOGUE AROUND RACE, RELIGION AND GENDER IS SUPERB. SO TOO ARE THE BOOK’S RESOUNDING MESSAGES, WHICH REALLY AIM TO BOLSTER YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOSTER POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS. IT IS

YOU CAN DO IT: HOW TO FIND YOUR VOICE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY MARCUS RASHFORD

FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS

(WRITTEN WITH CARL ANKA)

THE TYPE OF BOOK THAT HAS THE POWER TO REALLY SPEAK TO YOUNG READERS AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HAVING MARCUS RASHFORD’S NAME BEHIND IT ONLY SERVES AS FURTHER INSPIRATION.

INDEED, WHILE A LOT OF FOOTBALLERS AND SPORTS STARS IN GENERAL, OPT TO TAKE AUTOBIOGRAPHY ROUTE WHEN IT COMES BOOK DEALS, AND THERE IS OFTEN MORE HINT OF SELF-PROMOTION TO IT ALL, REFRESHING AND INSPIRING THAT RASHFORD STILL A YOUNG MAN HIMSELF, HAS CHOSEN EXTEND HIS GENUINE INTEREST IN, AND FOR, YOUNG PEOPLE BY WRITING A BOOK SPECIFICALLY AT THEM. THERE’S NO EGO SELF-IMPORTANCE HERE; RASHFORD USES VOICE AND HIS POWER NOT TO EXPLORE HIS LIFE BUT TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE EXPLORE THEIRS. HIS ROLE MATTERS ONLY IN AS MUCH HE IS REACHING OUT AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS. AND HOW ENCOURAGING IT YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE AN ENGLAND MANCHESTER UNITED STAR TAKING THE AND INTEREST IN THEM, TO FEEL A CONNECTION WITH AND BE UNDERSTOOD BY A FOOTBALLING HERO. IT’S ONE THING PARENTS, TEACHERS GUARDIANS TRYING TO INSPIRE YOUNG MINDS, BUT A BONA FIDE SUPERSTAR IS QUITE ANOTHER – I KNOW WHO I’D BE INCLINED TO LISTEN TO AS A FOOTBALL-MAD YOUNGSTER! AND THAT

MARCUS RASHFORD HAS CHOSEN TO USE HIS VOICE IN THIS WAY IS A REAL TESTAMENT TO HIM AND HIS VALUES. WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT IF OTHER FOOTBALLERS, SPORTS STARS AND CELEBRITIES TOOK UP THE BATON TOO?

JADE CRADDOCK

(PUBLISHER: MACMILLAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS -

MAIN MARKET EDITION. JULY 2022. PAPERBACK: 224 PAGES)

Juice Personnel are an independent recruitment agency based in Wakefield. We were founded in 2003 in Huddersfield with the knowledge that things could be done differently. This led us to adopt what we called our ‘refreshingly different’ approach. This radical new approach to recruitment was based around our core values of mutual understanding, honesty, integrity and quality.

From day one we had a policy to constantly review how we worked. Because of this dedication to self-improvement and our refreshing, personal approach to recruitment we saw a client and candidate loyalty that we’ve never experienced before and quickly outgrew our small office.

Skip forward a few years and we still hold fast to the same morals we started with: mutual understanding, honesty, integrity and quality. Because of our unwavering dedication to client and candidate satisfaction Juice Personnel are now seen as one of the leading independent recruiters in Wakefield.

