Ossett United v Long Eaton United (04/03/2023)

Vs LONG EATON UNITED

SATURDAY 4 MARCH | 15:00

PITCHING IN NPL EAST

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 LONG EATON UNITED

WELCOME TO INGFIELD AS WE GET TO THE BUSINESS END OF THE SEASON . AFTER TODAY WE WILL HAVE JUST FOUR HOME GAMES REMAINING AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE 2022/23 SEASON . ONE THAT HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE AT THE CLUB WHICH I BELIEVE HAS BEEN POSITIVE SO FAR AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO AS WE BUILD TOWARDS 2023/24.

I KNOW LAST WEEK ’S RESULT AGAINST SHEFFIELD WAS DISAPPOINTING FOR EVERYONE AT OSSETT UNITED , BUT IT CAME ON THE BACK OF A 5 GAME UNBEATEN RUN AND OVERALL A MORE CONSISTENT AND IMPROVED SET OF RESULTS . INDEED , SINCE GRANT TOOK CHARGE , WE ’VE SEEN 5 WINS , 8 DRAWS AND JUST 4 LOSSES FROM OUR 17 LEAGUE GAMES , WITH 24 GOALS SCORED AND 19 CONCEDED . SO ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND TIME TO FINISH THE SEASON ON A FLOURISH TO MAXIMISE OUR OVERALL

POINT TALLY FOR THE SEASON . OFF THE FIELD THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING PLANNED AND WILL HOPEFULLY BE COMING TO FRUITION IN THE COMING MONTHS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE INFORMATION ON THESE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE . ANY PROJECTS WE DO ARE ALWAYS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CLUB AND ULTIMATELY TO PROVIDE THE BEST BASIS WE CAN FOR NOT ONLY THE FIRST TEAM BUT ALSO TO IMPROVE THE SPECTATOR EXPERIENCE WHEN COMING TO INGFIELD . SO, WATCH THIS SPACE .

TODAY WE ENTERTAIN LONG

EATON UNITED AND A BIG WELCOME TO EVERYONE WHO HAS TRAVELLED FROM DERBYSHIRE FOR THE GAME . I REALLY ENJOYED OUR VISIT TO LONG EATON BACK IN OCTOBER , NOT JUST FOR THE FACT THAT WE GOT A GOOD 3 POINTS IN GRANT ’S FIRST GAME IN CHARGE WITH TWO FANTASTIC LUKE HOGG GOALS , BUT MORE SO FOR THE GREAT FACILITIES AT LONG

EATON AND THE WELCOME WE RECEIVED .

ENJOY THE GAME .

JAMES ROGERS , CHAIRMAN

GRANT BLACK

WELCOME BACK TO INGFIELD FOR THE SECOND OF BACK-TO-BACK HOME GAMES AS WE LOOK TO GET ON ANOTHER UNDEFEATED RUN AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF LAST WEEK. AS I TOUCHED ON IN THE POST-MATCH INTERVIEW IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING DAY AS SHEFFIELD DID TO US WHAT WE AIM TO DO TO OTHER SIDES, AND WE WILL LOOK TO PUT THAT RIGHT TODAY AFTER A POSITIVE TRAINING SESSION DURING THE WEEK. IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO LOSE THE GOALS TO SET PIECES AS OTHER THAN THE ODD HALF CHANCE I DON’T BELIEVE THEY CAUSED US TOO MANY PROBLEMS OTHERWISE, AND WE CREATED ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE WON THE GAME.

TODAY WILL BE ANOTHER TOUGH GAME, AS THEY ALL ARE IN THE NPL AS WE WELCOME LONG EATON UNITED WHO ARE ON A GOOD RUN AT THE MINUTE HAVING WON THEIR PREVIOUS SIX OUTINGS AND ONLY LOSING FOUR SINCE WE TOOK THREE POINTS FROM THEM IN OUR FIRST GAME IN CHARGE BACK IN OCTOBER. WE HAVE DONE OUR HOMEWORK ON THEM AND WILL BE FULLY PREPARED COME 3PM.

WITH CHRIS DAWSON HAVING RETURNED TO BUXTON IT WAS GREAT TO WELCOME LUKE HOGG BACK INTO THE SQUAD AFTER HIS RECENT INJURY TROUBLES WHICH KEEPS THE PLAYERS ON THEIR TOES AS THERE IS GENUINE COMPETITION FOR PLACES ACROSS THE SQUAD. I AM VERY PLEASED THAT PAUL COOPER HAS HAD

HIS LOAN EXTENDED TO THE END OF THE SEASON AND THANK BARNSLEY FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN CONFIRMING THE DEAL. FOR A YOUNG LAD GETTING HIS FIRST TASTE OF MEN’S FOOTBALL HE IS SHOWING CONFIDENCE AND MATURITY BEYOND HIS YEARS AND IS VERY VOCAL WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR ANY GOALKEEPER.

HOT ON THE HEELS OF THIS GAME IS A TRIP TO STOCKSBRIDGE ON TUESDAY NIGHT, ANOTHER SIDE PERFORMING VERY WELL THIS SEASON, AND AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE DONE ON THE BACK OF A GOOD RUN. CONFIDENCE IS CLEARLY HIGH, AND THE MOMENTUM IS WITH THEM AS THEY LOOK TO CEMENT A PLACE IN THE PLAYOFF’S THIS SEASON. LIKE TODAY WE WILL HAVE TO BE AT OUR BEST TO BEAT THEM AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE MINDSET WE WILL HAVE GOING INTO BOTH GAMES.

T PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

ANYONE, EVEN THOSE WITH A VERY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF FOOTBALL, WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE A GLANCE AT THE NORTHERN PREMIER

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE EAST LEAGUE TABLE AND REASONABLY PREDICT THAT WORKSOP TOWN WILL EVENTUALLY BE CROWNED CHAMPIONS COME THE FINAL DAY OF THE SEASON SUCH IS THEIR DOMINANCE AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER.

