Ossett United v Lincoln United (12/11/2022)

Vs LINCOLN UNITED

SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER | 15:00

PITCHING IN NPL EAST

MATCH SPONSOR

ZORBA THE GREEK & THE PLATE

SMASHERS

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

OSSETT UNITED V LINCOLN UNITED

MATCH SPONSOR:

ZORBA THE GREEK AND THE PLATE SMASHERS

WELCOME TO INGFIELD

JAMES ROGERS , CHAIRMAN

AS GOOD AS ANYTHING I CAN RECALL IN OSSETT UNITED TEAM .

WELCOME TO INGFIELD FOR TODAY’S

PITCHING IN NPL EAST GAME WITH A

LINCOLN UNITED SIDE WHO FIND THEMSELVES AMONGST THE FORM SIDES IN THE DIVISION AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE RUN OF FORM IN RECENT WEEKS CULMINATING WITH A 3-1 WIN AGAINST HEBBURN TOWN LAST WEEKEND . MATTHEW COTTON ONCE AGAIN FINDS HIMSELF IN THE GOALS CHARTS FOR THE WHITES WITH NINE THIS SEASON AND SIX IN THEIR LAST SIX.

WE HEAD INTO THIS GAME WITH FIVE POINTS FROM NINE AVAILABLE SINCE

GRANT BLACK WAS APPOINTED MANAGER WITH TWO OF THOSE GAMES AWAY FROM INGFIELD .

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ADDITIONS TO THE SQUAD , AS WELL AS SOME DEPARTURES , IN THIS TIME AND THE OVERALL STRENGTH AND ABILITY OF THE PLAYERS THE MANAGER CAN NOW CALL ON

HIS DOES OF COURSE MEAN GAME TIME WILL BE LIMITED FOR SOME PLAYERS SO IVIND JOHNSEN HAS DUEL REGISTERED AT RICKLEY ATHLETIC , OLIVER FEARON MOVES TO HALLAM ON A THREE -MONTH LOAN DEAL WHILE JOE STACEY AND LUKE ALDRICH MADE THE DECISION TO LEAVE THE CLUB ALSO.

LAST TUESDAY OUR GAME AT SHEFFIELD WAS POSTPONED DUE TO A WATERLOGGED PITCH , THE GAME HAS SINCE BEEN REARRANGED AND WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER .

AWAY FROM THE FOOTBALL, JUST OVER A WEEK AGO WE ONCE AGAIN HELD A VERY SUCCESSFUL BONFIRE AND FIREWORK EVENT . NICK SMITH IS THE MASTER WHO OVERSEES THE EVENT AND DOES SO INCREDIBLY WELL SUPPORTED BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE , TOO MANY TO THANK PERSONALLY BUT YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE !

NEXT YEAR ’S EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON

FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER , SO PUT A NOTE IN YOUR DIARY!

ENJOY THE GAME .

WELCOME TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS AND EVERYONE FROM LINCOLN UNITED , MY COACHING STAFF AND I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THE GAME .

TWO WEEKS AND THREE GAMES INTO THE JOB HERE WE HAVE BROUGHT IN PLAYERS WE KNOW AND TRUST AND WHO ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF GETTING THE CLUB TO WHERE IT WANTS TO BE AND PUSHING AT THE RIGHT END OF THE TABLE .

WE 'VE HAD THREE SOLID PERFORMANCES AND ARE UNBEATEN SO FAR AND WITH A

GRANT BLACK

LITTLE LUCK , CLINICAL FINISHING AND BETTER OFFICIATING WE COULD HAVE EASILY WON ALL OF THEM AND SIT FOUR POINTS AND FOUR PLACES HIGHER IN THE TABLE .

THE IMPROVEMENT IS THERE FOR ALL TO SEE .

WE HAVE ANOTHER TOUGH GAME TODAY IN AGAINST A LINCOLN UNITED SIDE WHO HAVE HAD SOME IMPRESSIVE RESULTS RECENTLY AGAINST THE TOP TEAMS AND ARE ON A GOOD RUN OF FORM .

WE EMPHASISED TO THE LADS ON THURSDAY AT TRAINING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP BUILDING AND KEEP SETTING HIGH STANDARDS AND IF WE CAN PUT ALL THESE IN PLACE WE GIVE OURSELF THE BEST CHANCE OF WINNING THE GAME . STRONGER TOGETHER

THE DUGOUT

T PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

AGAINST ANOTHER NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST EAGUE OPPONENT IN GOLCAR UNITED WE HAVE A CHANCE TO FURTHER PROGRESS AND WHO KNOWS WHERE THAT WILL TAKE US?

SINCE THE CHANGES MADE TO THE MANAGEMENT TEAM HERE AT OSSETT UNITED I THINK IT’S FAIR TO SAY THERE HAS BEEN AN UPTURN GENERALLY IN THE MOOD AROUND THE CLUB. I HAVE COMMENTED FREQUENTLY IN THESE PROGRAMME NOTES THAT PRIOR TO THE CHANGE OF MANAGER OUR VOCAL SUPPORT FOR THE TEAM HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY MUTED AND I’M SURE THAT MUST HAVE HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE PLAYERS.

GRANT BLACK AND HIS COACHING STAFF HAVE COME IN AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT IN THAT RESPECT AND THERE IS NOW A TANGIBLY MORE POSITIVE OUTLOOK AMONGST OUR FAN BASE WHICH IS MANIFESTING ITSELF IN THE VOLUME OF THE SUPPORT GIVEN. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON AS WE WELCOME A RESURGENT LINCOLN UNITED TO INGFIELD. GRANT BLACK & CO HAVE BEEN QUICK TO ARTICULATE THE BENEFIT SUCH SUPPORT FOR THIS CLUB BRINGS AND SO FAR WE HAVEN’T LET THEM DOWN. IT WAS PLEASING FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AT LEAST THAT JAS COLLIVER’S FINAL ACT WAS TO PRESIDE OVER A VICTORY IN THE WEST RIDING COUNTY CUP WHEN A LATE SURGE AGAINST KNARESBOROUGH TOWN SAW US COME FROM 2 – 1 DOWN LATE ON TO EVENTUALLY RUN OUT 4 – 2 WINNERS. AGAIN, AS I’VE OFTEN SAID, THE COUNTY CUP IS REALISTICALLY OUR BEST SHOT OF SOME SILVERWARE AND WITH A DRAW IN THE NEXT ROUND

