Ossett United v Sheffield (25/02/2023)

Vs SHEFFIELD

SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY | 15:00

PITCHING IN NPL EAST

MATCH SPONSOR

TEAM IDIOT – DEDICATED TO AIREDALE HODU

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, HAYDN FOX, OWEN GERRARD, JAMES GOTHARD, JON HUNT, GEORGE NORTHOVER, 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 SHEFFIELD

MATCH SPONSOR:

TEAM IDIOT: DEDICATED TO AIREDALE HOSPITAL’S HODU

(HAEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY DAY UNIT)

GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO

INGFIELD FOR TODAY’S PITCHING IN NPL

EAST GAME WITH SHEFFIELD FC.

TODAY IS OUR SIXTH MEETING WITH OUR

SOUTH YORKSHIRE NEIGHBOURS WITH THE RESULT GOING IN OUR FAVOUR THREE TIMES (ONCE ON PENALTIES IN THIS SEASON ’S FA TROPHY ), A DRAW AND A DEFEAT . THEY ARE ALWAYS VERY COMPETITIVE AFFAIRS NONE MORE SO THAN IN THE LEAGUE HERE LAST SEASON WHERE

SHEFFIELD TWICE LED THANKS TO NATHAN

MODEST AND LUKE RAWSON WITH AARON

HASWELL AND JORDAN TURNER BRINGING

THE SCORES LEVEL BEFORE A 90TH MINUTE WINNER FROM IFY OFOEGBU LIFTED THE ROOF OFF!

OUR VISITORS ARE NOT IN THE BEST OF FORM HAVING GONE EIGHT LEAGUE GAMES WITHOUT A WIN BUT WILL HAVE BEEN BUOYED WITH A POINT LAST TIME OUT WITH

CARLTON TOWN , A GAME THEY PLAYED WITH TEN MEN FROM THE 23RD MINUTE

AFTER THEIR GOALKEEPER SAW RED MEANING AN OUTFIELD PLAYER DONNED THE GLOVES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE GAME .

WE ARE ON A RUN OF JUST TWO DEFEATS IN 16 GAMES SINCE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM , WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DRAWS IN THIS TIME IT SHOWS THAT A VERY SOLID BASE HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE WHICH IS THE STARTING POINT FOR ANY SIDE TO BE SUCCESSFUL GOING FORWARD AND THAT IS CERTAINLY THE AIM HERE . WHEN YOU THEN CONSIDER THE CHANGES TO PLAYING PERSONNEL DURING THIS TIME AS GRANT AND HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM BUILD THE SQUAD IN THEIR IMAGE THE RUN IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE AND BODES VERY WELL FOR THE FUTURE .

AS TODAY IS THE FINAL HOME GAME OF THE MONTH , AFTER THE MATCH , IN THE CLUB HOUSE , THE MONTHLY DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE WHERE THE HOLDER OF THE WINNING NUMBER WILL CLAIM £50 AND A BONUS £50 IF THEY ARE IN THE CLUB AT THE TIME OF THE DRAW ! THANKS AGAIN TO NICK SMITH WHO RUNS THE DRAW FOR US . GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY THE GAME !

GRANT BLACK

WELCOME TO INGFIELD FOR TODAY’S CLASH WITH SHEFFIELD FC AS WE LOOK TO BUILD ON A RUN OF FIVE GAMES UNDEFEATED AFTER A HARD FOUGHT POINT AWAY TO THIRD PLACED HEBBURN TOWN. BUT FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SEND THE BEST WISHES OF MYSELF, AND EVERYONE AT OSSETT UNITED TO THE SHEFFIELD MANAGER, RYAN CRESSWELL, WHO HAS HAD A SPELL IN HOSPITAL RECENTLY. AS I WRITE THESE NOTES, I AM UNSURE IF HE WILL BE WITH HIS SIDE TODAY OR NOT BUT WHETHER HE IS OR NOT WE CAN BE CERTAIN HIS SIDE WILL COME OUT QUICKLY AS THEY LOOK TO SECURE A RESULT FOR HIM.

AS WITH EVERY GAME WE HAVE HAD OUR OPPONENTS WATCHED AND WILL LOOK TO NULLIFY THEIR THREATS WHILE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR OWN QUALITIES AS WE LOOK TO END THE GAME WITH ANOTHER THREE POINTS ON THE BOARD.

THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE CHANGE TO THE STARTING ELEVEN TODAY AS CHRIS DAWSON HAS RETURNED TO BUXTON AFTER A VERY POSITIVE SPELL WITH US. DAWS HAS BEEN UNFORTUNATE WITH INJURIES OVER RECENT YEARS AND SHOWED HIS QUALITY WITH US IN RECENT WEEKS, IT IS NO SURPRISE BUXTON WANTED HIM BACK IN HIS SQUAD AND I HAVE NO DOUBT HE WILL MAKE AN IMPRESSION IN THE REMAINDER OF THEIR NATIONAL LEAGUE

NORTH SEASON.

I’D LIKE TO SEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH THE U18 AND WOMEN’S SIDES WHO HAVE BOTH REACHED THE SEMI-FINALS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTY CUP COMPETITIONS. I AM IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH THE U18S AND REGULARLY HAVE MEMBERS OF THEIR IMPRESSIVE SQUAD TRAINING WITH THE FIRST TEAM. IDRIS ATTA AND TOM PRIESTLEY-STANDING HAVE BOTH REGISTERED WITH THE FIRST TEAM AND ARE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR WHICH ADDS GREAT STRENGTH IN DEPTH AS THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE SQUAD KNOW THEY MUST MAINTAIN THE STANDARDS SET IF THEY WANT TO RETAIN THEIR PLACE EACH WEEK.

I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THE GAME AS WE LOOK TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Blackie

T PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

THIS AFTERNOON WE WELCOME ‘THE OLDEST FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE WORLD’ - SHEFFIELD - FOR THIS NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE EAST FIXTURE. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST LEAGUE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE TWO CLUBS THIS SEASON THOUGH WE DID MEET AT SHEFFIELD IN THE FA TROPHY BACK IN SEPTEMBER WHEN OSSETT UNITED PROGRESSED BY WINNING 4 – 2 IN A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT AFTER THE SCORES WERE LEVEL 1 – 1 AT FULL TIME. LUKE ALDRICH WAS THE GOALSCORER FOR OSSETT THAT DAY BUT HE COULD BE IN THE SHEFFIELD LINE UP THIS AFTERNOON HAVING SWITCHED CLUBS A LITTLE WHILE AGO. BASILE ZOTTOS IS ANOTHER EX-OSSETT MAN WHO COULD LINE UP AGAINST US TODAY HAVING ALSO MADE THE SWITCH TO SHEFFIELD EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

AT THE TIME OF WRITING SHEFFIELD ARE NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR OF RELEGATION PROBLEMS WITH BOTH SHILDON AND GRANTHAM TOWN HAVING CLOSED THE POINTS GAP ON THEM IN RECENT WEEKS SO THEY WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE SHOWING ANY COMPLACENCY TODAY AS THEY STRIVE TO

MAINTAIN THEIR NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE STATUS FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THEIR SITUATION HELPED THOUGH BY CARLTON TOWN’S ALARMING SLUMP IN FORM OF LATE WHICH HAS SEEN THEM PLUMMET TO SECOND FROM BOTTOM IN THE TABLE.