THEY MIGHT ALSO COMFORTABLY WORK OUT THAT TADCASTER ALBION, CURRENTLY 8 POINTS ADRIFT AT THE FOOT OF THE TABLE, ARE ODDS ON TO FACE RELEGATION TO THE NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE. ONCE THOSE TWO FACTORS ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE EQUATION ANYTHING MIGHT HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THE FINAL DAY ON SATURDAY APRIL 22ND SUCH IS THE TIGHTNESS OF THIS DIVISION.

IN MY RECENT PROGRAMME NOTES FOR THE HOME GAME AGAINST SHILDON I WAS OBSERVING THAT A WIN THAT DAY COULD, DEPENDENT ON OTHER RESULTS GOING OUR WAY, ELEVATE US AT LEAST TO THE FRINGES OF THE END OF SEASON PLAY-OFF POSITIONS. IN THE EVENT WE ONLY MANGED A DRAW IN THAT GAME AND HAVE SINCE REGISTERED ANOTHER VERY CREDITABLE DRAW AWAY AT HEBBURN TOWN AND A SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING LOSS AT HOME TO SHEFFIELD.

A RESULT INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT MAKING THE PLAY-OFFS WE ARE NOW ONLY 6 POINTS ABOVE A CLUB CURRENTLY IN THE BOTTOM FOUR. NO OUTCOMES ARE PREDICTABLE IN THIS LEAGUE AND NOBODY CAN RELAX SAFE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY WON’T BE SUCKED INTO BOTTOM OF THE TABLE DOG FIGHT. EVERY GAME BETWEEN NOW AND APRIL 22ND IS SIGNIFICANT FOR 18 OF THE 20 TEAMS WHO COMPRISE DIVISION ONE EAST AND THAT IS AN EXTREMELY RARE SITUATION TO BE IN.

INCONSISTENCY IS PERHAPS OSSETT UNITED’S NUMBER ONE PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT AND THIS WAS NEVER MORE OBVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHTED THAN BY THE HIGHLY DISAPPOINTING LOSS AT HOME TO SHEFFIELD. THIS WAS A GAME WHERE THE LESS SAID ABOUT IT THE BETTER SO, HAVING SAID THAT, I MOVE ON WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT.

WITH 11 GAMES LEFT STARTING WITH TODAY WE ARE NOT ENTIRELY OUT OF THE RUNNING TO MAKE THE PLAY-OFFS BUT WE NEED TO STRING A RUN OF POSITIVE RESULTS TOGETHER AND SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US. THIS AFTERNOON WOULD BE A GOOD STARTING POINT. LONG

EATON UNITED WERE OUR OPPONENTS FOR THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT TEAM’S FIRST GAME IN CHARGE AND THEY WERE BELOW US IN THE TABLE

AT THAT TIME. WE GAINED A VERY IMPRESSIVE 2 -

0 VICTORY ON THAT DAY BUT SINCE THEN LONG

EATON HAVE DISCOVERED THE CONSISTENCY WE ARE LOOKING FOR AND LOOK WHERE THAT HAS

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

TAKEN THEM!

SO FAR WE HAVE MANAGED TO COMPLETE ONLY ONE ‘DOUBLE’ THIS SEASON AND THAT WAS AGAINST GRIMSBY BOROUGH (3 – 1 AT HOME AND 1 – 0 AWAY) SO THE VISIT OF LONG EATON UNITED GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT TWO. THAT SAID IT WILL BE A BIG ASK SUCH IS THEIR CURRENT RUN OF FORM. A WIN THIS AFTERNOON, AGAIN DEPENDING ON OTHER RESULTS, COULD ELEVATE US INTO THE TOP HALF OF THE LEAGUE TABLE AND MIGHT JUST SET THE PLATFORM FOR A FINAL DASH FOR THE FINISHING LINE.

I HAVE NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER THAT OUR MANAGER GRANT BLACK AND HIS COACHING STAFF WILL EVENTUALLY TURN THE MORE RECENT FORTUNES OF THIS CLUB AROUND AND I

GENUINELY BELIEVE THERE ARE EXCITING TIMES AHEAD, PATIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS A COMMON FACTOR IN FOOTBALL GENERALLY BUT I SINCERELY HOPE THAT SUPPORTERS SHARE MY VIEW OF THE PRESENT SITUATION AND SHOW PATIENCE AND STICK WITH THE CLUB GOING FORWARD.

SINCE GRANT TOOK OVER THE REINS HERE AT INGFIELD IN THAT FIRST ENCOUNTER AGAINST LONG EATON UNITED WE HAVE PLAYED 17 LEAGUE MATCHES AND SUFFERED A MERE FOUR DEFEATS. JUST FOUR DEFEATS IN 17 OUTINGS IS NO MEAN RECORD AT THIS LEVEL BUT, AS WE ARE ALL AWARE, TOO MANY DRAWN MATCHES ARE COSTING US. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS THIS AFTERNOON BUT WE WILL HAVE TO BE AT OUR BEST TO DO SO.

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

PAUL COOPER

COOPER HAS JOINED US ON LOAN FROM BARNSLEY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2022/23 SEASON HAVING IMPRESSED IN HIS FIRST FEW GAMES. THE STOPPER IS HIGHLY THOUGHT OF BY THE OAKWELL CLUB

SPONSORED BY: FOOTBALLBOOKREVIEWS.COM

BRANDON WEBSTER

BRANDON IS COMFORTABLE ANYWHERE DOWN THE LEFT HAND SIDE HAVING JOINED FROM LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO AND COUNTS HANDSWORTH AND STAVELEY MINERS WELFARE AS FORMER CLUBS.