NOTHER POSITIVE FEATURE SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM WAS THE “GATE” FOR THE HOME GAME AGAINST CONSETT. THE ATTENDANCE FOR THAT PARTICULAR MATCH WAS 413 WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST HOME FIGURE OF THE CURRENT SEASON SO FAR. WE ARE STILL BELOW LAST SEASON’S AVERAGE WHICH WAS 503 BUT SUCCESS ON THE FIELD USUALLY BRINGS WITH IT A GROWTH IN THE ATTENDANCE NUMBERS AND, SHOULD THAT BE THE CASE, IT WOULD BE ANOTHER POSITIVE FOR THE CLUB NOT LEAST FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE. SINCE HIS ARRIVAL AT INGFIELD GRANT HAS YET TO TASTE DEFEAT. A WIN, TWO DRAWS AND NO DEFEATS FROM HIS FIRST THREE GAMES IN THE DUGOUT BODE WELL AND THE HOPE THAT WE MIGHT EVENTUALLY MAKE THE PLAYOFFS OR BE THEREABOUTS IS BEGINNING TO LOOK A MORE REALISTIC POSSIBILITY. IF NOTHING ELSE WE ARE NOW STARTING TO LOOK UP THE LEAGUE TABLE RATHER THAN OVER OUR SHOULDERS AT THE RELEGATION SITUATION.

LAST SEASON THE DECISION TO BRING A LEAGUE GAME FORWARD FROM THE SATURDAY TO THE FRIDAY EVENING REAPED HUGE FINANCIAL REWARDS WHEN THE VISIT OF LIVERSEDGE HERE TO INGFIELD GENERATED A “GATE” OF 1005. WITH THE SUCCESS OF THAT EXPERIMENT IN MIND THE CLUB HAS DECIDED AND ARRANGED TO DO THE SAME AGAIN ON JANUARY 27TH 2023 THIS TIME WHEN TADCASTER ALBION ARE THE VISITORS TO INGFIELD. IN

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

RECIPROCATION WE HAVE AGREED TO GO TO TADCASTER ON DECEMBER 2ND SO SUPPORTERS SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF THESE CHANGES IN THE FIXTURE SCHEDULE. I AM RELIABLY INFORMED THAT SUCH CHANGES WILL NOT BECOME A REGULAR FEATURE BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE GENERATED S SIMILAR SUCCESS THIS TIME AROUND.

IT’S PROBABLY BEEN MENTIONED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROGRAMME BUT I MUST CONGRATULATE THOSE WHO MADE THE ANNUAL OSSETT UNITED BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY SUCH A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. A SELL-OUT CROWD OF 2,500 WERE ONCE AGAIN TREATED TO A FANTASTIC EVENING’S ENTERTAINMENT. THE EVENT DOESN’T ACHIEVE ITS SUCCESS PURELY BY CHANCE. MANY CLUB OFFICIALS AND SUPPORTERS ALIKE PUT IN A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO MAKING THE NIGHT RUN SO SMOOTHLY AND ALL ARE TO BE THANKED MOST SINCERELY AND WARMLY CONGRATULATED. SPECIAL MENTION, HOWEVER, MUST GO TO NICK SMITH AND NICK FARMER WHO

DO MUCH OF THE SPADEWORK AND SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ORGANISATION.

FINALLY LAST SATURDAY AT NORTH SHIELDS AN ATTENDEE AT THE GAME WAS NONE OTHER THAN ‘SUPERMAC’ HIMSELF THE EX-NEWCASTLE UNITED AND ENGLAND CENTRE FORWARD MALCOLM MACDONALD. AS A NORTH SHIELDS SUPPORTER HE MUST HAVE BEEN ELATED WITH THEIR VERY LAST KICK OF THE MATCH EQUALISER BUT SURELY THE PHOTO OPPORTUNITY FOR A PICTURE WITH MOZ WILL HAVE ECLIPSED THAT AND NO DOUBT BE A PROUD MOMENT WHICH WILL LONG LIVE IN MR. MACDONALD’S MEMORY!

THE NEXT OSSETT UNITED FOODBANK COLLECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 10TH AND DECEMBER 17TH . ALL DONATIONS WILL BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.

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.

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

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 .

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

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 .

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

RYAN PUGH– GOALKEEPER 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 .

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

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 .

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

PLAYER PROFILES

EDD HALL

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 .

SPONSORED BY: FOOTBALLBOOKREVIEWS.COM

BRAD BEATSON

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

SPONSORED BY: STEVE MAUD

DANNY BURNS

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 .

SPONSORED BY JAMES & DAWN ROGERS

HARRY GAGEN

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 .

SPONSORED BY: LJB JOINERY

CONNOR HODGSON

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 .

SPONSORED BY: JAYNE OGLEY & RED BRICK FM

PLAYER PROFILES

DANNY SOUTH

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 .

SPONSORED BY THE ADAMSON FAMILY

CADMAN JOINS THE CLUB FROM SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC WHERE HE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THEIR PROMOTION TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH IN 21/22. CADDY HAS PLAYED FOR HARROGATE TOWN , STALEYBRIDGE CELTIC AND HYDE UNITED IN HIS CAREER AND WILL ADD ABILITY AND EXPERIENCE TO THE SQUAD.

SPONSORED BY: OSSETT TOWN JUNIORS

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.

SPONSORED BY: KEITH & KATH WOOD

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 .

SPONSORED BY: THE OUFC SCOTTISH SUPPORTERS CLUB

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

SPONSORED BY: THE HANKS FAMILY

JANNI LIPKA

JAMES CADMAN

MICHAEL HOLLINGSWORTH

PLAYER PROFILES

OLI METCALFE

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 .

SPONSORED BY SPOFF & KATE

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

SPONSORED BY: LIAM MOORE-MCCLUSKEY

GEORGE THEWLIS

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 .

SPONSORED BY: PAUL COOPER

NATHAN CURTIS

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 .

SPONSORED BY: ROY TAYLOR & RICHARD FARRELL

BRAD GRAYSON

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.

SPONSORED BY JOHN BOWKER

PLAYER PROFILES

BEN SPENT HIS TEENAGE YEARS WITH DERBY COUNTY AND BARNSLEY BEFORE STEPPING INTO NON -LEAGUE WITH THE LIKES OF BARWELL TOWN , GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY , FRICKLEY ATHLETIC AND BELPER TOWN . THE WINGER IS EQUALLY COMFORTABLE DOWN THE MIDDLE AND ADDS OPTIONS TO THE SQUAD.