OSSETT UNITED MEDIA PARTNER

THE FORMATION

OSSETT UNITED WAS CREATED ON THE 1ST JUNE 2018 FOLLOWING THE MERGER OF OSSETT TOWN AFC (EST. 1936) AND OSSETT ALBION AFC (EST. 1944). BOTH OSSETT TOWN AND OSSETT ALBION HAD MANAGED TO GAIN NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE STATUS AND MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF FOOTBALL FOR A REMARKABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

EARLY HISTORY

THE TWO CLUBS MERGED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A NEW BOARD BROUGHT TOGETHER FROM THE TWO PREVIOUS CLUBS. THE FOUNDING DIRECTORS WERE JOHN CHIDLAW (OA), JAMES ROGERS (OT), EMMA CHIDLAW (OA), DAWN ROGERS (OT), LEE SUMMERSCALES (OA) AND LEE BROADBENT (OT) FORMING THE NEW BOARD WITH SUPPORT FROM PHIL SMITH AS CEO. JOHN CHIDLAW TOOK ON THE ROLE OF CHAIRMAN FOR THE FIRST SEASON. THE CLUB MADE ITS NEW HOME INGFIELD, THE PREVIOUS HOME OF OSSETT TOWN, AND USED DIMPLE WELLS, THE PREVIOUS HOME OF OSSETT ALBION, AS ITS LADIES AND ACADEMY TEAM BASE.

ON THE PITCH, THE FIRST YEAR (2018/19) WAS A REMARKABLE SUCCESS WITH ATTENDANCES SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED FROM WHAT EITHER CLUB HAD EXPERIENCED PREVIOUSLY, COUPLED WITH SUCCESS ON THE PITCH REACHING THE PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL AND WINNING THE COUNTY CUP, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MANAGER ANDY WELSH. OFF THE PITCH THINGS WERE NOT AS SUCCESSFUL WITH A NUMBER OF RESIGNATIONS AND BOARD CHANGES AND SOME CHALLENGING FINANCIAL ISSUES TO DEAL WITH FOLLOWING THE MERGER. BY THE END OF THE 2018/19 SEASON, PHIL SMITH HAD TAKEN ON THE MANTLE OF CLUB CHAIRMAN FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF BOARD CHANGES.

WAYNE BENN TOOK UP THE MANAGERIAL REIGNS IN LATE 2019 FOLLOWING A POOR START TO THE 2019/20 SEASON, HOWEVER, THAT SEASON WAS ENDED ABRUPTLY IN MARCH 2020 WITH THE ONSET OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC KNOWN AS COVID 19. THE SEASON WAS NULL AND VOIDED. OFF THE PITCH THERE WERE MORE TROUBLES FOR OSSETT UNITED IN NOVEMBER 2019 AS

A SIGNIFICANT AND UNPRECEDENTED COURT CASE, DATING BACK TO A TACKLE IN 2015 WHEN OSSETT TOWN WERE PLAYING RADCLIFFE BOROUGH, WAS LOST WITH UNITED FACING LEGAL AND DAMAGES COSTS AMOUNTING TO £135,000. FORTUNATELY, THE CLUB RECEIVED A GENEROUS LOAN FROM TWO OF ITS CLOSEST SUPPORTERS TO AVOID THE CLUB GOING INTO LIQUIDATION (AT WORST) OR SELLING THE INGFIELD GROUND (AT BEST).

THE START OF THE 2020/21 SEASON STARTED LATE DUE TO THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND VIRTUALLY FINISHED AS SOON AS IT HAD STARTED WITH ONLY EIGHT LEAGUE GAMES HAVING BEEN PLAYED BY UNITED. THIS TIME THE SEASON WAS CURTAILED RATHER THAN NULL AND VOIDED AND MEANT A SECOND SEASON HAD GONE UNFINISHED. OFF THE PITCH ROGERS AND SMITH SWAPPED ROLES DUE TO SMITH'S WORK COMMITMENTS AND ROGERS TOOK ON THE ROLE AS CHAIRMAN, A ROLE HE HAD PREVIOUSLY HELD AT OSSETT TOWN. 2020 ALSO SAW THE CLUB DECLARE DIMPLE WELLS AS SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO SURRENDER THE LEASE MAKING INGFIELD THE SINGLE HOME OF THE UNITED CLUB.