SPONSORED BY: JAMES AND 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

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

C

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

RAIG NELTHORPE

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

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

WALSHAW RETURNED TO THE CLUB IN JANUARY 2023 AFTER A BRIEF SPELL WITH LIVERSEDGE AND EMLEY . WALSHAW IS A RENOWNED STRIKER IN NON -LEAGUE FOOTBALL HAVING ALSO PLAYED FOR ALTRINGHAM, HARROGATE TOWN , GUISELEY AND SCARBOROUGH AMONGST OTHERS.

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

ALEX PETERSON

JAMES WALSHAW

CHRIS DAWSON

OLI METCALFE

JOHAN CRUYFF WAS PERHAPS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FOOTBALLER OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. HIS PLAYING CAREER, TAKING ON A TALISMANIC ROLE FOR BOTH AJAX AND BARCELONA, AND THE DUTCH NATIONAL TEAM, SAW THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOTAL FOOTBALL, FROM WHICH POSSESSION FOOTBALL BECAME THE STANDARD, BEATING THE PREVIOUSLY UNSTOPPABLE ITALIAN CATENACCIO. AS A MANAGER OF THE SAME CLUBS, HE DEVELOPED HIS STYLE YET FURTHER, INGRAINING IT INTO THE YOUNG PLAYERS AT BOTH CLUBS, INCLUDING A FASCINATED PEP GUARDIOLA. BUT LESSER KNOWN ABOUT THE ENIGMATIC GENIUS IS HIS TIME PLAYING FOR THE ENEMY. WITH HIS SECOND SPELL IN AMSTERDAM COMING TO AN END, BUT NOT WILLING TO CALL TIME ON HIS PLAYING CAREER, CRUYFF MADE THE MOVE NO AJAX FAN COULD COUNTENANCE; HE MOVED TO ARCH-RIVALS FEYENOORD.

JOHAN CRUYFF WAS ON A HIGH IN THE SUMMER OF 1983. HEADING INTO THE SWANSONG OF A GLITTERING CAREER, HE HAD JUST HELPED HIM BOYHOOD CLUB TO A LEAGUE AND CUP DOUBLE, AND WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO A FINAL FAREWELL SEASON TO ROUND OFF HIS TIME ON THE PITCH. AFTER LEAVING FOR BARCELONA A DECADE EARLIER, AND HAVING SPENT A FEW YEARS BOUNCING AROUND THE UNITED STATES,

HE WAS HOME, AND HE WAS SETTLED. IT WAS SOMETHING OF A SHOCK, THEN, WHEN THE CLUB INFORMED HIM THAT THEY NO LONGER HAD A PLACE FOR HIM. HE HAD SERVED HIS PURPOSE, HE HAD WON THEM EVERYTHING THEY WANTED, AND HE WAS BEING PUT OUT TO PASTURE.

AT LEAST, THAT’S WHAT HIS EMPLOYERS IN AMSTERDAM THOUGHT. CRUYFF WAS NEVER ONE TO GO ALONE WITH ANYBODY ELSE’S PLAN. HE HAD MISSED THE 1978 WORLD CUP, WHICH THE NETHERLANDS HAD BEEN HUGE FAVOURITES TO WIN, WITH RUMOURS THAT HE REFUSED TO PLAY IN FRONT OF THE ARGENTINIAN MILITARY JUNTA. WITHOUT HIM, THEY LOST THE FINAL TO THE HOSTS. WITH HIM, WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. SO, WHEN HIS CLUB, FOR WHOM HE WAS A LEGEND, FOR WHOM HE HAD WON EVERYTHING UP TO AND INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN CUP, TRIED TO END HIS CAREER EARLY, HE MOVED 35 MILES TO ROTTERDAM, AND SIGNED FOR THEIR BIGGEST RIVALS.

AT

FEYENOORD WERE NOT THE SAME TEAM THAT HAD WON THE EUROPEAN CUP IN 1970. AJAX HAD FAR SURPASSED THEM, AND THE LIKES OF PSV AND AZ ALKMAAR WERE THREATENING THEIR POSITION, WHILE THEY SPENT THE FIRST YEARS OF THE 1980S RECORDING MID-TABLE POSITIONS. NOT THAT THIS ENCOURAGED FANS, OR THE STAFF, THAT CRUYFF SHOULD BE JOINING. THE PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE SIGNING WAS A TEPID AFFAIR, WITH CRUYFF, HIS NEW MANAGER, AND THE CHAIRMAN ALL LOOKING LIKE THEY WONDERED IF IT WAS A MISTAKE. THE FEYENOORD SUPPORTERS

CERTAINLY BELIEVED SO, PROVIDING THE HOSTILE ATMOSPHERE AT DE KUIP THAT CRUYFF HAD BECOME USED TO AS AN AJAX PLAYER, WHEN HE RAN OUT AS A HOME PLAYER FOR THE FIRST TIME. ‘FEYENOORD FOREVER, CRUYFF NEVER’ READ THE BANNER SOME FANS HUNG, AND THAT WAS ON THE SOFTER SIDE OF THE ABUSE HE RECEIVED.

THE WAY TO WIN FANS OVER, AS CRUYFF WELL KNEW, WAS PLAYING WELL. FEYENOORD STARTED THE SEASON ON FIRE, WINNING FIVE OF THEIR FIRST SIX GAMES, AS CRUYFF GOT TO KNOW HIS NEW TEAMMATES, INCLUDING A 21 YEAR OLD RUUD GULLIT. IT WAS ANOTHER SHOCK, THEN, WHEN THEY WENT TO AMSTERDAM. A HOSTILE ATMOSPHERE, WITH A GAME MARRED BY CROWD

TROUBLE, SAW THE HOSTS RUN OUT MASSIVE 82 WINNERS. BUT CRUYFF WAS TENACIOUS, AND HE CARRIED A GRUDGE. HE USED THE DEFEAT AS MOTIVATION, AS FEYENOORD RESPONDED WITH A 15 GAME UNBEATEN SPELL. THEY SLIPPED TO DEFEAT AGAINST GRONINGEN, NOT LONG BEFORE THE RETURN FIXTURE AGAINST THEIR NEMESES.