TTENDING THIS AFTERNOON’S MATCH HERE INGFIELD IS MARK HARRIS. WHEN THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE WAS RECONSTITUTED AND EXPANDED TO THREE DIVISIONS AT STEP 4 LAST SEASON THE LEAGUE CHAIRMAN MARK HARRIS STATED HIS INTENT TO ATTEND A GAME AT ALL 82 CLUBS AS SOON AS HE POSSIBLY COULD. HOW MANY HE HAS VISITED TO DATE I DON’T KNOW BUT I KNOW IT WILL BE PLENTY AND HIS PRESENCE HERE AT OSSETT UNITED IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE. WE COULD, DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES, ALSO BE JOINED THIS AFTERNOON BY OUR LEAGUE SECRETARY ANGIE FIRTH WHO IS ALSO ALWAYS A WELCOME GUEST HERE AT INGFIELD. HOPEFULLY WE CAN PRODUCE THE KIND OF GAME AND MATCH ORGANISATION WHICH DOES CREDIT TO THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE IN GENERAL AND OUR CLUB IN PARTICULAR. WE ALSO TRUST THAT OUR SUPPORTERS ACT RESPONSIBLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LEAGUE’S HIERARCHY.

I RECENTLY HEARD A CONVERSATION ABOUT A

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

CLUB IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET GROUND GRADING REQUIREMENTS DESPITE BOASTING A HEALTHY BUDGET FOR PLAYING RESOURCES. A FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN HAS APPARENTLY BEEN LAUNCHED WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BEYOND IN ORDER TO FINANCE THE GROUND IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY. THIS WILL BE NO EASY TASK NOT LEAST AS THE DEADLINE FOR THE COMPLETION OF WORKS IS MARCH 31ST OF THIS YEAR. THANKFULLY WE AT OSSETT UNITED HAVE NO SUCH WORRIES ON THIS FRONT AS WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN AWARDED A C GRADE WHICH IS ADEQUATE FOR COMPETITION AT OUR LEVEL AND THE LEVEL ABOVE. DESPITE THAT WE WILL NOT BE RESTING ON OUR LAURELS AND SEVERAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR FACILITIES ARE IN THE PIPELINE AND DUE TO BE STARTED AS SOON AS THE CURRENT SEASON CLOSES. WE WILL SHORTLY BE DRAWING UP A LIST OF PROJECTS (SOME LARGE AND SOME RELATIVELY SMALL)

THAT WE INTEND TO TACKLE AND ANYONE WHO WISHES TO BECOME INVOLVED WILL BE MOST WELCOME. NO PARTICULAR SKILLS ARE REQUIRED OF VOLUNTEERS JUST A WILLINGNESS TO GET INVOLVED AND TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY. FURTHER DETAILS IN DUE COURSE.

ON THE SUBJECT OF THE ABOVE I RECENTLY READ AN INTERESTING ARTICLE BY KRIS RADLINSKI WHO, SINCE QUITTING RUGBY LEAGUE AS A PLAYER, IS NOW THE CEO OF THE WIGAN WARRIORS CLUB. HE IS OF THE OPINION THAT INCREASING THE SALARIES OF PLAYERS IS NO ANSWER TO THE SPORT’S CURRENT PROBLEMS.

IN FACT THAT ROUTE, HE SAYS, WILL FURTHER EXACERBATE THE DEBT SITUATION AT CLUBS AND THERE SHOULD BE NO APPETITE FOR THAT. HIS VIEW IS THAT CLUBS SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME AND MONEY IN IMPROVING THEIR FACILITIES AND WHAT HE CALLS ‘THE WHOLE PACKAGE’ .

HOPEFULLY THAT KIND OF THINKING, WHICH SEEMS TO ME TO MAKE TOTAL SENSE, WILL BE TAKEN ON BOARD HERE AT OSSETT UNITED AS WE STRIVE FOR PROGRESSION ON ALL FRONTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CLUB.

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

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 COATES

HIGHLY RATED CENTRE HALF WHO TURNED DOWN A NUMBER OF CLUBS FROM THE NPL PREMIER DIVISION AND NPL EAST TO SIGN FOR THE CLUB FROM ASHTON UNITED WHERE HE WON A NUMBER OF AWARDS LAST SEASON . COATES FORMER CLUBS INCLUDE TADCASTER ALBION , SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC AND BRADFORD PARK AVENUE

SPONSORED BY: BSP HYDRAULICS

H

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

A VASTLY EXPERIENCED PLAYER WITH FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES FOR DONCASTER ROVERS AND DARLINGTON . NELLY HAS ALSO PLAYED FOR SEVERAL NATIONAL LEAGUE SIDES. A VERSATILE PLAYER WITH EXCELLENT SET PIECE DELIVERY HE IS AN ASSET FOR ANY SIDE .

SPONSORED BY: KEITH & KATH WOOD

ARRY GAGEN

CRAIG NELTHORPE

DANNY BURNS

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

PADDY MILLER IS A WELL KNOWN PLAYER HAVING TURNED OUT FOR THE LIKES OF HYDE UNITED , SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC AND TADCASTER ALBION BEFORE RETIRING FROM THE GAME IN 2019, ENCOURAGED TO RETURN TO THE GAME BY FORMER TEAM MATES NOW AT OSSETT UNITED PADDY WILL BE A VALUABLE ASSET TO THE SIDE .

SPONSORED BY: PAUL COOPER

FABIAN BAILEY

BAILEY JOINS OSSETT UNITED FROM PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES WHERE HE HAS SPENT THE LAST FOUR SEASONS. COMFORTABLE IN DEFENCE OF MIDFIELD HE STARTED HIS CAREER AT ROTHERHAM UNITED AND HAS ALSO HAD SPELLS AT FRICKLEY ATHLETIC AND OSSETT TOWN .