2021/22

LAST SEASON SAW MANY CHANGES AT OSSETT UNITED BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD. AFTER A STRONG START TO THE PITCHING IN NPL EAST SEASON A RUN OF ONLY ONE WIN IN THREE MONTHS SAW WAYNE BENN AND ANDY HAYWARD LEAVE THE CLUB IN DECEMBER. JAS COLLIVER AND MARK WARD WERE APPOINTED TO RE-IGNITE THE SEASON AND STRENGTHEN THE SQUAD WHICH THEY DID FROM DAY ONE. THE DUO SAW THE CLUB GO UNBEATEN AT HOME WITH 7 WINS AND DRAWS HOWEVER THE AWAY FORM CONTINUED TO BE IN CONSISTENT. OFF THE FIELD NEW DUGOUTS WERE INSTALLED, BEFORE THE ERECTION OF A NEW PITCH SIDE BARRIER FOLLOWED BY THE UPGRADING OF THE FLOODLIGHTS TO LED TO BRING THE FACILITIES TO A HIGH STANDARD.

COLLIVER AND WARD HAVE SPENT THE CLOSE SEASON WORKING HARD TO RETAIN PLAYERS FROM THE SQUAD AS WELL AS BRINGING IN REINFORCEMENTS TO STRENGTHEN THE SQUAD FURTHER AS THE CLUB LOOKS TO IMPROVE UPON THE NINTH PLACED FINISHED IN 21/22.

AT THE END OF AUGUST MARK WARD LEFT THE CLUB, CITING ONE VOICE WOULD BE BETTER THAN TWO IN THE MANAGERIAL POSITION. JAS COLLIVER LEFT THE CLUB IN OCTOBER AND WAS REPLACED BY GRANT BLACK ON AN 18 MONTH CONTRACT.

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY 2023

FEBRUARY

MARCH

PLAYER STATS

FORMER PLAYERS

PITCHING IN NPL EAST

TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER

V STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS

SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER

CLEETHORPES TOWN V SHILDON CONSETT V GRANTHAM TOWN

DUNSTON V BRIDLINGTON TOWN LINCOLN UNITED V HEBBURN TOWN LONG EATON UNITED V GRIMSBY BOROUGH NORTH SHIELDS V OSSETT UNITED PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES V SHEFFIELD

PS V TADCASTER ALB

CONSETT AFC WILL CONTEST THE 2022-23 SEASON AT STEP 4 OF THE NON-LEAGUE PYRAMIDTHE HIGHEST LEVEL THE CLUB HAS EVER PLAYED AT. BUT THEIR AMBITIONS DON'T END THERE, AND UNDER FORWARD-THINKING CHAIRMAN FRANK BELL THEY HOPE TO NOT ONLY ESTABLISH THEMSELVES BUT AIM TO GO HIGHER. THEY WON THEIR PLACE IN THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE WITH A 2-1 VICTORY AT HISTON IN AN INTER-STEP PLAY-OFF, WITH DAN MARRIOTT - A LOCAL LAD WHO ROSE THROUGH THE CLUB'S JUNIOR RANKS - SCORING THE WINNING GOAL.

HE'S A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CLUB AIMS TO DEVELOP LOCAL TALENT, AND WITH MORE THAN 60 JUNIOR TEAMS AGED FROM 7-19, AND A RESERVE TEAM COMPETING AT STEP 7 IN THE WEARSIDE LEAGUE, THEY HOPE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW. LIKE MOST NON-LEAGUE CLUBS, CONSETT ENDURED THE FRUSTRATION OF SEEING TWO YEARS OF HARD WORK COME TO NOTHING DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, WITH 2019-20 DECLARED NULL AND VOID BY THE FA, AND THE FOLLOWING SEASON CURTAILED. THEY ALSO SAW THE MOMENTUM OF THEIR BEST-EVER RUN IN THE FA VASE INTERRUPTED NOT ONCE BUT TWICE, WITH THE SEMI-FINAL DELAYED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2020, AND THE FINAL EVENTUALLY PLAYED ALMOST A YEAR LATE.