AJAX TRAVELLED TO DE KUIP STILL HOPEFUL THAT ANOTHER WIN COULD DERAIL FEYENOORD’S TITLE BID. BUT THIS TIME, THINGS WERE DIFFERENT. AN EARLY GOAL FROM GULLIT, AND THEN A LOVELY FINISH BY CRUYFF, SET THE LEAGUE LEADERS ON THEIR WAY. AJAX COULDN’T GET NEAR THEM, AND FELL TO A 4-1 DEFEAT. FEYENOORD WOULDN’T LOSE AGAIN TO THE END OF THE SEASON, WRAPPING UP THE TITLE.

JUST TO ADD THE ICING TO THE CAKE, CRUYFF ALSO LED HIS TEAM THROUGH THE PONDEROUS ROUNDS FO THE DUTCH CUP. HAVING WON THE DOUBLE WITH AJAX, AND BEEN TOLD THAT HIS TIME WITH THE CLUB WAS OVER, HE LED THEIR FALTERING ARCH-RIVALS TO THE SAME ACHIEVEMENT. AND THEN, ON HIS OWN TERMS, HE LEFT THE FIELD OF PLAY. HIS INFLUENCE AND HIS LEGACY HAVE CONTINUED FOR THE FORTY YEARS SINCE, BUT HIS PLAYING DAYS WERE OVER.

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FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS LONG EATON UNITED

THE CLUB WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1956 AND JOINED THE MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN 1961. THEY WERE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN 1982.

IN 1989–90, HAMPERED BY THEIR LACK OF FLOODLIGHTS, UNITED MOVED INTO THE SUPREME DIVISION OF THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS LEAGUE, AND IN 1990–91 WERE DEMOTED TO THE PREMIER DIVISION. IN 1992–93 HOWEVER, JIM FAIRLEY SR., WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY RESIGNED AFTER SUFFERING A HEART ATTACK, RE-JOINED THE CLUB AS ITS CHAIRMAN, AND THE CLUB REORGANISED.

BY 1993–94, UNITED WERE BACK IN THE SUPREME DIVISION UNDER JIM FAIRLEY JR., WHO SPEARHEADED THE FORMATION OF THE CLUB'S YOUTH SECTION. IN 1996, UNITED WON ENOUGH MONEY IN THE LOTTERY TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE.

THEY BEGAN THE PROJECT IN 1998, INSTALLING FLOODLIGHTS AND FENCING, AND BUILDING DRESSING ROOMS AND MULTI-ACTIVITY AREAS. IN 1997, WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WAS INTRODUCED FOR YOUNGSTERS, AND TODAY THE CLUB HAS TWO SENIOR TEAMS. BY 2002, GRANGE PARK HAD BECOME HOME TO MORE THAN 200 FOOTBALLERS AND WAS PROMOTED TO THE NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE DIVISION

ONE.

HISTORY

THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY PROMOTION TO THE PREMIER DIVISION AT THE END OF THE 2003-04 SEASON.

IN 2008-09, UNITED GAINED A RUNNERS-UP SPOT IN THE NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST PREMIER LEAGUE AND WERE ALSO LEAGUE CUP WINNERS THAT SEASON.

IN 2014–15, THE CLUB WAS MOVED LATERALLY TO THE NEWLY FORMED MIDLAND FOOTBALL

LEAGUE FINISHING THIRD THAT SEASON AS WELL AS LIFTING THE POLYMAC PACKAGING LEAGUE

CUP BEATING ROCESTER 2-0 AT WALSALL'S BESCOT STADIUM.

DURING THAT SEASON, FORMER DELOITTE PARTNER, NICK DARGAN JOINED THE CLUB'S MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH THE REMIT OF HELPING CHAIRMAN JIM FAIRLEY AND THE COMMITTEE

DEVELOP A MEDIUM-TERM BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE CLUB. THIS HAS CULMINATED IN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CLUB'S FACILITIES, INCORPORATION AS A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND THE FORMATION OF A NEW ACADEMY MANAGED BY PAUL HOLLAND.

DURING THE 2017/18 SEASON, MARK CLARKE AND WILLIS FRANCIS WERE APPOINTED AS JOINT

MANAGERS OF THE MEN’S FIRST TEAM HAVING FORMERLY BEEN INVOLVED WITHIN THE MANAGEMENT GROUP AT BASFORD UNITED.

THE BLUES

PAUL HOLLAND AND ANDY TODD TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRST TEAM FROM DECEMBER 2018, THROUGH TO THE END OF THE 2018/19 CAMPAIGN, WITH PAUL HOLLAND REVERTING TO MANAGING OUR CFC AND ACADEMY SIDES FOR 2019/20.

IAN DEAKIN AND CRAIG SWINSCOE, BOTH FORMER MEMBERS OF THE SUCCESSFUL

ILKESTON TOWN MANAGEMENT TEAM, WHO OVERSAW BACK-TO-BACK PROMOTIONS, JOINED US IN FEBRUARY 2020 AT AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE CLUB WITH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN FACILITIES TAKING PLACE AT GRANGE PARK.

THEY WERE JOINED BY NEWLY APPOINTED FIRST TEAM COACH ADAM CAMPBELL.