SPONSORED BY: BSP HYDRAULICS

PETERSON HAS SIGNED FROM SHEFFIELD AFTER STARTING THE SEASON AT BELPER TOWN WHO HE HELPED TO PROMOTION IN 21/22. THE STRIKER IS A HANDFUL FOR OPPOSITION CENTRAL DEFENDERS AND WILL ADD STEEL TO THE FORWARD LINE .

SPONSORED BY: MOZ & MARV

MATCHDAY HOSPITALITY FROM £250

SPONSOR A MATCH OF YOUR CHOICE FOR UP TO 8 PEOPLE (£30 PER HEAD FOR ADDITIONAL GUESTS)

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

GROUND ENTRY, ACCESS TO HOSPITALITY SUITE WITH PANORAMIC PITCH VIEWS (2PM-5PM)

SELECT THE OFFICIAL PLAYER OF THE MATCH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN THE DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

AND PA ANNOUNCER

GOURMET BUFFET

SIX BEERS, WINE OR SOFT DRINKS PER PERSON

ENQUIRIES TO: COMMERCIAL@OSSETTUTD.COM

BEN MORRIS

ALEX PETERSON

NORTH SHIELDS 1-1 OSSETT UNITED

OSSETT UNITED MADE THE NEAR TWO HOUR JOURNEY TO NORTH SHIELDS ON BONFIRE NIGHT AND THERE WERE CERTAINLY FIREWORKS BY FULL TIME AS THE TWO SIDES PLAYED OUT AN ENTERTAINING DRAW.

JAMES CADMAN CAME STRAIGHT INTO THE STARTING XI TO MAKE HIS DEBUT AFTER SIGNING FROM SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC AS DID 17 YEAR OLD GOALKEEPER LIAM HALL WHO REPLACED THE UNAVAILABLE EDD HALL. ALEX PETERSON WHO JOINED THIS WEEK FROM SHEFFIELD FC HAD TO MAKE DO WITH A PLACE ON THE SUBS BENCH AS JACK WILSON AND DAVID BROWN DROPPED OUT OF THE 16 TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW ADDITIONS.

IT WAS THE HOME SIDE WHO STARTED THE GAME QUICKLY, WINNING A CORNER IN THE OPENING MINUTES THAT WAS HEADED WIDE FROM CLOSE RANGE BEFORE CHRIS MCDONALD HIT A SHOT FROM DISTANCE THAT REBOUNDED OFF THE CROSSBAR.

OSSETT UNITED FOUND A WAY INTO THE GAME WITH SOME EXCELLENT POSSESSION FOOTBALL AND PINNED THE HOME SIDE BACK FOR SIGNIFICANT PERIODS OF TIME, THE OPENING CHANCE HOWEVER CAME FROM A DIRECT BALL THAT WAS BADLY MISJUDGED BY THE NORTH SHIELDS DEFENCE, BRAD GRAYSON REACTING QUICKLY AS HE ADVANCED ON GOAL ONLY FOR FINLAY HODGSON TO BE EQUAL TO THE SHOT IN THE NORTH SHIELDS GOAL.

JAMES CADMAN HAD A STRIKE FROM 20 YARDS SAVED BY HODGSON AFTER EXCELLENT FOOTBALL AROUND THE AREA PRESENTED THE OPPORTUNITY. GRAYSON AGAIN WAS DENIED BY HODGSON WHO SAVED A POINT BLANK EFFORT BEFORE THE BALL FOUND ITS WAY TO LIPKA WHO STRUCK WELL BUT INCHES WIDE.

HODGSON ONCE AGAIN WAS THE HOME SIDE’S SAVIOUR AS ALDRICH FOUND CADMAN WHO HAD A CLEAR RUN ON GOAL, HIS CLEVER CHIP OVER THE KEEPER JUST NOT HIGH ENOUGH AS HE GOT FINGER TIPS TO IT, TAKING ENOUGH POWER OF THE SHOT TO GIVE HIS DEFENDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR OFF THE LINE. ON THE STROKE OF HALF TIME OSSETT BELIEVED THEY HAD FINALLY BEATEN HODGSON AS HOGG FINISHED A FINE CROSS FROM CADMAN ONLY TO SEE THE ASSISTANT STANDING WITH HIS FLAG RAISED.

SCORELESS AT HALF TIME, BOTH SIDES WILL HAVE FELT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE SCORESHEET, DESPITE NORTH SHIELDS HITTING THE WOODWORK HALL WAS NOT CALLED INTO ACTION TO STOP ANY SHOTS ON TARGET WHILE THE HOME KEEPER CERTAINLY HAD HAD HIS WORK CUT OUT IN THE OPENING

45 MINUTES. BLACK MADE ONE CHANGE AT HALF TIME WITH PETERSON REPLACING ALDRICH AND IT WAS THE NEW MAN WHO WAS THE FIRST TO GO CLOSE IN THE SECOND HALF AS HE COLLECTED THE BALL FROM CADMAN ONLY TO SEE HIS EFFORT FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA CURL WIDE OF THE POST

HALL AGAIN DID NOT HALF A SHOT TO SAVE EXCEPT ONE OCCASION WHEN THE BALL WAS WHIPPED PAST HIM ONLY FOR A SPECTACULAR DIVING HEADER OFF THE LINE BY BEATSON TO PREVENT A GOAL.

WITH TIME RUNNING OUT AN OVERHEAD KICK FROM BURNS WAS ONLY BETTERED BY THE HOME KEEPER WHO MADE A TREMENDOUS SAVE TO TIP THE BALL OVER.

THE REFEREE INDICATED A MINIMUM OF FOUR ADDITIONAL MINUTES AT THE CLOCK HIT 90, OSSETT UNITED NOT CONTENT WITH A POINT CONTINUED TO PRESS AND LOOKED TO HAVE WON IT IN THE 93RD MINUTE AS A LIPKA FREE-KICK FOUND ITS WAY TO PETERSON WHO STABBED HOME AT THE FAR POST TO SEND THE TRAVELLING SUPPORT INTO ECSTASY.