THE PLAYERS, STAFF AND COMMITTEE OF THE COUNTY DURHAM CLUB GOT THEIR LONG-AWAITED DAY AT WEMBLEY ON MAY 3, 2021, THOUGH A 90,000-SEATER STADIUM WITH NO FANS MADE FOR A SURREAL EXPERIENCE. IN A THRILLING FINAL, CONSETT TOOK THE LEAD TWICE WITH FIRST-HALF

GOALS FROM ALI ALSHABEEB AND DALE PEARSON BUT WERE SWIFTLY PEGGED BACK BY FELLOW NORTHERN LEAGUE SIDE HEBBURN TOWN BOTH TIMES. PRIDE IN THE TEAM'S FINE PERFORMANCE ON THE BIG STAGE TURNED TO HEARTBREAK WHEN THE HORNETS STUNG THE STEELMEN WITH A LATE GOAL TO MAKE IT 3-2 AND TAKE THE VASE TO SOUTH TYNESIDE.

2021-22 SAW THE STEELMEN, WHOSE TEAM IS A GOOD, TALENTED BLEND OF YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE, ACHIEVE THEIR PRE-SEASON AIM OF PROMOTION. THEY LED THE NORTHERN LEAGUE FOR SEVEN MONTHS, TAKING A MID-SEASON MANAGERIAL CHANGE IN THEIR STRIDE. BUT A DISAPPOINTING RUN-IN, LOSING FIVE TIMES TO LOWER-TABLE OPPONENTS AS A CRIPPLING INJURY LIST CAUGHT UP WITH THEM, HANDED THE INITIATIVE TO NORTH SHIELDS, WHO ENDED NINE POINTS CLEAR AS WORTHY CHAMPIONS, LEAVING CONSETT AS RUNNERS-UP FOR THE FIFTH TIME IN THEIR HISTORY, AND HAVING TO GO UP THE HARD WAY, VIA THE PLAY-OFFS.

THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE BRAND OF FOOTBALL FANS ENJOY TODAY WERE PUT IN PLACE BY KENNY LINDOE, WHO BECAME MANAGER IN 2005, TWO YEARS AFTER HE'D WON THE NORTHERN LEAGUE ON A SHOESTRING AT BRANDON UNITED. CONSETT HAD JUST BEEN RELEGATED TO THE 2ND DIVISION FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE SEASONS. THEY’D GONE STRAIGHT BACK UP THE PREVIOUS TIME, AND DID IT AGAIN, BREAKING A HOST OF CLUB RECORDS ALONG THE WAY. THEY STARTED WITH 19 CONSECUTIVE WINS, FINISHED WITH 102 POINTS, A +103 GOAL DIFFERENCE, AND A BIGGEST-EVER WIN, 12-1 V

THE STEELMEN

GUISBOROUGH TOWN.

HIS ATTACK-MINDED TEAM'S FIRST SEASON BACK IN THE TOP FLIGHT, 2006-07, SAW THEM FINISH A CREDITABLE 4TH, BUT THE HIGH-SPOT WAS BEATING

CHESTER-LE-STREET TOWN 3-2 TO WIN THE

DURHAM CHALLENGE CUP FOR THE SIXTH TIME, BUT THE FIRST IN 38 YEARS. YOU’D HAVE TO BE A SUPPORTER OF MANY YEARS’ STANDING TO REMEMBER THE OTHERS, WHICH WERE IN 1948, 1950, 1959, 1961 AND 1969.

CONSETT BUILT A REPUTATION AS THE LEAGUE’S ‘ENTERTAINERS’, AND HOPES WERE HIGH THAT 2007-08 WOULD SEE THEM BREAK THEIR DUCK AND WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE NORTHERN

LEAGUE, WHICH THEY’D JOINED IN 1970. THEY’D ONLY COME CLOSE ONCE BEFORE, IN 1976-77, FINISHING LEVEL AT THE TOP WITH SPENNYMOOR

UNITED, BUT LOSING A TITLE PLAY-OFF 3-0 - GOAL DIFFERENCE NOT COUNTING AT THE TIME.