AFTER THE CFC SIDE CLINCHED PROMOTION BY FINISHING TOP OF THE TABLE IN THE CENTRAL

MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

SOUTH DURING THE 2020/21 SEASON, A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM WAS APPOINTED, BROTHERS

JAKE AND JACK WOOD. THEY WERE PUT IN PLACE TO HELP GUIDE OUR CFC SIDE THROUGH

THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH PRIOR TO THE START OF THE 2021/22 SEASON.

IN 2021/22, OUR FIRST TEAM HAD QUITE A REMARKABLE SEASON IN THE UNITED COUNTIES

FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION NORTHAFTER A LEAGUE RE-SHUFFLE THAT SAW THE BLUES SWITCH OVER FROM THE MIDLAND

FOOTBALL LEAGUE AFTER SEVERAL YEARS

WITHIN THE PREMIER DIVISION – AS DEAKIN’S SIDE WERE CROWNED LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.

AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANT RUN IN THE EMIRATES

FA CUP THAT SAW THE BLUES REACH THE THIRD

QUALIFYING ROUND AND UNFORTUNATELY FALL TO A NARROW 3-2 DEFEAT AWAY TO SOUTHERN

LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SIDE STRATFORD

TOWN FC, LONG EATON EARNED SOME INCREDIBLE RESULTS OF THEIR OWN.

VICTORIES CAME IN THE LIKES OF A 7-0 WIN OVER PINCHBECK UNITED AT HOME, A 6-1 WIN OVER QUORN AFC AWAY, A 3-0 WIN OVER THIRD PLACED ANSTEY NOMADS AWAY FROM HOME AND OF COURSE THE FINAL DAY TITLE DECIDING 2-0 WIN OVER SECOND PLACED GRESLEY ROVERS.

AHEAD OF THE 2022/23 SEASON, MANY GROUND DEVELOPMENTS WERE MADE THANKS TO SPONSORS AND FUNDING FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE ALSO, AS OF JULY 1ST 2022, NICK

DARGAN WAS APPOINTED THE NEW CHAIRMAN/TRUSTEE OF LONG EATON UNITED FC, WITH JIM FAIRLEY TAKING CHARGE OF OPERATIONS AND PAUL HOLLAND HEADING UP THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF THE CLUB.

NOW, THE BLUES HEAD INTO THE 2022/23 SEASON WITH THE TOUGH TASK OF COMPETING IN THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE EAST, BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THE SQUAD WILL BE RELISHING.

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY 2023

FEBRUARY

MARCH

BRAD GRAYSON JAMES ROGERS

JAMES ROGERS IS THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF OSSETT UNITED HAVING ALSO HELD THAT ROLE AT OSSETT TOWN FROM 2013, PRIOR TO THAT HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF OSSETT TOWN JUNIORS HAVING STARTED OFF THERE AS A PARENT, THEN AGE GROUP MANAGER AS HIS TWO SONS, TOM AND MATTY PLAYED FOR THE JUNIOR SET UP

A

IS FOR ARTIST: WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE SINGER?

A DIFFICULT ONE AS I LOVE MUSIC AND LIKE A LOT OF ARTISTS . PICKING JUST ONE , GUNS ‘N ’ ROSES . 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 FIVE, YOUR ALL TIME DREAM 5-A-SIDE TEAM IS..?

IS FOR BRIEF, WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT THE CLUB? C D E F

BOARD DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN

G

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

IS FOR HERO. WHAT SUPERPOWER DO YOU WANT? I

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

IS FOR JOKE. TELL US ONE…

AS MANY KNOW, WE DO LIKE OUR HOLIDAYS! CARIBBEAN IS MY FAVOURITE

IT NO LONGER MATTERS! BUT MY FAVOURITE IS MY OWN HOME MADE CHILLI

HAS TO BE FARRAH FAWCETT FROM CHARLIE’S ANGELS E

HEARING, LETS FACE IT. I AM AS DEAF AS A POST!

THAT ONE IS EASY, MY SOULMATE, DAWN J

WHAT DID THE MANAGER DO WHEN THE PITCH WAS FLOODED? HE SENT ON HIS SUBS….

K

IS FOR KARAOKE. WHAT’S YOUR TUNE?

LIVIN ’ ON A PRAYER , BON JOVI L

IS FOR LATE. WHO IS NEVER ON TIME?

IS FOR MATCH. THE BEST OF YOUR CAREER?

IS FOR NICKNAME. WHAT DO YOU GET CALLED?

LEEDS 4-3 LIVERPOOL IN 2000. VIDUKA WITH ALL FOUR. NEVER FORGET THAT DAY IN THE KOP

MOST WON’T KNOW THIS, MY NICKNAME AT SCHOOL WAS GROG!

IS FOR ONE FOR THE ROAD. WHAT IS YOUR TIPPLE?

PERONI, RED WINE AND WOODFORD RESERVE

THE ONE AND ONLY MR PHIL SMITH…. ALWAYS STUCK IN TRAFFIC! M N O P

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

HAVE WORKED FOR LEEDS CITY COUNCIL FOR 38 YEARS!

IS FOR QUIZ. WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALIST SUBJECT?

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

PULP FICTION

I’M HOPELESS AT QUIZZES . IF I HAVE TO PICK , 80’S ROCK BANDS . R

S

IS FOR SPORT. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE OUTSIDE FOOTBALL

IS FOR TV. FAVOURITE EVER PROGRAMME?

U V W X

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

IS FOR VROOM. WHAT IS YOUR DREAM CAR?