SPONSORED BY: JAYNE OGLEY & RED BRICK FM

COMBATIVE MIDFIELDER, HOGGY WON THE GARY WIDDOP SUPPORTERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 2021/22, HOGG HAD A BRIEF SPELL AT WHITBY TOWN BEFORE JOINING FIRST ON LOAN AND THEN MAKING THE MOVE PERMANENT IN DECEMBER 2022.

SPONSORED BY: R&R GROUNDWORKS

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

SPONSORED BY: THE HANKS FAMILY

LUKE HOGG

PADDY MILLER

PLAYER PROFILES

JAMES CADMAN

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

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

A SKILFUL AND DIRECT WINGER, PETE HAS PLAYED FOR MATLOCK TOWN , BELPER TOWN , FRICKLEY ATHLETIC AND A STINT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC WITH 1.FC SLOVACKO FOLLOWING A SPELL WITH LEEDS UNITED U 18S

SPONSORED BY: STEVE MAUD

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

PITEU CROUZ

NATHAN CURTIS

PLAYER PROFILES

LI 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

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

LUKE JOINED THE CLUB FROM ECCELSHILL UNITED IN THE SUMMER WHERE HE FIRED THEM TO A PLAY -OFF PLACE AND ONE GAME AWAY FROM PROMOTION . HE CONTINUED THAT FORM AT THE START OF THE SEASON EARNING HIMSELF A MOVE TO THE NPL PREMIER DIVISION . LUKE MADE THE DECISION TO RETURN AT THE START OF 2023

SPONSORED BY: THE SCOTTISH SUPPORTERS CLUB

CHRIS DAWSON STARTED HIS CAREER AT LEEDS UNITED WHERE HE MADE FOUR FIRST TEAM APPEARANCES AS WELL AS TWO FOR WALES U 21’S. HE HAS ALSO PLAYED FOR SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC , GRANTHAM TOWN AND BUXTON FROM WHO HE JOINED US ON DUEL REGISTRATION TERMS.

SPONSORED BY: PAUL COOPER

JAMES CARVELL

CARVELL IS COMFORTABLE OUT WIDE OR UP FRONT WITH PACE AND SKILL THAT WILL FRIGHTEN MANY A DEFENDER. CARVS PLAYED FOR DERBY COUNTY , AND BARNSLEY IN HIS YOUTH , AS WELL AS ILKESTON AND BARWELL IN NON -LEAGUE BEFORE SIGNING ON AT INGFIELD IN DECEMBER 2022

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

ALEX PETERSON

LUKE ALDRICH

CHRIS DAWSON

FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS

18 D ECEMBER 2022 – THE LUSAIL S TADIUM .

LIONEL M ESSI RECEIVES THE FIFA W ORLD C UP TROPHY AFTER ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC FINALS IN THE COMPETITIONS HISTORY. THIS IS ARGENTINA ’S, LA ALBICELESTE (THE W HITE AND S KY B LUE), THIRD TRIUMPH FOLLOWING WINS IN 1978 AND 1986 . H OWEVER, FOR ALL THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE FINAL, THE FIRST W ORLD C UP TO BE HELD IN THE ARAB WORLD HAS BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL ONE EVEN FROM THE POINT

Q ATAR WERE AWARDED THE EVENT BACK IN D ECEMBER 2010 . R UMOURS CIRCULATED HOW VOTES HAD BEEN ‘BOUGHT’ TO ENSURE THE TINY BUT INCREDIBLY WEALTHY STATE BECAME HOSTS , WITH MANY AROUND THE GLOBE POINTING TO Q ATAR’S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AS A SIGNIFICANT AND COMPELLING REASON FOR THE COUNTRY TO BE STRIPPED OF THE 2022 EVENT.

THIS HOWEVER WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE STAGING OF THE W ORLD C UP FINALS IN A PARTICULAR NATION HAS PROVED TO BE CONTENTIOUS . R OLL BACK THE CLOCK TO 1978 WITH THE FINALS BEING HELD IN ARGENTINA FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WE HAVE A TOURNAMENT THAT WAS EQUALLY CONTROVERSIAL.

R HYS R ICHARDS’, B LOOD ON THE C ROSSBAR : T HE D ICTATORSHIP ' S W ORLD C UP , EXPLORES WHAT WAS THE ELEVENTH W ORLD C UP FINALS AND IS A BRILLIANT READ . THIS WELL RESEARCHED BOOK IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT ITSELF, BUT ALSO SOCIAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY WITHIN THE S OUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY IN THE LATE 1970 S.

TWO YEARS BEFORE THE FINALS ARGENTINA HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO A MILITARY COUP WITH THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT, ISABEL P ERON , OUSTED BY G ENERAL J ORGE R AFAEL

V IDELA. THIS WAS A DICTATORSHIP THAT RUTHLESSLY IMPRISONED , TORTURED AND KILLED ANYONE WHO OPPOSED THE REGIME AND USED THE W ORLD C UP AS A MASSIVE PROPAGANDA EXERCISE.

BLOOD ON THE CROSSBAR: THE DICTATORSHIP’S WORLD CUP. BY RHYS RICHARDS

FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS

PUBLISHER: PITCH PUBLISHING LTD. SEPTEMBER 2022. HARDCOVER. 304 PAGES

AS A YOUNG TEENAGER AT THE TIME, AND EVEN WITHOUT E NGLAND HAVING QUALIFIED , ALL I NAIVELY CARED ABOUT WAS THE FOOTBALL, AND KNEW NOTHING OF THE POLITICAL SITUATION . THE BOOK WAS THEREFORE A REAL EYE-OPENER IN LEARNING NOT ONLY ABOUT THE CRUEL AND BRUTAL ADMINISTRATION , BUT ABOUT THE OPPOSITION THAT EXISTED BOTH WITHIN ARGENTINA AND ABROAD . FOR INSTANCE, LOS M ONTONEROS (A LEFT WING ORGANISATION WHO SUPPORTED P ERON ) WHO AS PART OF THEIR PROTEST, ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WERE ABLE TO HIJACK THE AUDIO OF ARGENTINA ’S GAMES IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS. THERE WAS ALSO DEEP CONCERNS IN EUROPE, AND A D UTCH ALTERNATIVE CABARET DUO B RAM V ERMEULEN AND FREEK DE J ONGE BEGAN A CAMPAIGN FOR THE N ETHERLANDS TO BOYCOTT THE FINALS . THE TITLE OF THEIR SHOW WAS B LOOD ON THE C ROSSBAR , AND “ FOCUSED ON THE CRIMES OF THE DICTATORSHIP AND THE USE OF THE W ORLD C UP AS A SPORTS -WASHING PROJECT. ” THEY ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH THE D UTCH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (KNVB) BUT ULTIMATELY FAILED AND IRONICALLY THE D UTCH SQUAD WERE THEN USED IN PART OF THE PROPAGANDA WAR AHEAD OF THE FINAL, WITH AN ARTICLE APPEARING PURPORTING TO BE FROM R UDI K ROL, PRAISING THE HOSPITALITY, THE ORGANISATION AND THE MILITARY - ALL THE CONTENT HOWEVER WAS A FORGERY. R ICHARDS THOUGH FOR ALL HIS EXCELLENT EXPLORATION OF ISSUES OFF THE PITCH , DOESN ’T