TO THE FRUSTRATION OF THE OSSETT BENCH AND SUPPORTERS FOUR MINUTES OF TIME ADDED ON BECAME FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN DESPITE THERE BEING NO INJURIES OR STOPPAGES OTHER THAN THE GOAL. AS THE GAME ENTERED THE 98TH MINUTE FRUSTRATIONS BOILED OVER AND BOTH PUGH AND BLACK WERE CAUTIONED FOR QUESTIONING THE TIME LEFT. THEY WERE TOLD THE FREE-KICK TO NORTH SHIELDS WOULD BE THE FINAL PHASE OF PLAY AND AS THE BALL WENT DEAD THE FULL TIME RESULT WAS EXPECTED.

INCREDIBLY THE REFEREE ALLOWED THE CORNER TO BE TAKEN AND A SCRAMBLE IN THE OSSETT BOX ENSUED BEFORE THE BALL WAS PARTIALLY CLEARED, YET THE FULL TIME WHISTLE STILL DID NOT COME, THE BALL WAS PUT BACK INTO THE AREA AND FELL NICELY FOR THE ADVANCED NORTH SHIELDS GOALKEEPER, HODGSON, WHO STABBED THE BALL INTO THE CORNER OF THE GOAL TO EARN THE HOME SIDE A POINT WITH JUST THEIR SECOND EFFORT ON TARGET.

THE REFEREE DECIDED 100 MINUTES WAS ENOUGH FOR THE GAME BLEW THE FULL TIME WHISTLE.

WHILST OSSETT UNITED CAN RIGHTLY BE FRUSTRATED BY THE EXCESSIVE TIME ADDED ON HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE HOME SIDES GOALKEEPER THE LEAD WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ONE WHEN HE STEERED HOME THE EQUALISER.

LINCOLN UNITED

NYKAH LIBURD-HINES (GK) – AFTER TRIALLING AND PERFORMING WELL IN PRESEASON, THE EX-NOTTINGHAM FOREST SHOTSTOPPER AGREED TO SIGN FOR ‘THE WHITES’.

JACK STEGGLES (GK) – ‘STEGGS’ JOINED THE CLUB IN JANUARY 2021 AFTER SPELLS AT CARLTON TOWN AND RADFORD FC. THE SHOTSTOPPER MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION WITH A MOTM PERFORMANCE IN HIS DEBUT AGAINST BRIDLINGTON TOWN; ‘STEGGS’ WAS PIVOTAL IN UNITED’S GREAT ESCAPE LAST SEASON.

JOSH WILSON (GK) – COMING THROUGH THE YOUTH SECTION AT THE CLUB, JOSH, HAS BEEN EVER-PRESENT AT UNITED. STILL ONLY 20 AND WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE, JOSH MADE HIS DEBUT AWAY AT SHEFFIELD FC LAST SEASON.

AJ ADELEKAN (DEF) - FORMER GRANTHAM TOWN, ALFRETON TOWN AND STAMFORD DEFENDER, AJ, SIGNED FOR 'THE WHITES' THIS SUMMER. AJ'S VERSATILITY AS A CENTRE-BACK OR LEFT-BACK ADDS DEPTH AND QUALITY TO UNITED'S BACKLINE MOVING INTO THE 2022-23 SEASON. AN EXCITING SIGNING FOR UNITED WHO WILL NO DOUBT BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE SQUAD.

HARRISON AINSLIE (DEF) – LAST SEASON’S U18S CAPTAIN, LIFTING THREE TROPHIES WITH ASSISTANT MANAGER, MATT O’HALLORAN. EXLINCOLN CITY YOUNGSTER, AINSLIE, CAN PLAY AT RIGHT-BACK OR CENTRE-BACK AND HAVING IMPRESSED DURING PRE-SEASON, WE’RE

PLAYER PROFILES

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HARRISON DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THIS COMING SEASON. JACK ARBON (DEF) – A YOUNG 18 YEAR OLD WHO JOINED THE CLUB IN THE SUMMER BEFORE THE ‘21-22 SEASON, STRAIGHT FROM COLLINGHAM U18S. JACK HAD A GREAT START TO THE LAST CAMPAIGN, PLAYING REGULARLY, ALTHOUGH AN ANKLE INJURY BROUGHT THE SEASON TO A CLOSE EARLY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING JACK PLAY AND DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THIS COMING SEASON.

MAX BAKER (DEF) – A PRODUCT OF OUR YOUTH SYSTEM, STARTED THE SEASON AS A FULL-BACK BUT A BROKEN METATARSAL MEANT THAT MAX MISSED A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE CAMPAIGN. AFTER RETURNING FROM INJURY, MAX PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE ON THE LEFT WING, SECURING UNITED’S NPL SAFETY, SCORING THREE GOALS IN THREE GAMES, WITHIN THE LAST FOUR GAMES OF THE SEASON.

SIMON BIGGS (DEF) – ‘BIGGSY’ JOINED THE CLUB WHEN SAM WILKINSON WAS ANNOUNCED, FOLLOWING WILKINSON FROM HYKEHAM TOWN. ABLE TO PLAY CENTRALLY OR AS A RIGHT-BACK, ‘BIGGSY’ UNFORTUNATELY SUFFERED A SNAPPED ACHILLES, MAKING A RECOVERY TOWARDS THE BACK END OF THE LAST CAMPAIGN. WE HOPE TO SEE THE BEST OF SIMON MOVING INTO THE ‘2223 CAMPAIGN.

CALLUM FOSTER (DEF) – ORIGINALLY A PRODUCT OF THE CLUB’S YOUTH SYSTEM,

THE WHITES

‘FOZZY’ RETURNED TO THE CLUB IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 AFTER A BRIEF, YET SUCCESSFUL SPELL AT WINTERTON RANGERS. A STORMING START TO THE 2020-21 SEASON SAW ‘FOZZY’ BECOME A ‘MUST-HAVE’ ON THE PITCH AND AS SUCH IS NOW UNITED’S VICE-CAPTAIN. ALTHOUGH A STOP-START CAMPAIGN THROUGH INJURY LAST SEASON SAW THE CENTRE-BACK FRUSTRATED, HIS PERFORMANCES TOWARDS THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN WERE ESSENTIAL TO UNITED AVOIDING RELEGATION.