SONS OF ANARCHY

SOME MIGHT SAY I LIKE IT MORE THAN FOOTBALL, HORSE RACING T

WHEN CHAIRMAN OF OSSETT TOWN , THE 4TH QUALIFYING ROUND , UNDER AN EXCITING YOUNG MANAGER . GRANT BLACK

I’M A BIT OF A PETROL HEAD AND LOVE MY AUDI’S SO A TOP OF THE RANGE AUDI E -TRON GT

IS FOR WHO. WHO DO YOU SUPPORT? ALL LEEDS AREN ’T WE

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

PAINTING AND DECORATING, MY FIRST JOB (DAWN’S GOT ME DOING THE WHOLE HOUSE)!

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

BUSY, ORGANISED , REFLECTIVE Z

IS FOR ZOO. IF YOU COULD BE

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A GORILLA

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

HALF-TIME AS HIS TWO MATES WHO NORMALLY FOLLOW OSSETT UNITED HOME AND AWAY WITH HIM WERE AT MATCHES ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, MY SON LUKE WAS WATCHING FOREST AT WEST HAM AND THOMAS WAS AT ELLAND ROAD, SO WHEN I ASKED JOE IF HE WANTED TO HELP HE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE, SO IT’S A MASSIVE THANKS FROM ME JOE, AND YOU’RE WELCOME BACK ANYTIME.

I WAS BACK ON THE MIC LAST SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME AS CHRIS HAD WORK COMMITMENTS, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WAS A STRUGGLE, NOT BECAUSE OF THE RESULT, OR THE FACT THAT I WAS ON MY OWN (FOR THE FIRST HALF ANYWAY), BUT BECAUSE I STARTED LOSING MY VOICE!

NOW I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY THINK THAT WAS POSSIBLY A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, AS THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT I LIKE TO TALK, BUT WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO DO RADIO COMMENTARY, AND THE STADIUM ANNOUNCEMENTS, LOSING YOUR VOICE ISN’T IDEAL, AND DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO LUBRICATE MY THROAT TOWARDS THE END I SOUNDED MORE LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN SEAN DYCHE AND A

BONNIE TYLER TRIBUTE ACT.

THANKFULLY HELP WAS AVAILABLE IN THE SECOND HALF AS ONE OF OUR YOUNG SUPPORTERS, JOE NAUGHTON CAME AND ASSISTED ME WITH SOME VALUABLE PUNDITRY, I FOUND JOE WALKING AROUND AIMLESSLY AT

CHRIS IS ALSO UNAVAILABLE THIS WEEK, WHICH INEVITABLY WILL MEAN I’LL BE BACK ON THE MIC AGAIN, BUT THANKFULLY LUKE HAS OFFERED TO HELP ME OUT THIS WEEK SO I’M SURE JOE AND THOMAS WILL BE AROUND TO ASSIST AGAIN, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT CAN’T MAKE THE GAME I WILL APOLOGISE IN ADVANCE THOUGH AS WHEN I AM ON MY OWN I DO OFTEN HAVE TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE COMMENTARY TO DO STADIUM ANNOUNCEMENT STUFF, NOT THAT YOU CAN’T HEAR THAT ANYWAY.

SPEAKING OF STADIUM ANNOUNCING, ONE OF OUR SUPPORTERS HAS MENTIONED TO ME ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS RECENTLY THAT HE FINDS IT HILARIOUS WHEN I’M ANNOUNCING GOALS AND SUBS FOR THE OPPOSITION, AS MY VOICE CHANGES DRAMATICALLY FROM ONE OF ENTHUSIASM TO ONE OF AS HE PUT IT “REALLY CAN’T BE BOTHERED”, NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT GO TO GAMES INVOLVING PROFESSIONAL CLUBS YOU WILL FIND THAT I DON’T REALLY DO IT ANY DIFFERENTLY TO THOSE STADIUM ANNOUNCERS, AFTER ALL I’M HERE FOR OSSETT

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

UNITED AND NOT THE OPPOSITION.

FOR ME BEING ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT OUR OWN TEAM IS PART AND PARCEL OF BRINGING THE MATCH DAY EXPERIENCE TO OUR SUPPORTERS, AND PLAYERS. IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR YOUNGER MORE VOCAL SUPPORT OVER RECENT MONTHS GIVES A BUZZ TO THE LADS ON THE PITCH, AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT BY ME GOING A LITTLE OTT WHEN ANNOUNCING ONCOMING SUBS, OR EVEN THE TEAM AT THE START PROMPTS YOU, THE SUPPORTERS TO GET BEHIND THE TEAM EVEN MORE THAN YOU DO ALREADY.

BUT (THERE’S ALWAYS A BUT), I NEED MORE FROM YOU. WHEN I GO TO GAMES ELSEWHERE AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND THE TEAM FOR THE HOME SIDE IS READ OUT THE FANS CHEER EACH

PLAYERS NAME, AND THAT IS WHERE YOU ALL COME IN, BECAUSE I NEED YOU TO DO THAT TOO, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE HERE ON A MATCHDAY AT OSSETT UNITED IS SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER CLUB AT OUR LEVEL HAS, OR CAN EVEN ATTEMPT TO HAVE, AND NOT JUST AT OUR LEVEL, BUT THE LEVEL ABOVE THAT, AND ABOVE THAT….

LET’S TURN INGFIELD IN TO A FORTRESS, I’M NOT SAYING SING FOR 90 MINUTES, JUST GIVE THE PLAYERS A CHEER WHEN THEIR NAMES ARE READ OUT ON THE MIC, THEY REALLY WILL APPRECIATE IT!

FINALLY, TODAY’S HALF-TIME MUSIC SELECTION HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY ANDREW LIGHTFOOT, ENJOY THE MUSIC AND AS ALWAYS, ENJOY THE GAME.