FORGET ABOUT THOSE ON THE PITCH TAKING READERS THROUGH THE MATCHES GROUP BY GROUP AND DEALING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER CONTROVERSIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOURNAMENT, SUCH AS THE ALLEGATIONS OF DRUG TAKING BY THE ARGENTINA PLAYERS , AND MOST ESPECIALLY THE 6 -0 BEATING OF P ERU THAT PUT LA ALBICELESTE THROUGH THE FINAL.

THE TEENAGE ME REMEMBERS THE FINAL AND THE SEA OF TICKER-TAPE THAT RAINED DOWN FROM THE STANDS OF THE ESTADIO M ONUMENTAL. I’D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND WAS THEN PROCEEDED TO BE DAZZLED BY THE PERFORMANCE OF M ARIO K EMPES AND HIS COMPATRIOTS. N OW THOUGH AFTER READING THIS BOOK, THOSE INNOCENT BOYISH FEELINGS AND RECOLLECTIONS ARE NOW TEMPERED BY AN ADULT REALISATION OF WHAT LAY BEHIND THE SCENE IN THE NAME OF SPORT.

LA ALBICELESTE’S WIN IN 1986 WILL ALWAYS BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRILLIANCE OF M ARADONA WHILST 2022 SAW A FAIRY-TALE ENDING FOR M ESSI’S. Y ET THAT FIRST WIN IN 1978 HAS TO DEAL TO THIS DAY WITH THE STIGMA OF ASSOCIATION WITH THE JUNTA. H OWEVER, THIS BOOK REDRESSES THE BALANCE AND IS A HOMAGE TO THE 1978 WINNERS OF ARGENTINA ’S FIRST W ORLD C UP TRIUMPH AND LEAVES YOU WITH SOME SYMPATHY FOR THE GROUP AS R ICHARDS ATTEMPTS TO GIVE THEM SEPARATION FROM THE ASSOCIATION WITH THE DICTATORSHIP AND THE HORRORS OF THE REGIME OF THE TIME.

FOOTBALL BOOK R SHEFFIELDEVIEWS

VERSIONS OF FOOTBALL EVOLVED IN MANY EARLY CIVILISATIONS, EXAMPLE OF THESE CAN BE FOUND IN ANCIENT CHINA, GREECE AND ROME. IN ENGLAND THE ORIGINAL GAMES WERE PLAYED BETWEEN VILLAGES IN FIELDS AND STREETS. THIS ‘MOB FOOTBALL’ INVOLVED HUNDREDS OF PLAYERS AND WAS LITTLE MORE THAN PROLONGED AND VIOLENT STREET BATTLES.

IN THE 19TH CENTURY A MORE REFINED VERSION OF THE GAME GREW IN POPULARITY WITHIN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, EACH PLAYING TO THEIR OWN SETS OF RULES.

DURING THE 1850S THE ENTHUSIASM AND INFLUENCE OF EX-PUBLIC SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SPREAD THE POPULARITY OF THE GAME AROUND SHEFFIELD. IN THE SUMMER OF 1857

WILLIAM PREST AND NATHANIEL CRESWICK AGREED THAT THE GAME WOULD BE A SPLENDID CANDIDATE FOR ORGANISED SPORT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE PAIR WROTE TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR INFORMATION, REGARDING THEIR VARYING RULES, WITH THE AIM OF DRAWING UP A SET OF LAWS EMBODYING THE BEST POINTS FROM EACH. ON OCTOBER 24TH , 1857, THE WORLD’S FIRST FOOTBALL CLUB WAS BORN IN A GREENHOUSE.

AMONG THE FIRST RULES DRAWN UP WERE LAWS ASSERTING THAT “NO HACKING OR TRIPPING UP IS FAIR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES”“NO PLAYER MAY BE HELD OR PULLED OVER” AND “IT IS NOT LAWFUL TO TAKE THE BALL OFF THE GROUND [USING HANDS]” UPON THE FORMATION OF THE FOOTBALL

ASSOCIATION IN 1863, SHEFFIELD CLUB’S INSISTENCE ON THESE LAWS HELPED LEAD THE

EVOLUTION OF THE GAME WE RECOGNISE GLOBALLY TODAY. HEADING, CROSSBARS, CORNER KICKS, FREE-KICKS FOR FOULS, THROW-INS, A HALF-TIME CHANGE OF ENDS AND FLOODLIT MATCHES CAN ALL BE TRACED TO THE INNOVATORS OF SHEFFIELD FC.

INITIALLY EARLY MATCHES, SUCH AS MARRIED MEN V UNMARRIED, WERE PLAYED BETWEEN CLUB MEMBERS. RECORDS ALSO SHOW GAMES AGAINST LOCAL ARMY SIDES. FOLLOWING VICTORY OVER THE 58TH ARMY REGIMENT IN 1860 A LOCAL REPORT STATED THAT, “MOST OF THE OFFICERS WERE ADEPTS AT THE GAME, HAVING, IN THEIR YOUNGER DAYS, PLAYED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MATCHES, AND THE VICTORY OF THE CIVILIANS WAS QUITE UNEXPECTED. ”

FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF HALLAM FC, THE WORLD’S FIRST INTER-CLUB GAME TOOK PLACE ON BOXING DAY IN 1860. THE MATCH “WAS CONDUCTED WITH GOOD TEMPER AND IN A FRIENDLY SPIRIT”, CONCLUDING IN A 2-0 WIN FOR SHEFFIELD.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS ALL MATCHES WERE PLAYED LOCALLY, AGAINST A RISING NUMBER OF NEW SIDES, BEFORE THE FIRST ‘OUT OF TOWN’ MATCH WAS PLAYED IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE IN 1865. IN 1866 SHEFFIELD BECAME THE FIRST NON-LONDON SIDE TO PLAY UNDER FA LAWS WHEN THEY MET LONDON AT BATTERSEA PARK.