IN 2008-09 THEY WENT EVEN CLOSER, TWICE COMING WITHIN MINUTES OF A FIRST LEAGUE TITLE. A POINT FROM THEIR LAST GAME AT WHITLEY BAY WOULD HAVE MADE THEM CHAMPIONS, AND THEY LED 2-0 AT HALF-TIME. BUT A SECOND-HALF FIGHTBACK SAW THE FA VASE FINALISTS (AND EVENTUAL WINNERS) BREAK CONSETT HEARTS WITH A LATE WINNER. THREE DAYS LATER NEWCASTLE BENFIELD WENT TO PENRITH NEEDING A WIN TO SNATCH THE CHAMPIONSHIP FROM CONSETT'S GRASP, AND GOT IT WITH A FEW MINUTES TO GO, LEAVING THE STEELMEN AS RUNNERS-UP FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. 2017-18 SAW THE RETURN OF ALL-TIME RECORD GOALSCORER MICHAEL MACKAY, AND THE MOVE PAID DIVIDENDS AS HE SCORED TWICE AS CONSETT MADE IT A LUCKY SEVEN DURHAM CHALLENGE CUP WINS, BEATING

DUNSTON UTS 4-2 TO LIFT THE TROPHY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 11 YEARS. MACKAY WAS RUNNER-UP FOR NORTHERN LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, AND HIS STRIKE PARTNER MICHAEL SWEET WAS THE LEAGUE’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND TIME, AFTER A SEASON IN WHICH HE SCORED 43 TIMES – INCLUDING THE OTHER TWO IN THE CUP FINAL.

PRIORITISING THE CUP SAW THE STEELMEN’S LEAGUE FORM DROP AWAY TOWARDS THE END OF THE SEASON, AND ECCLES’ SIDE FINISHED 9TH AS HE PREPARED TO GET MARRIED AND MOVE TO SCOTLAND. HIS REPLACEMENT, APPOINTED IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, WAS AN EVEN YOUNGER MANAGER, ANOTHER FORMER CONSETT PLAYER, CHRIS MOORE, JUST 34, BUT HIGHLY RATED.

MOORE'S SIDE BEGAN THE SEASON IN STUNNING FORM, WITH NINE STRAIGHT WINS, AND GAVE EVOSTIK LEAGUE SIDE WARRINGTON TOWN A SCARE IN THE FA CUP BEFORE BOWING OUT IN A REPLAY.

THEY LED THE TABLE FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON, BUT FORM DIPPED AFTER THE TURN OF THE YEAR AND THE STEELMEN FINISHED 4TH – STILL THEIR BEST PLACING IN SEVEN YEARS. HOWEVER, THE END OF THE SEASON BROUGHT AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS WHEN MOORE INFORMED THE CLUB HE WAS RESIGNING TO TAKE UP A FULL-TIME JOB AT SUNDERLAND AFC ACADEMY.

COACH ANDY COYLES – A UEFA 'A' LICENCE HOLDER AND FORMER PENRITH MANAGER - STEPPED UP ON AN INTERIM BASIS AND WAS THEN HANDED THE JOB PERMANENTLY. NOW, WITH THE HELP OF HIS ASSISTANT RICHIE HILL, GOALKEEPING COACH

BEN COLE AND PHYSIO GAVIN SCOTT, THEY'RE AIMING TO MAKE THEIR MARK ON THE BIGGEST STAGE THE CLUB HAS EVER ENJOYED.

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

INTERESTED IN WHAT THE MEDIA TEAM WERE DOING AND WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE IN HIS APPROACH TO THE TEAM, HAPPY TO TALK, HAPPY TO FEED INFORMATION AND WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. BUT, IT IS OF COURSE ON THE PITCH WHERE THE REAL STUFF HAPPENS, WE JUST REPORT ON IT.