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

LONG EATON UNITED

SAM WILSON JOINED THE BLUES LAST SUMMER

AND PREVIOUSLY PLAYED FOR MANSFIELD TOWN U18S, WHERE HE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE EFL YOUTH ALLIANCE TITLE-WINNING TEAM AND MADE APPEARANCES FOR THE U21S. LAST SEASON, WILSON PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING THE BLUES REACH THE QUARTER-

FINALS OF THE BUILDBASE FA VASE, WITH TWO VITAL PENALTY SAVES AGAINST HANWORTH

VILLA.

MARLEY FEARON IS A YOUNG PACEY CENTREBACK THAT HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR FIRST-TEAM FOOTBALL IN THE 2021/22 SEASON. DURING

THE 2020/21 SEASON, FEARON HELPED GUIDE

LONG EATON UNITED CFC TO AN INVINCIBLE SEASON - IN WHICH HE KEPT EIGHT CLEAN SHEETS AND SCORED THREE GOALS IN 13

APPEARANCES. FEARON WILL AIM TO FIGHT FOR A PLACE IN THE FIRST-TEAM THIS SEASON, AFTER IMPRESSING IAN DEAKIN DURING PRE-SEASON.

EXPERIENCED CENTRE HALF AND CLUB CAPTAIN

ROMAINE GRAHAM HAS PLAYED AT GRANGE

PARK FOR THE LAST FIVE SEASONS AND HAS MADE OVER 150 STARTS IN THE PROCESS. THE DEFENDER IS A SERIOUS AERIAL THREAT AND COMPOSED ON THE BALL. GRAHAM ALSO HAS AN EYE FOR GOAL, WHICH HELPED HIM WIN THE

PREMIER SPORTS TV ‘GOAL OF THE SEASON' IN 2013 AFTER HE WON THE BALL IN HIS OWN HALF, DRIBBLED PAST FIVE PLAYERS AND HIT THE BALL IN OFF THE POST.

PLAYER PROFILES

LARELL KING IS A DERBY BORN DEFENDER, SPECIFICALLY A VERSATILE AND PACEY WINGBACK, WITH A VAST AMOUNT OF QUALITIES. KING HAS EXPERIENCE WITH BURTON ALBION

ACADEMY, MANSFIELD TOWN U18S AND MOST RECENTLY MICKLEOVER FC, WHERE HE MADE 21 APPEARANCES FOR THEIR RESERVE SIDE AND SCORED FIVE GOALS. THE YOUNG WING-BACK IS KNOWN TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLY LONG THROW AND TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WITH HIS OVERLAPPING RUNS.

SAM PARKER JOINED THE BLUES PRIOR TO THE 2021/22 PRE-SEASON, AFTER IMPRESSING AT KIMBERLEY MW THE SEASON PRIOR AND CATCHING THE EYE OF MANAGER IAN DEAKIN, AND HIS FORMER COACH CRAIG SWINSCOE. THE FULL-BACK ALSO GAINED VITAL EXPERIENCE PLAYING FOR DERBY COUNTY ACADEMY FROM A YOUNG AGE, BEFORE BEING SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED. PARKER IS A TOUGH-TACKLING, VERSATILE LEFT-BACK AND WILL PROVIDE EXCELLENT COMPETITION FOR THAT SPOT THROUGHOUT THE 2021/22 SEASON.

KEIRAN WALKER MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE FOR THE BLUES WITHIN THE 2019/20 SEASON AND RACKED UP AN IMPRESSIVE 27 GAMES AS CENTRE BACK FOR THE FIRST TEAM. THE STRONG AND COMPOSED DEFENDER HELPED LONG EATON FINISH IN NINTH PLACE DURING 2019/20 AND PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING THE BLUES REACH THE QUARTER-FINAL OF THE BUILDBASE FA VASE LAST SEASON. WALKER MADE 18

THE BLUES

APPEARANCES FOR THE BLUES THROUGHOUT THE 2020/21 SEASON AND QUICKLY BECAME A FAN FAVOURITE DUE TO HIS LETHAL LONG THROW-IN AND EXCELLENT DEFENSIVE ATTRIBUTES.

TYREECE JOINS THE BLUES FROM FRICKLEY

ATHLETIC AND COMES WITH A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE PLAYING FOR CLUBS IN AND AROUND THE MIDLANDS. THE FORMER

DERBY COUNTY TRAINEE IS AN EXTREMELY VERSATILE DEFENDER WITH A KEEN EYE FOR GOAL AND A MOUNTAIN-LIKE PRESENCE AT THE BACK. ROBINSON IS A VERY TALL, ATHLETIC AND COMMANDING DEFENDER THAT WILL LOOK TO GIVE THE BLUES EVEN MORE QUALITY IN DEFENCE.

DANNY GORDON JOINED THE BLUES IN SUMMER 2020 AND HAS BEEN A MAINSTAY IN MIDFIELDER EVER SINCE. GORDON WAS VOTED FANS PLAYER OF THE SEASON FOLLOWING THE TITLE-WINNING CAMPAIGN IN THE 2021/22 SEASON.

HOLLIS JOINED THE BLUES WITH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE PLAYING AT MANY CLUBS BOTH IN THE MIDLANDS AND ACROSS THE UK. THE VERSATILE MIDFIELDER EVEN REPRESENTED JAMAICA AT U20S LEVEL IN 2005, APPEARING IN THE CONCACAF U20 TOURNAMENT TO QUALIFY FOR THE 2005 FIFA WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP. JERMAINE BRINGS LEADERSHIP, STRENGTH AND THE ABILITY TO PICK OUT A PINPOINT PASS WITH EASE - A REAL POWERHOUSE MIDFIELDER.

TOM MARSHALL JOINED THE BLUES ONLY FIVE

LEAGUE GAMES INTO THE 2020/21 SEASON.