THE FA CUP WAS FOUNDED IN 1871 AND IN ITS THIRD SEASON SHEFFIELD BECAME THE FIRST NORTHERN SIDE TO TAKE PART AND THE FIRST NONLONDON SIDE TO WIN A TIE. THEY SUCCEEDED IN REACHING THE QUARTER-FINALS IN THIS AND TWO FURTHER SEASONS ALSO, 1876 AND 1878, THE CLUB’S SUPPORT HELPING THE FA CUP NEARLY

THE CLUB

TREBLE IN SIZE AND BECOME A NATIONWIDE COMPETITION.

1872 SAW THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL GAME, BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND IN GLASGOW, WITH SHEFFIELD’S CHARLES CLEGG PLAYING FOR THE ENGLAND SIDE. CLEGG WOULD LATER GO ON TO BE CHAIRMAN, AND PRESIDENT, OF THE FA AND RECEIVE A KNIGHTHOOD FOR HIS SERVICES TO THE GAME.

FROM THE 1880S ONWARDS THE RISE OF PROFESSIONALISM AND SHEFFIELD CLUB’S FIRM INSISTENCE ON RETAINING THEIR AMATEUR STATUS SAW THEM OVERTAKEN AND OVERSHADOWED BY OTHER SIDES IN THE AREA. DURING THESE YEARS

THE VERY SURVIVAL OF THE CLUB OWED MUCH TO THE LEADERSHIP OF FORMER PLAYERS HARRY

CHAMBERS AND HARRY BROUGHTON WILLEY.

IT WASN’T ALL DOOM AND GLOOM THOUGH! IN FACT

SHEFFIELD ENJOYED POSSIBLY THEIR GREATEST HOUR IN 1904 WHEN THEY WON THE AMATEUR

CUP, BEATING EALING 3-1 AT VALLEY PARADE, BRADFORD.

1949 BROUGHT ADMISSION TO THE YORKSHIRE LEAGUE AND A RESURGENCE, WHICH SAW THE SIDE PROMOTED TO DIVISION 1 IN THEIR THIRD SEASON AND REACH THE LEAGUE CUP FINAL IN 1953. IN 1957 THEY CELEBRATED THEIR CENTENARY YEAR AND REACHED THEIR FIRST SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE FA CUP FINAL IN 1962.

AFTER A PERIOD OF YO-YOING BETWEEN DIVISIONS

THE 1977 SIDE WERE CROWNED DIVISION 2

CHAMPIONS AND REACHED THAT SEASON’S FA VASE

FINAL AT WEMBLEY. THEY ESTABLISHED

THEMSELVES AS A TOP DIVISION SIDE IN THE

YORKSHIRE LEAGUE, LIFTING THE LEAGUE CUP IN 1978, BEFORE JOINING THE NEWLY FOUNDED

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE IN 1982. THE DIVISION 1 TITLE WAS WON IN BOTH 1989 AND 1991 AND A FIRST SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE FA

CUP WIN CAME IN 1994. IN 2001 THE CLUB ACQUIRED A PERMANENT GROUND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHEN MOVING TO ITS CURRENT HOME. AFTER THE TURN OF THE CENTURY THE SIDE BEGAN TO CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGE FOR PROMOTION, ALSO WINNING THE LEAGUE CUP AND SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE FA CUP TWICE APIECE. THE 2006/07 SEASON ENDED WITH A SECOND PLACE FINISH AND PROMOTION TO THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE.

CLUB MADE AN INSTANT IMPACT IN REACHING THE 2008 PLAY-OFF FINAL, NARROWLY LOSING ONLY ON PENALTIES. THAT FIRST SEASON ALSO SAW GAMES AGAINST INTER MILAN AND AJAX AT BRAMALL LANE, AS PART OF THE 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. THE SIDE HAVE REACHED THE NPL PLAY-OFFS A FURTHER THREE TIMES IN ADDITION TO LIFTING THE SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE FA CUP IN 2008 AND 2010.

LAST SEASON WAS A TOUGH ONE AS WE WENT INTO THE FINAL MONTHS OF THE SEASON NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE, HAVING TAKEN JUST ONE POINT FROM SIX GAMES AND WITH A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM. UNDER THE DUO OF RYAN CRESSWELL AND JAMIE YATES THE SIDE WON TWO OF THEIR NEXT THREE MATCHES AND BUT A DISAPPOINTING LOSS AT HOME TO BOTTOM OF THE TABLE PICKERING AT THE START OF APRIL MEANT RELEGATION REMAINED A VERY REAL DANGER. THE SIDE SHOWED TRUE GRIT THOUGH AND JUST A SINGLE DEFEAT OVER THE FINAL FIVE FIXTURES WITH VICTORY ON THE FINAL DAY ENOUGH TO SECURE SAFETY.

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY 2023

FEBRUARY

MARCH

S

FORMER PLAYERS

BRAD GRAYSON CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE IS THE HEAD OF MEDIA HERE AT OSSETT UNITED AND THE VOICE OF INGFIELD ON MATCH DAYS AS HE SHARES ALL THE VITAL INFORMATION AND PLAYS SOME OF THE BEST SONGS HEARD AT A NONLEAGUE FOOTBALL GROUND!

A

IS FOR ARTIST: WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE SINGER? SUGGS B

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 BRIEF, WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT THE CLUB? 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

HEAD OF MEDIA FLORIDA

IS FOR ISLAND : WHO WOULD YOU WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND?

IS FOR JOKE. TELL US ONE…

SPOFF HAS HIS USES, THOUGH NOT SURE WHAT ON A DESERT ISLAND J

A CAN OF JOHN SMITH’S

K

IS FOR KARAOKE. WHAT YOUR TUNE? L

IS FOR LATE. WHO IS ON TIME? M N O P

IS FOR MATCH. THE BEST OF YOUR CAREER?

IS FOR NICKNAME. WHAT GET CALLED?

IS FOR ONE FOR THE ROAD WHAT IS YOUR TIPPLE?

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

BENEFITS OFFICER

IS FOR QUIZ. WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALIST SUBJECT?

STAR WARS R

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

ALL ELEVEN STAR WARS MOVIES

S

IS FOR SPORT. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE OUTSIDE FOOTBALL CRICKET T

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

IS FOR VROOM. WHAT IS YOUR DREAM CAR?

IS FOR WHO. WHO DO YOU SUPPORT?