LOUIE JARVIS (DEF) – AFTER PROGRESSING THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM INTO THE FIRST TEAM LAST SEASON, JARVIS PLAYED SEVERAL DIFFERENT POSITIONS, DUE TO HIS VERSATILITY. LOUIE’S STINT AT RIGHT BACK SAW HIM SETTLE INTO UNITED’S STARTING ELEVEN, AGAIN, PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN UNITED’S BID FOR SURVIVAL.

KALLUM SMITH (DEF) – UNITED’S MOST EXPERIENCED PLAYER WITH OVER 400+ APPEARANCES, AS WELL AS HAVING SPELLS AT BOTH GRANTHAM TOWN AND BOSTON UNITED. A VERSATILE PLAYER WHO STARTED AS A WINGER BUT THROUGH HIS ABILITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND HIS QUALITY OF PASSING HAS FOUND HIMSELF AS A FULL-BACK. KALLUM’S WILL-TO-WIN, WORK ETHIC AND ALL-AROUND QUALITY MAKE HIM A KEY PLAYER ON AND OFF THE PITCH.

CALLUM CHAPMAN (MID) – ‘CHAPPY’ SIMILARLY, TO ‘FOZZY’ ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH UNITED’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM BUT AFTER A SUCCESSFUL SPELL AWAY AT WINTERTON

RANGERS, RETURNED TO THE CLUB LAST SUMMER. A SUCCESSFUL START UNDER SAM WILKINSON WAS CUT SHORT BY A KNEE INJURY, WHICH HAS SEEN ‘CHAPPY’ UNDERGO SURGERY, WE HOPE TO SEE HIM BACK ON THE PITCH AT SOME POINT THIS SEASON.

SHANE CLARKE (MID) – UNITED’S MARQUEE SIGNING FOR THE ‘22-23 CAMPAIGN. EXPROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER, CLARKE, HAS PLAYED AT LINCOLN CITY, GATESHEAD, GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY, BOSTON UNITED, TAMWORTH, WORKSOP TOWN AND GRANTHAM TOWN. THE EXPERIENCED CENTRAL MIDFIELD WILL BRING SOME VITAL EXPERIENCE AND UNDOUBTED QUALITY TO ‘THE WHITES’ MIDFIELD.

SIDNEI COSTA (MID) – ORIGINALLY SIGNING FOR UNITED WHEN WILKINSON MOVED FROM HYKEHAM TOWN. THE PORTUGUESE MIDFIELDER LEFT THE CLUB FOR NEWARK TOWN LAST SUMMER HOWEVER, UPON FUNNELL’S APPOINTMENT, COSTA RETURNED TO THE CLUB AND WAS A HUGE REASON FOR UNITED STAYING IN THE NPL.

MATT COTTON (MID) – RETURNED TO THE CLUB, ALIGNED WITH WILKINSON’S RETURN, PRIOR TO ‘21-22 CAMPAIGN. ‘COTTS’ HAS FANTASTIC ABILITY ON THE BALL, WHICH IS EQUALLY MATCHED BY HIS WORK RATE OFF IT. LAST SEASON’S TOP-SCORER AND THE LEAGUE’S THIRD TOP-SCORER WITH 21 GOALS, UNITED’S CAPTAIN, CAN UNLOCK DEFENCES AND RAISE STANDARDS THROUGH HIS OWN PERFORMANCES, MAKING HIM A KEY PLAYER FOR ‘THE WHITES’

LINCOLN UNITED

TOBIAS LIVERSIDGE (MID) – AN EX-LINCOLN CITY YT, ‘TOBES’ JOINED THE CLUB LAST SEASON, MAKING THE MOST APPEARANCES OF ANY PLAYER IN THE SQUAD. PLAYING MAINLY IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD, TOBY, ARGUABLY SAW HIS BEST PERFORMANCES WHEN PLAYING OUT WIDE. SIMILARLY TO OTHERS, THE YOUNG ATTACKING MIDFIELDER PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE SURVIVAL OF ‘THE WHITES’, SCORING AN IMPORTANT GOAL IN THE HOME WIN OVER YORKSHIRE AMATEUR.

HARRY MILLARD (MID) – HARRY HAS BEEN AT THE CLUB FOR SOME TIME NOW AND IS PROBABLY WELL KNOWN TO NPL OPPONENTS AND REFEREES. MILLARD LEFT FOR SLEAFORD TOWN IN NOVEMBER BUT RETURNED WHEN FUNNELL WAS APPOINTED, THE DYNAMIC CDM WAS HUGE FOR UNITED IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE ‘21-22 SEASON. NOT AFRAID TO ‘MIX-IT’ AND HAS GREAT QUALITY IN SUPPORTING UNITED TO GET ON THE ATTACK. A GREAT CHARACTER ON AND OFF THE PITCH AND IS PIVOTAL TO THIS YOUNG ‘WHITES’ SIDE.

LEO PRIESTLEY (MID) – LEO PLAYED FOR THE CLUB’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM LAST SEASON, WINNING THE TEAM’S ‘PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR’ AWARD. THE YOUNG CENTRAL MIDFIELDER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE THROUGHOUT PRE-SEASON AND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY PLAY A BIG PART IN ‘THE WHITES’ CAMPAIGN.

JACK WIGHTWICK (MID) – JACK RETURNED TO THE CLUB DURING OCTOBER LAST SEASON AFTER A SHORT SPELL AWAY AT SKEGNESS TOWN. THE TRICKY WIDE PLAYER CAN OPEN DEFENCES WITH HIS CROSSING AND DRIBBLING ABILITIES.

RORY ATKINSON (ATT) – RORY, SIMILARLY TO OTHERS HAS BEEN AT THE CLUB, AND HAS DEVELOPED THROUGH UNITED’S YOUTH SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY, A RUPTURED ACL PUT A PRICE TO THE YOUNG STRIKER PLAYING ANY FOOTBALL IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. QUICK, ROBUST AND KEEN TO IMPRESS, ATKINSON, WILL CERTAINLY BE AN ASSET TO ‘THE WHITES’ FOR THE FORTHCOMING SEASON.

ANDY JANSSEN (ATT) – ANOTHER PRODUCT OF UNITED’S YOUTH SECTION. A TALL, YOUNG STRIKER WHO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DO IT ALL.

LAST SEASON WAS ‘JANNY’S’ INAUGURAL SEASON WITHIN THE FIRST TEAM AND HE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH SEVEN LEAGUE GOALS.