WELL, IT’S BEEN ANOTHER MANIC COUPLE OF WEEKS AT THE CLUB, AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE DEFEAT AT HOME TO HEBBURN TOWN LAST TIME WE WERE AT INGFIELD TWO WEEKS AGO, TO THE HARD FOUGHT VICTORY AT KNARESBOROUGH TOWN, FOLLOWED BY THE NEWS THAT JAS COLLIVER HAD LEFT AND GRANT BLACK HAD RETURNED TO INGFIELD, CULMINATING IN THE JOYOUS WEEKEND OF FOOTBALL IN THE EAST MIDLANDS LAST SATURDAY!

I ALWAYS TRY TO BE HONEST WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGERS, AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WHEN STUART PEARCE RETURNED AS NOTTINGHAM FOREST MANAGER IN 2015 (AND YOU COULDN’T EVER GET A MORE BLINKERED VIEW THAN ME AND STUART PEARCE - WELL, PROBABLY LEEDS UNITED FANS AND MARCELO BIELSA, BUT THAT’S A DIFFERENT STORY), AND I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT JAS’ DEPARTURE, FOR ME, HAD POSSIBLY BEEN ON THE CARDS FOR A WHILE, JAS WAS A BRILLIANT PERSON TO WORK WITH, HE TOOK A REALLY STRONG VESTED

OUTSIDE OF THE TWO RECENT HOME WINS AGAINST STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS AND GRIMSBY BOROUGH, AND THE HARD FOUGHT PENALTY WINS AT STOCKSBRIDGE AND SHEFFIELD FC I THINK IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT PERFORMANCES WEREN’T WHERE THEY POSSIBLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN, CREATIVITY WISE WE WERE JUST NOT PERFORMING, AND IF YOU AREN’T CREATING YOU AREN’T SCORING, AND IF YOU AREN’T SCORING YOU AREN’T WINNING FOOTBALL MATCHES, AND THAT OF COURSE IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF ANY CLUB, SO JAS’S DEPARTURE WAS DONE AT THE RIGHT TIME IN MY VIEW.

FAST FORWARD 24 HOURS AND NOT ONLY HAS GRANT BLACK AND HIS TEAM BEEN BROUGHT IN, BUT THEY, AND ALL OF THE PLAYERS WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MEET UP WITH THE SUPPORTERS, AS THEY DID LAST THURSDAY, LITERALLY WITHIN AN HOUR OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT BEING MADE. THE OSSETT TOWN LOT AMONGST US WILL OF COURSE HAVE VERY FOND MEMORIES OF THE TIME GRANT, NORBS AND CO SPENT AT INGFIELD, AND

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VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

RIGHTLY SO, AND I WOULD ALSO IMAGINE LOOKED ON VERY ENVIOUSLY AT THE WORK THEY WERE DOING AT BELPER TOWN, LEADING THE DERBYSHIRE CLUB TO PROMOTION TO STEP 3 AND TO THE 4TH QUALIFYING ROUND OF THE FA CUP, LOSING ONLY JUST TO NOTTS COUNTY AT MEADOW LANE. FOR THE OSSETT ALBION LOT, AND THOSE THAT HAD NO AFFILIATION TO EITHER CLUB PRE-MERGER I THOUGHT INSTANTLY THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO WOULD BE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT BLACKY BRINGS TO A FOOTBALL CLUB, AS I CAN IMAGINE A PERCENTAGE OF THE SUPPORTERS SEEING THAT CONNECTION STRAIGHT AWAY FROM ONE SECTION OF THE SUPPORT ALONE MIGHT BE A TAD DIFFICULT, BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT CERTAINLY HASN’T BEEN THE CASE. WHETHER YOU WERE TOWN, OR ALBION, OR NEITHER, BLACKY AND THE BOYS WERE HAPPY TO TALK OPENLY WITH EVERYONE, AND IT WAS CLEAR FOR ALL TO SEE THAT THE BUZZ AROUND THE