IS FOR TV. FAVOURITE EVER PROGRAMME? NCIS U V W X

IS FOR X-FACTOR. WHAT’S YOUR HIDDEN TALENT? Y

I’VE SEEN A FINAL, THE 91 FA CUP FINAL, FOREST V SPURS . I’VE NOT FORGIVEN ROGER MILFORD !

BUGATTI VEYRON

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

TOO MANY TO MENTION…

IS FOR YOU. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS OR PHRASES? Z

IS FOR ZOO. IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD IT BE?

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

THE WORDS ‘LEGEND ’ AND ‘ICON ’ ARE USED TOO OFTEN IN FOOTBALL NOWADAYS .

YOU WILL ALL BY NOW HAVE THE SEEN THE SAD NEWS OF THE PASSING OF COMMENTATOR JOHN MOTSON , AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE HIM AS BOTH A LEGEND AND AN ICON EACH GENERATION HAS THEIR OWN ICONIC COMMENTATOR , THE OLDER GENERATION WOULD PROBABLY POINT TO KENNETH WOLSTENHOLME (“THEY THINK IT ’S ALL OVER , IT IS NOW .”), HUGH JOHNS (THE ITV 66’ WORLD CUP FINAL

COMMENTATOR ), BRIAN MOORE (“IT ’S HEADED AWAY BY JOHN CLARK , USING HIS HEAD .”) OR DAVID COLEMAN (“BOTH OF THE VILLA SCORERS WERE BORN IN LIVERPOOL, AS WAS THE VILLA MANAGER , WHO WAS BORN IN BIRKENHEAD .”)

MY GENERATION WOULD LOOK TOWARDS “MOTTY” HIMSELF , WITH FAMOUS LINES SUCH AS “FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING IN BLACK AND WHITE , SPURS ARE IN THE ALLYELLOW STRIP”, “NORTHERN IRELAND ARE TEN MINUTES AWAY FROM THEIR FINEST VICTORY. THERE 'S 15 MINUTES TO GO HERE . ” AND ONE OF MY PARTICULAR FAVOURITES “PEARCE I’M SURE CAN SMELL THE CARROT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL” .

OTHERS OF MY GENERATION WOULD ALSO LOOK TOWARDS BARRY DAVIES (“THE DUTCH LOOK LIKE A HUGE JAR OF MARMALADE .”), TONY GUBBA (“THE BALL MUST BE AS SLIPPERY AS A WET BABY.”) AND GERALD SINSTADT (“CHRIS WADDLE IS OFF THE PITCH AT THE MOMENTEXACTLY THE POSITION HE IS AT HIS MOST MENACING .”), AND ALL OF THOSE 8 COMMENTATORS I’VE MENTIONED ABOVE ARE WHO INSPIRED SO MANY OF TODAY’S COMMENTATORS .

I GREW UP INSPIRED BY THE LIKES OF MARTIN FISHER , A DERBY FAN WHO SPENT THE LATE 80’S AND EARLY 90’S

COMMENTATING ON FOREST FOR BBC RADIO NOTTINGHAM AND WHO NOW DOES GAMES FOR MATCH OF THE DAY, AND IN

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

THE LAST TWO DECADES IT ’S BEEN COLIN

FRAY (FISHER ’S REPLACEMENT ON BBC RADIO NOTTINGHAM ) AND DARREN

FLETCHER WHO INITIALLY STARTED OUT ON CENTURY 106 COMMENTATING ON FOREST MATCHES ALONGSIDE LARRY LLOYD WHEN THE BBC DIDN ’T HAVE THE LICENCE AND WHO OF COURSE NOW IS MORE FAMOUS FOR HIS PREMIER LEAGUE COMMENTARY ON BT SPORT AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO DO RADIO ON BBC 5LIVE .

FRAY ESPECIALLY IS UP THERE WITH THE VERY BEST RADIO COMMENTATORS IN MY OPINION , GOD ONLY KNOWS WHY OTHER THAN ICE HOCKEY IN THE WINTER OLYMPICS HE ’S NEVER MOVED TO A HIGHER ROLE IN RADIO AND I’VE SAID BEFORE IN THIS COLUMN THAT BOTH HE , AND FLETCHER ARE MY TWO INSPIRATIONS WHEN I’M BEHIND THE MIC - A LOT OF BUDDING UP AND COMING COMMENTATORS COULD DO WELL TO LEARN FROM THOSE TWO.

BUT WITH FISHER , FRAY AND FLETCHER , AND TODAY’S MODERN COMMENTATORS SUCH AS SAM MATTERFACE , ALISTAIR

BRUCE -BALL, CONOR MC NAMARA AND SEB HUTCHINSON , I’M SURE THAT DEEP

DOWN THEY ALL TOOK INSPIRATION FROM ONE MAN , THE LEGEND , THE ICON IN THE SHEEPSKIN COAT THAT IS JOHN MOTSON , AFTER ALL YOU DON ’T COVER 29 FA CUP FINALS AND 10 WORLD CUPS IF YOU CAN ’T DO YOUR JOB AS WELL AS HE DID .

RIP MOTTY.

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.

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

PITCHING IN NPL EAST

SHEFFIELD

JACK BIRKS (DEFENDER) – DOB 11/10/2002

TALENTED YOUNG PROSPECT WHO WAS MANAGER

RYAN CRESWELL’S FIRST SIGNING WHEN HE TOOK OVER IN NOVEMBER 2021. ROTHERHAM BORN JACK

JOINED SHEFFIELD FC FROM PARKGATE AND IS A VERSATILE DEFENDER WHO CAN PLAY ANYWHERE ACROSS THE BACK LINE.

STEPHEN BROGAN (DEFENDER) – DOB

12/04/1988 EXPERIENCED LEFT-SIDED PLAYER

“BROGUES” JOINS CLUB FROM STALYBRIDGE

CELTIC, HAVING STARTED HIS CAREER WITH ROTHERHAM UNITED, HE WENT ON TO PLAY FOR NUMEROUS NON-LEAGUE CLUBS, INCLUDING NORTH

FERRIBY UNITED, FOREST GREEN ROVERS, ALFRETON, BUXTON, BOSTON UNITED, SPENNYMOOR TOWN AND GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY.

JOSHUA BURNS (DEFENDER) – DOB

17/04/2001 JOSH IS NOW IN HIS THIRD SEASON WITH THE CLUB, HAVING JOINED FROM STAFFORD

RANGERS IN 2020, WHILST ALSO HAVING A SPELL IN BETWEEN AT FRICKLEY ATHLETIC. HAS HAD EXPERIENCE WITH CHESTERFIELD AND HAS ALSO PLAYED FOR LINCOLN CITY.