JAKE PARK (ATT) – SIMILARLY TO ‘BIGGSY’, JAKE SIGNED FOR UNITED UPON SAM’S APPOINTMENT, FOLLOWING HIM FROM HYKEHAM TOWN. LAST SEASON, PARK, FINISHED AS THE TEAM’S SECOND TOP SCORER WITH EIGHT LEAGUE GOALS. UNITED’S TARGET-MAN IS MORE THAN GOALS, HIS HOLD-UP PLAY AND ABILITY TO BRING PLAYERS INTO PLAY IS ESSENTIAL. A FANTASTIC END TO THE ‘21-22 CAMPAIGN HAS SEEN THAT CARRIED ON DURING PRE-SEASON, WE’RE CONVINCED AN EXCITING CAMPAIGN AHEAD FOR UNITED’S #9 AWAITS.

JOSH PARKER (ATT) – LAST SEASON’S U18S TOP-SCORER AND A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CLUB’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THE YOUNG ATTACKER HAS THE ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE GOALS AND ASSISTS THIS SEASON. JOSH CAN PLAY OFF THE LEFT OR AS A CENTRAL STRIKER,.

A YOUNG MIDFIELDER WITH AN EXCELLENT ATTITUDE MAKING HIS WAY IN THE GAME. OLI JOINED OSSETT UNITED LAST SEASON ON LOAN FROM GUISELEY AND MADE THE MOVE PERMANENT THIS SUMMER. HE’S NOT AFRAID TO GET STUCK IN AND KNOWS WHERE THE GOAL IS.

A

IS FOR ARTIST: WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE SINGER? BAD BOY CHILLER CREW B

IS FOR CRUSH: WHO WAS YOUR FIRST? MICHELLE KEEGAN

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

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

IS FOR HERO. WHAT SUPERPOWER DO YOU WANT I

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

J IS FOR JOKE. TELL US ONE

IS FOR KARAOKE. WHAT’S YOUR TUNE?

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

IS FOR MATCH. THE BEST OF YOUR CAREER?

IS FOR NICKNAME. WHAT DO YOU GET CALLED?

SWEET CAROLINE… VERY BASIC !

HOLLI! HE LOVES TO TRIM HIS BEARD IN THE CHANGING ROOM BEFORE A GAME!

STARTING MY DEBUT FOR GUISELEY IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH V GATESHEAD

METS

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

IS FOR YOU DO Q

MACAULAY LANGSTAFF , 18

NOTTS COUNTY THIS SEASON

IS FOR SPECIALIST R

IS FOR DO YOU

IS FOR SPORT. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE OUTSIDE FOOTBALL

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

IS FOR UPSET. HOW FAR HAVE YOU GOT IN THE FA CUP?

IS FOR VROOM. WHAT IS YOUR DREAM CAR?

TENNIS

IS FOR WHO. WHO DO YOU

NONE

FIRST ROUND PROPER, AWAY TO WIMBLEDON

MOST OF THE LADS MOCK ME BECAUSE I CAN’T DRIVE YET! I’M NOT ANSWERING THIS ONE!

MANCHESTER UNITED

MYSELF.

FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS

HER GAME TOO: A MANIFESTO FOR CHANGE BY

WHEN ENGLAND’S LIONESSES BROUGHT HOME THE NATION’S FIRST MAJOR TROPHY IN ALMOST SIXTY YEARS, THEY GALVANISED A NATION. FANS NEW AND OLD, MALE AND FEMALE, GOT BEHIND THE TEAM AND WOMEN’S FOOTBALL REACHED NEW HEIGHTS. IT WAS A DEMONSTRATION OF ALL THAT IS BRILLIANT IN SPORT AND A CELEBRATION OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY AT ITS FINEST. FOR MANY WOMEN, HOWEVER, FOOTBALL HASN’T

MATT RILEY

BEEN, AND ISN’T ALWAYS, A SAFE, WELCOMING AND EQUAL SPACE. INCIDENTS OF SEXISM AND MISOGYNY HAVE BEEN ALL TOO OFTEN THE EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN IN FOOTBALL, WHETHER AS PLAYERS, EMPLOYEES OR FANS. AND IT WAS SUCH UNDESIRABLE EXPERIENCES THAT LED TO TWO WOMEN MAKING A STAND.

ON 15 MAY 2021, CAZ MAY AND LUCY FORD, BOTH HAVING SUFFERED NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES AS WOMEN AT MEN’S FOOTBALL MATCHES, ESTABLISHED HER GAME TOO (HGT) – A CAMPAIGN TO ‘ERADICATE SEXISM IN THE FOOTBALL INDUSTRY’ ALLOWING ‘WOMEN AND GIRLS OF ALL AGES TO FEEL CONFIDENT AND SAFE’ WITHIN FOOTBALL, WHICH LAUNCHED WITH A HARD-HITTING AND IMPACTFUL VIDEO, WHICH I URGE ANYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT. HAVING GROWN FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND WITH INCREASING INTEREST AND VISIBILITY FOR WOMEN IN THE GAME, MATT RILEY’S HER GAME TOO REFLECTS ON AND TAKES UP CAZ AND LUCY’S RALLYING CRY.

THE ISSUE OF A MAN WRITING THIS BOOK MAY SEEM SOMEWHAT ASKEW TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT, AS RILEY EXPLAINS, HE IS SIMPLY A FOOTBALL FAN, AND IN A WORLD WITHOUT SEXISM AND MISOGYNY THAT IS WHAT WE ALL ARE: NOT MALE OR FEMALE FANS, JUST FOOTBALL FANS. IT IS ENCOURAGING TOO FOR HGT TO HAVE SUCH A PROUD AND VOCAL MALE ALLY. HAVING SAID THIS, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN EMPOWERING TO HAVE A FEMALE AUTHOR BEHIND THE BOOK? OF

FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS

PUBLISHER: PITCH PUBLISHING LTD. OCTOBER 2022 PAPERBACK: 192 PAGES

COURSE, BUT, ULTIMATELY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE VIA SUPPORTIVE AND COOPERATIVE MEANS AND RILEY IS CLEARLY A COMMITTED AND QUALIFIED ALLY. WHAT’S MORE HIS BOOK GIVES BOTH VOICE TO OTHER KEY ALLIES AND, CRUCIALLY, TO THE WOMEN THEMSELVES WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY INSULT AND ABUSE. INDEED, HGT CARRIED OUT A SURVEY OF FEMALE FANS IN 2021 TO GET A SENSE OF THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AND ALL 371 RESPONSES ARE INCLUDED AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK. IF A READER CHOOSES TO READ NOTHING ELSE, THIS ALONE GIVES A CLEAR INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM THAT INSTIGATED THE NEED FOR HGT.