THE DEFENDER HAD A SHORT SPELL AT LONG

EATON BACK IN 2016/17 WHERE HE MADE 19 APPEARANCES AND SCORED 3 GOALS, BEFORE MOVING TO ILKESTON TOWN THE SEASON AFTER. MARSHALL SPENT THREE FULL SEASONS AT ILKESTON TOWN, MAKING OVER 108 APPEARANCES, INCLUDING 43 IN THE 2018/19 SEASON WHEN THE ROBINS WERE PROMOTED INTO THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE.

THIS VERSATILE MIDFIELDER HAS A VAST AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE HAVING BEEN A PART OF THE FLEETWOOD TOWN TEAM ALONGSIDE JAMIE VARDY DURING THEIR METEORIC RISE, AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY MAKING OVER 100 APPEARANCES FOR MANSFIELD TOWN. MCGUIRE IS A STRONG LEADER, A POWERHOUSE AND A TECHNICALLY GIFTED FOOTBALLER THAT WAS BROUGHT IN BY IAN DEAKIN TO BOLSTER AN ALREADY STRONG SQUAD.

JAMES TAYLOR BROKE INTO THE FIRST TEAM FROM OUR RESERVES SIDE DURING THE 2019/20 SEASON, WHERE HE MADE 12 APPEARANCES AND SCORED THREE GOALS FROM MIDFIELD. TAYLOR PLAYED 14 TIMES FOR THE CFC SIDE IN THE 2019/20 CAMPAIGN AND FOUND THE BACK OF THE NET FOUR TIMES. THE MIDFIELDER HAS SINCE MADE AN ADDITIONAL 23 APPEARANCES FOR THE FIRST TEAM AND IS SEEN AS A BOX-TOBOX MIDFIELD POWERHOUSE.

JAMIE WALKER IS NOW IN HIS SECOND SPELL WITH LONG EATON UNITED AFTER JOINING FROM NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE SIDE BASFORD UNITED IN 2020. WALKER IS AN EXPERIENCED

LONG EATON UNITED

WIDE MIDFIELDER WITH AN EYE FOR GOAL, WHICH HE DEMONSTRATED LAST SEASON WITH 20 GOALS AND 17 ASSISTS.

WITH WELL OVER 100 APPEARANCES FOR THE FIRST TEAM UNDER HIS BELT SINCE 16/17, KAMERON CAMPBELL IS ONE OF OUR MORE EXPERIENCED, LONG-TERM PLAYERS. CAMPBELL IS A VERY VERSATILE PLAYER, WHO CAN PLAY AS A SOLID DEFENDER, MIDFIELDER OR MORE COMMONLY AS A CLINICAL STRIKER. THE PACEY AND AGILE FORWARD IS ALSO A THREAT IN THE AIR AND WILL BE USED MORE AS AN ATTACKING OPTION THIS SEASON. ESPECIALLY AFTER SHINING THROUGH IN THE LATTER STAGES OF THE 2020/21 BUILDBASE FA VASE.

BEN HUTCHINSON JOINED THE BLUES TOWARDS THE START OF THE 2021/22 SEASON, FROM OUR UCFL PREMIER DIVISION NORTH COUNTERPARTS EASTWOOD CFC. THE NOTTINGHAM BORN STRIKER BRINGS A VAST AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE HAVING PLAYED FOR MIDDLESBROUGH, CELTIC, SWINDON TOWN, LINCOLN CITY AND MANSFIELD IN HIS EARLY

CAREER. HUTCH MADE OVER 100 PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCES, FROM PLAYING AND SCORING IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE FOR MIDDLESBROUGH AND COMPETING IN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS

LEAGUE WITH CELTIC. BEN IS A CLINICAL STRIKER AND WILL BE A HUGE ASSET TO THE CLUB MOVING FORWARD.

MICAH JEBBISON JOINED THE BLUES MIDWAY THROUGH THE 2021/22 PRE-SEASON, AFTER IMPRESSING THE MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH HIS FAST FEET, EYE FOR GOAL AND INCREDIBLE FOOTWORK. THE WINGER ALSO GAINED VITAL EXPERIENCE PLAYING FOR ILKESTON TOWN ACADEMY AND QUORN AFC JUST TO NAME A FEW, HOWEVER, AT THE AGE OF 16, JEBBISON TRIALLED FOR SHEFFIELD UNITED AFTER BEING SPOTTED FOR HIS EXCELLENT POTENTIAL.

JEBBISON IS CANADIAN - HE IS THE OLDER

BROTHER OF SHEFFIELD UNITED AND ENGLAND YOUTH INTERNATIONAL DANIEL JEBBISON, AND THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF JONATHAN

JEBBISON, FORMERLY OF HEANOR TOWN AND QUORN AFC.

PAUL COOPER

FABIAN BAILEY

HARRY COATES

HARRY GAGEN

PADDY MILLER

CRAIG NELTHORPE

DANNY SOUTH (CPT)

BRANDON WEBSTER

IDRIS ATTA

JAMES CADMAN

LUKE HOGG

JANNI LIPKA

OLI METCALFE

TOM PRIESTLEY-STANDING

DERRY ROBSON

DAVID BROWN

JAMES CARVELL

NATHAN CURTIS

ALEX PETERSON

JAMES WALSHAW

SAM WILSON

MITCHELL LEIVERS

MARLEY FEARON

ROMAINE GRAHAM

LARELL KING

SAM PARKER

KEIRAN WALKER

TYREECE ROBINSON

BRAD WILSON

DANNY GORDON

JERMAINE HOLLIS

TOM MARSHALL

JAMIE MCGUIRE

JAMES TAYLOR

JAMIE WALKER

KAM CAMPBELL

BEN HUTCHINSON

MICAH JEBBISON

ALEX MARSHALL

ROD ORLANDO-YOUNG

JACK ROGERS