RORY COLEMAN (DEFENDER) – DOB

22/12/1990 COLEMAN STARTED HIS CAREER IN THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE AT SCUNTHORPE UNITED BEFORE DROPPING DOWN INTO THE NON-LEAGUE GAME AND PLAYING FOR TEAMS SUCH AS ILKESTON, STOCKSBRIDGE, LEEK TOWN, COALVILLE AND MOST RECENTLY GRANTHAM TOWN. RORY HAD A SPELL WITH SHEFFIELD FC IN THE 2018/19 SEASON, WHERE HE IMPRESSED WITH HIS EXPERIENCE, AND USING HIS WAND OF A LEFT FOOT TO DELIVER SOME EXQUISITE SET PIECES.

TED CRIBLEY (MIDFIELD) – DOB

02/04/1990

TED RETURNED TO SHEFFIELD FC IN 2019, HAVING SPENT TIME AT MATLOCK TOWN, AS WELL AS SPELLS AT BARROW AND HYDE UNITED. HAVING STARTED HIS JOURNEY WITH SHEFFIELD FC’S RESERVES, CRIBLEY SPENT TWO YEARS AT SYRACUSE IN THE US, WINNING SEVERAL ACCOLADES ALONG THE WAY.

CONNOR CUTTS (DEFENDER) – DOB 06/11/1999 HIGHLY RATED AND HIGHLY PROMISING DEFENDER WHO WAS TRANSFERRED FROM MALTBY MAIN THIS SUMMER. CONNOR HAS HAD SPELLS WITH STOCKSBRIDGE AND HANDSWORTH, HAVING STARTED WITH SHEFFIELD UNITED’S YOUTH SET UP.

MAASAI DEARLOVE (FORWARD) – DOB 10/1/2000 STRONG, ATHLETIC STRIKER, LONDON

BORN MAASAI HAS PROGRESSED INTO THE FIRST

TEAM SQUAD AFTER IMPRESSING WITH SHEFFIELD FC RESERVES LAST SEASON. A PRODUCT OF MATLOCK TOWN'S ESPFA SQUAD, STARTED AS A YOUNGSTER IN CHESTERFIELD FC'S JUNIOR SECTION, AND IS ALSO A DECENT RAPPER (APPARENTLY).

REECE FIELDING (DEFENDER) – DOB

23/10/1998 FIELDING STARTED HIS CAREER WITH DONCASTER ROVERS, WHERE HE MADE THREE FIRST TEAM APPEARANCES, AS WELL AS SPENDING TIME ON LOAN AT FRICKLEY ATHLETIC AND BIGGLESWADE TOWN. HAVING SPENT TIME AT OSSETT UNITED, REECE JOINED CLUB THIS SUMMER FROM LOCAL RIVALS STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS.

SAM GREENHOUSE (DEFENDER) – DOB

05/04/2004 THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE SHEFFIELD FC FIRST TEAM SQUAD, SAM WAS THE

THE CLUB

FIRST TO PUT PEN TO PAPER IN THE 2022 CLOSE SEASON, JOINING CLUB FROM ROTHERHAM UNITED. ANOTHER PLAYER TO HAVE LINKS WITH THE MILLERS, GREENHOUSE IS A POWERFUL PLAYER FOR HIS TENDER AGE, POSSESSING SPEED, STRENGTH, AND A FEW SECRET WEAPONS.

MORGAN JAMES (MIDFIELD) – DOB 26/10/1999

ROTHERHAM BORN; 21-YEAR-OLD JAMES CAME THROUGH THE DONCASTER ROVERS YOUTH TEAMS.

HE MADE HIS DEBUT FOR ROVERS IN 2017 PRIOR TO SIGNING A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT WITH THE CLUB IN JUNE 2018. HE HAD A SPELL ON LOAN AT STAFFORD RANGERS AND THEN JOINED HYDE UNITED FOLLOWING HIS RELEASE FROM THE KEEPMOAT STADIUM. MORE RECENTLY, HE HAD SIGNED FOR LOCAL RIVALS STAVELEY MINERS

WELFARE AND BELPER TOWN.

DAMIAN MAGEE (DEFENDER) – DOB

15/04/1982 “DAMO” – THE NEWBOLD MALDINIHAS BEEN AT SHEFFIELD CLUB SINCE 2016, SIGNING ONCE AGAIN BY POPULAR DEMAND. CENTRE HALF OR LEFT BACK MAGEE IS A STEADY AND VERY EXPERIENCED PLAYER, AND CAN COUNT GLAPWELL, STAVELEY AND GRANTHAM AMONGST THOSE ON HIS CV. A LEADER AND GIVES HIS ALL TO THE TEAM.

JOE MAGUIRE (DEFENDER) – DOB 18/01/1996

CENTRE-HALF MAGUIRE JOINED HIS HOMETOWN CLUB IN THE 2022 CLOSE SEASON FROM ILKESTON TOWN. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AT SCUNTHORPE UNITED, BEFORE HEADING TO ILKESTON FC, NUNEATON TOWN AND THEN BOSTON UNITED. JOE COMES FROM A FAMOUS FOOTBALLING FAMILY, WITH TWO BROTHERS IN THE GAME, BOTH OF WHOM PLAY IN DEFENCE.

STEVEN MCDONNELL (FORWARD) – DOB

28/03/1991 EXPERIENCED STRIKER MCDONNELL

JOINED SHEFFIELD FC IN THE SUMMER FROM LOCAL RIVALS WORKSOP TOWN. “MACCA” IS A MASSIVE PRESENCE IN THE BOX AND HAS CAUSED THE OPPOSITION PROBLEMS WHILST PLAYING FOR A NUMBER OF CLUBS, INCLUDING BELPER TOWN, MALTBY MAIN AND RETFORD UNITED.

HARRY MITCHELL (MIDFIELD) – DOB

11/11/1998 COMBATIVE MIDFIELDER ‘MITCH’ MADE THE STEP UP TO THE NPL LAST SEASON AFTER IMPRESSING FOR NCEL TEAM HANDSWORTH THE SEASON BEFORE AND DIDN'T DISAPPOINT WITH SEVERAL ‘MAN OF THE MATCH’ PERFORMANCES, DEVELOPING AND MATURING AS THE SEASON PROGRESSED. SCORER OF SHEFFIELD FC'S 2021/22 GOAL OF THE SEASON, WINNING WITH HIS 45-YARD VOLLEY VERSUS PONTEFRACT.