TO SEXISM AND MISOGYNY IN THE GAME AND WHILE IT IS CLEAR THERE IS MUCH STILL TO BE DONE, THERE ARE EXAMPLES, NOT LEAST IN THE WORK OF HGT, THAT OFFER HOPE. WHILST THE GROWTH OF HGT MAY SEEM TO REFLECT THE CONTINUING CHALLENGES IN FOOTBALL, CONVERSELY IT IS A SYMBOL OF TRANSFORMATION AND PROGRESS, OF A GROUNDSWELL OF CHANGE, A CHORUS OF KNOWING VOICES. THE MESSAGE THAT COMES

ACROSS LOUD AND CLEAR IS THAT THERE IS NO REASON WHY WOMEN SHOULDN’T BE INVOLVED IN FOOTBALL IN WHATEVER GUISE THEY WISH, THEY HAVE EQUAL RIGHT TO BE SUPPORTERS,

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

FEBRUARY

MARCH

PLAYER STATS

FORMER PLAYERS

PITCHING IN NPL EAST

2022/2023

LINCOLN UNITED

FOUNDED

IN 1938, LINCOLN UNITED FOOTBALL

CLUB WERE FORMALLY KNOWN AS LINCOLN AMATEURS, PLAYING IN THE LINCOLN LEAGUE. IN 1950 THE CLUB SIGNED ITS FIRST SEMIPROFESSIONAL PLAYER (ON 5 SHILLINGS A WEEK, 25P IN TODAY'S MONEY!) AT WHICH POINT THE CLUB WAS RE-NAMED TO LINCOLN UNITED AKA 'THE WHITES'.

THE CLUB WON ITS FIRST HONOURS IN THE 1963-64 SEASON WITH THE LINCOLNSHIRE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE LINCOLNSHIRE SENIOR B CUP. OVER THE YEARS THE CLUB HAS WON HONOURS IN VARIOUS LEAGUES, AS THEY HAVE PROGRESSED AND GROWN IN THE FOOTBALL PYRAMID, SECURING THREE PROMOTIONS IN 3 YEARS, IN THE LATE 80'S, UNDER THE GREAT JOHN WILKINSON.

THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, LINCOLN UNITED HAS BEEN A MAJOR FORCE IN THE CITY OF LINCOLN FOOTBALL SCENE, AS WELL AS PLAYING A HUGE PART WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. IT IS DOWN TO THE EFFORTS OF MANY OFFICIALS, PLAYERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND SPONSORS OVER THE YEARS THAT THE CLUB HAS BEEN SHAPED INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY.

IN 2020 THE CLUB STARTED A NEW CHAPTER IN THE CLUB'S HISTORY, WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD, THAT HAS SINCE STEERED THE CLUB TO FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. DELIVERING SIGNIFICANT STADIUM INVESTMENT AND UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH. LINCOLN UNITED FC NOW BOAST

32 TEAMS ACROSS ALL SECTIONS OF THE CLUB: MEN'S AND WOMEN'S 1ST TEAMS, MEN'S, AND WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT TEAMS AND 28 JUNIOR TEAMS (BOYS AND GIRLS). IN ADDITION, LINCOLN UNITED IS NOW OFFERING A FANTASTIC NEW EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES; WITH A B-TECH ACADEMY FOR 16–18-YEAROLDS PARTNERING WITH LINCOLN COLLEGE, MINI-WHITES FOR 4- & 5-YEAR-OLDS, WILDCATS FOR GIRLS 5-11 AND LINCS LADIES PLAY, A SUCCESSFUL RECREATIONAL OFFER PROMOTING OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO PLAY IN A RELAXED SETTING.

THE NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART SPRINKLER PITCH IRRIGATION SYSTEM, NEW FLOODLIGHTS, NEW BRANDING/SIGNAGE AND OTHER COSMETIC AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS HAS SEEN ASHBY AVENUE SHAKE OFF ITS TIRED LOOK, WITH FUTURE IMPROVEMENT STILL TO COME.

ON THE PITCH, THE NEW BOARD AND THE REAPPOINTMENT OF SAM WILKINSON SAW LINCOLN UNITED START THE 2020-21 SEASON WELL IN THE NPL MIDLANDS DIVISION, SITTING ONEPOINT OUTSIDE OF THE PLAY-OFFS AS THE SEASON WAS CURTAILED BY COVID. FOLLOWING THE RETURN TO NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL, UNITED WAS RE-ASSIGNED TO THE EAST DIVISION WHICH BROUGHT A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCH, GIVEN THE VAST INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL. THE 2021-22 SEASON WAS STRUGGLE THROUGHOUT FOR VARIOUS REASONS; 'THE

THE WHITES

WHITES' EXITED EARLY FROM BOTH THE FA CUP AND THE FA TROPHY, UNITED MANAGED TO PICK-UP IMPORTANT WINS AT TIMES WHEN IT MATTERED BUT THERE WERE ALSO LONG RUNS WHERE UNITED DIDN'T PICK-UP ANY POINTS. AS SUCH, UNITED WERE DRAGGED INTO A RELEGATION BATTLE, WILKINSON RESIGNING FROM HIS POSITION AS MANAGER AFTER A HOME DEFEAT TO TADCASTER ALBION. THE BOARD APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL

AND WOMEN'S FIRST TEAM MANAGER, CHRIS FUNNELL, ON AN INTERIM BASIS WITH NINE GAMES TO GO. UNITED MANAGED TO PICK-UP 11 POINTS IN THEIR LAST SIX GAMES, EVENTUALLY SURVIVING RELEGATION ON THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON AFTER THREE CONSECUTIVE WINS. AFTER ACHIEVING WHAT SEEMED UNIMAGINABLE AT THE START OF APRIL, FUNNELL WAS APPOINTED AS THE CLUB'S MEN'S FIRST TEAM MANAGER FOR THE 2022-23 SEASON.