PERFORMANCE RESULTED IN OUR FIRST LEAGUE WIN ON THE ROAD SINCE THE OPENING GAME AT CARLTON TOWN IN AUGUST, AND TO TOP THAT OFF THE ATMOSPHERE ON THE BUS COMING BACK WAS ONE I HAVEN’T WITNESSED IN A LONG, LONG TIME. EXCITING TIMES LAY AHEAD!

TODAY WE WELCOME CONSETT AFC TO INGFIELD, WHO CAN FORGET THE TIME THEY CAME TO INGFIELD IN 2017, ALL TURNING UP IN FEZ’S (WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE MADNESS FANS - APOLOGIES NOW FOR THE ADDED MADNESS SONGS TO TODAY’S PLAYLIST), AND HAVING AN IMPROMPTU MOD AND SKA PARTY IN KELLY’S BAR AFTER THE GAME, CULMINATING IN ONE OF THEIR SUPPORTERS FALLING OUT OF THE GENTS TOILET NOT LONG AFTER THEIR COACH HAD SET OFF BACK TO THE NORTH EAST! WE WELCOME OUR ‘FRIENDS’ FROM CONSETT TODAY BUT WOULD ALSO KINDLY WELCOME A HOME VICTORY THIS AFTERNOON TO BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM.

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REF WATCH

ASHLEY ROYSTON

I FIRST GOT INTO REFEREEING WHILE I WAS AT SCHOOL AND DID MY REFEREE COURSE IN MY LAST YEAR AT SCHOOL. FROM THIS I WAS COACHING AT BARNSLEY FC ACADEMY. I WAS ASKED TO HELP OUT WITH A FEW GAMES AND FROM THERE THINGS PROGRESSED INTO MOVING UP THE LADDER AND REFEREEING OPEN AGED ADULTS FOOTBALL.

I CONTINUED TO BE A REFEREE AND ASSISTANT REFEREE, AND LAST SEASON GAIN PROMOTED AS A NATIONAL LEAGUE ASSISTANT REFEREE. MY CAREER HIGHLIGHT COMES FROM MY FIRST GAME AS A NATIONAL LEAGUE ASSISTANT REFEREE WHEN I WAS AT WREXHAM V MAIDSTONE IN FRONT OF A SOLD OUT 10,000 CROWD.

MY AMBITIONS ARE TO MAKE IT TO THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE EITHER AS A REFEREE OR ASSISTANT REFEREE IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH THE BIG DREAM TO MAKE IT INTO THE PREMIER LEAGUE.

EDD HALL

JAKE TEALE

BRAD BEATSON

DANNY BURNS

HARRY GAGEN

CONNOR HODGSON

ALEX PHILLIPSON

DANNY SOUTH (CPT)

LUKE HOGG

MICHAEL HOLLINGSWORTH

EIVIND JOHNSEN

JANNI LIPKA

OLI METCALFE

DERRY ROBSON

GEORGE THEWLIS

JOE STACEY

LUKE ALDRICH

DAVID BROWN

JUNAYD CASSIUS-GILL

NATHAN CURTIS

OLLIE FEARON

BRAD GRAYSON

JACK WILSON

ROSS COOMBE

MARK FODEN

KARL BYRNE

EVAN HORWOOD

ARJUN PUREWALL (

DAN CAPEWELL

BEN MILBURN

CALVIN SMITH

MARK MC

KIERAN APLIN

LEWIS GREEN

JAKE ORRELL

MATTY SLOCOMBE

DANIEL SMITH

DECLAN BISSET

ADAM MITCHELL

ZAK ATKINSON

CYRIL GIRAUD

COLIN LARKIN

OSCAR TAYLOR