NATHAN MODEST (FORWARD) – DOB

29/09/1991 NATHAN RE-JOINED SHEFFIELD FC MIDWAY THROUGH LAST SEASON FROM GRANTHAM, HAVING APPEARED WAY BACK IN 2011/12 FOLLOWING HIS RELEASE FROM SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY. HAS SPENT THE LAST DECADE SCORING AND PLYING HIS TRADE AT VARIOUS CLUBS, INCLUDING WORKSOP TOWN, LINCOLN UNITED, GLOUCESTER CITY, HEDNESFORD TOWN, RAINWORTH MINERS WELFARE AND BRIDLINGTON TOWN.

BRANDON MURILLO (DEFENDER) – DOB

21/04/2002 CENTRE-BACK MURILLO STARTED OUT AT SHEFFIELD UNITED AS A TEENAGER. HE HAS PLAYED FOR CLUB AMERICA U20S IN MEXICO, GLASSHOUGHTON WELFARE ALONG WITH MAKING AN IMPACT WITH SHEFFIELD FC RESERVES LAST SEASON. BRANDON WILL BE DUAL REGISTERED WITH NCEL OUTFIT FRICKLEY ATHLETIC FOR THE 2022/23 SEASON.

SHEFFIELD

BENEFIT NDLOVU (FORWARD) – DOB

08/12/2001 ZIMBABWE BORN BENNI IS ONE TO WATCH, WITH PACE AND SKILL TO SPARE, AND AN EYE FOR GOAL, THIS LAD HAS A BIG FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM. HAVING EXCELLED AT SHEFFIELD FC YOUTH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESERVES TEAMS,

BENNI WAS DUE TO MAKE THE NATURAL STEP UP TO THE NPL SIDE LAST SUMMER BUT WAS SIDE-LINED FOR THE FULL SEASON FOLLOWING A FREAK INJURY.

NOW FULLY FIT, HE IS AIMING TO BE A PERMANENT FIXTURE IN THE FIRST TEAM SQUAD.

MARC NEWSHAM (FORWARD) – DOB

24/03/1987 ANOTHER ONE OF THE MANY IN THE SHEFFIELD FC SQUAD WITH ROTHERHAM UNITED TIE, “NEWIE” STARTED HIS CAREER WITH MILLERS BACK IN 2005, WHERE HE MADE 48 FIRST TEAM APPEARANCES, HAVING HAD A SPELL ON LOAN AT

THE WORLD'S FIRST. HE HAS SINCE PLAYED IN

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL FOR GAINSBOROUGH

TRINITY, ILKESTON TOWN, BOSTON UNITEDWHERE HE MADE OVER 200 APPEARANCES) AND MATLOCK TOWN. HE RETURNED TO THE HOME OF FOOTBALL IN 2018, TAKING UP THE CAPTAIN'S ARMBAND JUST A YEAR LATER.

JOSH NODDER (MIDFIELD) – DOB 11/07/1991

A RECENT SIGNING IN THE SUMMER FROM STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS, NODDER HAS SERVED SEVERAL NPL AND NCEL CLUBS AND HAS BUILT UP A REPUTATION FOR BEING HARD-WORKING, AND A PLAYER CAPABLE OF THE OCCASIONAL SPECTACULAR GOAL. HAS APPEARED IN THE PAST FOR FRICKLEY,

STAMFORD, SPALDING, CLIPSTONE, LINCOLN

MOORLANDS, MALTBY, EMLEY, AND ROTHERHAM UNITED.

JAMES OLIVER (MIDFIELD) – DOB 30/08/2002

LEFT WINGER OLIVER CAME THROUGH THE

SHEFFIELD UNITED AND AFC BOURNEMOUTH

YOUTH SET UPS BEFORE ENJOYING A SHORT LOAN SPELL WITH POOLE TOWN IN THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER. HE RECENTLY PLIED HIS TRADE IN THE NORTH COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE FOR HANDSWORTH FC AND BUXTON FC, WHO HE JOINED IN JANUARY.

JORDAN PIERREPONT (GOALKEEPER) – DOB 26/09/1999 STANDING AT 6'7", PIERREPONT IS VIEWED AS ONE OF THE BEST YOUNG PROSPECTS AT HIS AGE, JOINING SHEFFIELD FC FROM BASFORD UNITED. JORDAN SPENT MUCH OF LAST SEASON IMPRESSING AT FRICKLEY ATHLETIC WHILST ON LOAN, HAVING JOINED BASFORD FROM HEANOR TOWN.

ADAM WATSON (DEFENDER) – DOB 11/09/1991

“WATTY” JOINS SHEFFIELD FROM FELLOW NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE EAST SIDE WORKSOP TOWN. BEGINNING HIS CAREER IN LEEDS UNITED ACADEMY, WATSON HAS ALSO FEATURED FOR NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE SIDE ROSSINGTON MAIN AND GRANTHAM TOWN.

JAMIE YATES (MIDFIELD) – DOB 24/12/1988

“YATESY” IS A LIVELY, EXPERIENCED MIDFIELDER, AND IS ALSO SHEFFIELD FC’S ASSISTANT MANAGER.

ANOTHER WHOSE FORMER CLUBS INCLUDE ROTHERHAM UNITED, BOSTON UNITED, GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY AND MATLOCK TOWN.

JAMIE CAN PLAY ON EITHER WING OR CENTRAL MIDFIELD AND WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH THE ROTHERHAM UNITED YOUTH SETUP BEFORE PLAYING 34 LEAGUE GAMES FOR THE CLUB.

PAUL COOPER

EDD HALL

FABIAN BAILEY

HARRY COATES

HARRY GAGEN

PADDY MILLER

CRAIG NELTHORPE

DANNY SOUTH (CPT)

BRANDON WEBSTER

IDRIS ATTA

JAMES CADMAN

CHRIS DAWSON

LUKE HOGG

JANNI LIPKA

OLI METCALFE

TOM PRIESTLEY-STANDING

DERRY ROBSON

DAVID BROWN

JAMES CARVELL

NATHAN CURTIS

ALEX PETERSON

JAMES WALSHAW

JORDAN PIERRPONT

JACK BIRKS

STEPHEN BROGAN

JOSHUA BURNS

RORY COLEMAN

TED CRIBLEY

CONNOR CUTTS

MAASAI DEARLOVE

REECE FIELDING

SAM GREENHOUSE

MORGAN JAMES

DAMIAN MAGEE

JOE MAGUIRE

STEVEN MCDONNELL

HARRY MITCHELL

NATHAN MODEST

BRANDON MURILLO

BENEFIT NDLOVU

MARC NEWSHAM

JOSH NODER

JAMES OLIVER

ADAM WATSON

JAMIE YATES

LUKE ALDRICH