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

OUR BENCH THE MORE THE WORRY SET IN, WE COULDN’T CONCEDE, COULD WE? THE FREE KICK WAS TAKEN, THE BALL HAD GONE OUT OF PLAY FOR A CORNER AND ANOTHER CARD WAS BRANDISHED TO OUR COACHING TEAM, THEN THE KEEPER CAME UP.

WELL, WHAT A BITTERSWEET DAY LAST SATURDAY WAS, A 93RD MINUTE WINNER FROM DEBUTANT ALEX PETERSON WHICH GAVE ME MY “STOCKTON TIME” MOMENT, AND THE JOY, AND MY ELATION WAS PROBABLY THERE FOR ALL TO HEAR ON OSSETT UNITED RADIO. WE’D ROLLED BACK THE YEARS AS I WAS JOINED ON COMMENTARY BY MY ORIGINAL PARTNER IN CRIME GARY WIGGLESWORTH. GARY WHO JOKINGLY CALLS HIMSELF OUR ‘NORTH EAST CORRESPONDENT’ DID A BRILLIANT JOB BEARING IN MIND HE HARDLY KNEW ANY OF THE PLAYERS, BUT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL RESULT, ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY (NOT THE WEATHER OF COURSE), AND THE FUN BUS WAS GOING TO BE JUST THAT ON THE WAY BACK TO WEST YORKSHIRE - FUN! NOW I DIDN’T SEE THE BOARD GO UP, BUT I’VE SINCE BEEN TOLD THERE WERE 4 MINUTES ADDED TIME, WHEN WE WENT IN TO 6 MINUTES THERE WAS A MASSIVE ELEMENT OF DOUBT IN MY MIND AS NORTH SHIELDS HAD A FREE KICK AT THE EDGE OF THE AREA, BUT THE MORE TIME THE REF GOT CARD AND WHISTLE HAPPY TOWARDS

I HAD THIS INKLING STRAIGHT AWAY THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND MY “STOCKTON TIME” WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME. CUE THE 98TH MINUTE AND THE CORNER COMES IN, IT’S CLEARED OFF THE LINE AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE SHIELDS’ KEEPER BURIES THE BALL IN TO THE BACK OF OUR NET. ULTIMATELY, AND I ALWAYS TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM CONTROVERSY, WE WERE ROBBED. I ONLY FOUND OUT FROM BLACKIE AFTER THE GAME THAT THE REF HAD TOLD OUR BENCH THAT AS SOON AS THE FREE-KICK WAS TAKEN THEN HE WOULD BLOW - GOAL OR NOT. AND THAT SIMPLY DID NOT HAPPEN, SO WHERE DID THE EXTRA TIME COME FROM? EVERY TIME WE PLAY IN THE NORTH EAST WE STRUGGLE WITH THE LOCAL REFEREE’S, AND I’M NOT INSINUATING THAT THERE IS ANY BIASED TOWARDS THE HOME TEAMS BUT IT DOES MAKE YOU THINK.

TALKING ABOUT BITTERSWEET I HAVE SOME NEWS TO SHARE. CHRIS CASSIDY OUR LEAD RADIO COMMENTATOR WON’T BE AROUND AS MUCH AS HE HAD HOPED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SEASON. I WAS GIVEN THE NEWS 2 WEEKS AGO THAT HE HAS GOT HIMSELF A JOB AT DAZN

.

.

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

SPORTS, WHICH ULTIMATELY WILL TAKE HIM AWAY FROM HIS VOLUNTARY ROLE HERE AT OSSETT UNITED. CHRIS HAS BEEN BRILLIANT FOR US IN HIS 18 MONTHS AT THE CLUB, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN HIS ROLE, AND WILL BE SORELY MISSED ON MATCHDAYS, BUT I’M SURE YOU’LL ALL JOIN ME IN WISHING CHRIS THE BEST OF LUCK IN HIS NEW JOB - THOUGH HE HAS SAID HE’LL STILL HELP WHEN HE CAN.

OUR MEDIA TEAM RELY SO MUCH ON STUDENTS TO COME IN AND HELP, BUT ON THE BACK OF THE COVID YEARS THE INTAKE AT THE LOCAL UNIVERSITIES THAT DO MEDIA COURSES IS VERY LOW, HENCE WHY THE GRAPHICS AND VIDEOS

HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT CRUDE THIS SEASON AS I HAVE BEEN (LEARNING) HOW TO DO THEM. WE STILL NEED PEOPLE TO JOIN THE TEAM IN THE FOLLOWING ROLES:

- VIDEOGRAPHER

- VIDEO EDITOR

- GRAPHICS

- RADIO COMMENTARY

IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO MAY BE INTERESTED (AND THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE STUDENTS), PLEASE ASK THEM TO REACH OUT TO US. THEY CAN E-MAIL THEIR INTEREST TO

Ever thought of volunteering to help your local football club?

There are many diferent volunteer roles in non-league football and Northern Premier League football clubs need your help with them.

The Trident Leagues and Pitching In have recently launched a new online Volunteer Hub where you can fnd opportunities and contact your local football club.

Please visit Pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk to fnd out more

REF WATCH

SAM PARNABY

I BECAME OF POCKET ETC BUT FORWARD

I WOULD I PLAYED UP HAVING REFEREEING HIGHER BELIEVE LEAGUE

I STARTED PROMOTED JUMP FROM AT LEVEL MY AMBITION HAVE AGE SHORT LEVEL WHICH

I OFFICIATED 2022 AND CUP FINALS WHICH A PROGRAMME THEM INTO THIS SINCE

4TH QUALIFYING

EDD HALL

BRAD BEATSON

DANNY BURNS

HARRY GAGEN

CONNOR HODGSON

DANNY SOUTH (CPT)

LUKE HOGG

MICHAEL HOLLINGSWORTH

JANNI LIPKA

OLI METCALFE

DERRY ROBSON

GEORGE THEWLIS

DAVID BROWN

JAMES CADMAN

JUNAYD CASSIUS-GILL

NATHAN CURTIS

BRAD GRAYSON

BEN MORRIS

ALEX PETERSON

JACK STEGGLES

SIMON BRIGGS

KALLUM SMITH

CALLUM FOSTER

AJ ADELEKAN

SHANE CLARKE

ELLIOTT DYE

TOBIAS LIVERSIDGE

MATTHEW

LEO PRIESTLEY

JAKE PARK

OLIVER FIELDS

JOSH WILSON

JOSHUA PARKER

EVAN PAYNE

LEWIS SMITH