Ossett United v Carlton Town (21/03/2023)

CLUB PRESIDENT: NEVILLE W

CHAIRMAN: JAMES ROGERS

VICE-CHAIRMAN: PHIL SMITH

SECRETARY: NEIL SPOFFORTH

TREASURER: PAUL BILLING

BOARD MEMBERS: LEE BROADBENT

HANKS

MANAGER: GRANT BLACK

ASSISTANT MANAGER: MICK N

COACH: DAVID BROWN, RYAN

MATCH ANALYST: VACANCY

MEDICAL TEAM: EMILY CRISPIN

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING

HEAD OF MEDIA: CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

MEDIA TEAM: CHRIS CASSIDY, H

JON HUNT, GEORGE NORTHOVER

PROGRAMME DESIGN: NEIL SPOFFORTH

CLUB HONOURS – OSSETT UNITED

WEST RIDING COUNTY SENIOR

WINNERS: 1949/50

WEST RIDING COUNTY CUP

WINNERS: 1958/59, 1964/65

2018/19

RUNNERS UP: 2000/01

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

RUNNERS UP: 2001/02

PLAY-OFF RUNNERS UP: 2016/17

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST P

WINNERS: 1998/99, 2003/04

RUNNERS UP: 1998/99, 2000/01

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST F

WINNERS: 1986/87

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST S

WINNERS: 1988/89

CLUB RECORDS

FA CUP

FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND: 1965/66

2017/18 (R)

SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND: 2019/20

FA TROPHY

SECOND ROUND: 1999/00

FIRST ROUND: 2001/02, 2004/05

THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND: 2022/23

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO INGFIELD FOR THIS EVENING’S PITCHING IN NPL EAST GAME WITH CARLTON TOWN, IT FEELS AN AWFULLY LONG TIME SINCE WE TRAVELLED TO TODAY’S VISITORS ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE SEASON, IN BAKING HOT CONDITIONS TOO, AND CERTAINLY DIFFERENT TO WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TODAY!

AFTER A COUPLE OF POOR RESULTS, IT WAS GREAT TO GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS AT PLAY-OFF CHASING STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS, IN WHAT WAS A VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE AND MORE IN TUNE WITH WHAT GRANT EXPECTS FROM HIS SIDE. TO A MAN THEY PLAYED THEIR PART IN DOMINATING THE GAME FOR LARGE PERIODS AND THREE VERY DIFFERENT BUT EXCELLENT GOALS. JANNI LIPKA LIFTED THE BALL EXPERTLY OVER THE GOALKEEPER FOR THE OPENER. CHRIS DAWSON WAS CALM WHEN SURROUNDED BY DEFENDERS TO WORK HIMSELF A SHOOTING OPPORTUNITY BEFORE A BRAVE HEADER BY JAMES WALSHAW, FOLLOWED BY BEING CLATTERED BY THE KEEPER, SECURED THE VICTORY.

IT IS ALSO WORTH A MENTION FOR OUR SPORTS & EXERCISE THERAPIST, EMILY CRISPIN, WHO TURNED 25 THAT DAY, SPENT IT WITH PADDY MILLER AS SHE EXPERTLY TREATED A VERY DEEP HEAD WOUND HE PICKED UP IN THE EARLY PART OF THE GAME. CERTAINLY NOT WHAT SHE EXPECTED TO BE DOING TO CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY, I AM SURE!

THERE WAS UNFORTUNATELY THEN A TEN DAY BREAK AS TWO GAMES WERE POSTPONED FOLLOWING HEAVY SNOW SO THE MOMENTUM PICKED UP AT STOCKSBRIDGE STUTTERED A LITTLE.

THAT SAID THE POINT PICKED UP THREE DAYS AGO AT CONSETT, GIVEN THE PLAYERS UNAVAILABLE AND TWO CHANGES THAT HAD TO BE MADE IN THE FIRST HALF, WAS HARD FOUGHT IN THE END.

THIS GAME WAS DUE TO BE PLAYED A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE WORLD CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND DESPITE THAT NOW BEING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I WOULD STILL LIKE TO INCLUDE WHAT I HAD WRITTEN FOR THAT PROGRAMME.

LIKE MANY CLUBS AT OUR LEVEL WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WOMEN UNDERTAKING KEY ROLES FROM EMILY WHO I HAVE MENTIONED TO CATH BOWKER WHO HEADS UP THE SNACK BAR SUPPORTED BY THE LIKES OF MARY AND SUSIE HANKS, PAULINE WIGGLESWORTH WHO DOES A STERLING JOB IN HOSPITALITY LOOKING AFTER VISITING DIRECTORS AND GUEST, KATE HENNIGHAN OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OFFICER, HAYLEY WALKER AND KELLY DENNING WHO YOU WILL FIND IN THE CLUBHOUSE. AND I CANNOT END THIS PIECE WITHOUT MENTIONING DAWN ROGERS WHO IS LIKELY TO SERVE YOU IN THE SUPPORTERS BAR AS WELL AS ALWAYS KEEPING ME ON MY TOES!

THERE ARE MANY MORE, TOO MANY TO MENTION BY NAME, BUT PLEASE REST ASSURED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT IS MUCH APPRECIATED BY MYSELF AND ALL AT THE CLUB. THANK YOU.

ENJOY THE GAME

JAMES ROGERS , CHAIRMAN

GRANT BLACK

I WAS DELIGHTED WITH THE WORK RATE OF THE LADS ON SATURDAY AT CONSETT, WE ALL KNOW HOW TOUGH THIS LEAGUE IS AND HOW DIFFICULT TRIPS TO THE NORTH EAST ARE, WHEREVER THE SIDE IS IN THE TABLE AT THE TIME. WE STARTED THE GAME WITHOUT WALSHAW, COATES, MILLER AND BROWN. THEN LOST TWO PLAYERS IN THE OPENING 45 MINUTES WHICH FURTHER DISRUPTED THE MAKE-UP OF THE SIDE ON THE DAY.

JACK BUTTERFILL STARTED THE GAME HAVING JOINED ON LOAN FROM BARNSLEY AND SHOWED THE ABILITY HE CLEARLY HAS IN THE OPENING 45 MINUTES. JOSH LINDLEY, WHO HAS JOINED FROM DONCASTER ROVERS STARTED ON THE BENCH BUT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE ACTION WHEN GAGEN SUFFERED A KNEE INJURY AFTER ONLY 20 MINUTES. THIS WAS LINDLEY’S FIRST EXPERIENCE OF MEN’S FOOTBALL AND HE WAS TREMENDOUS, HE DROVE THE SIDE ON AFTER A SLOW START AND PLAYED A KEY ROLE AS WE

GRABBED A LATE EQUALISER THANKS TO NATHAN CURTIS’ CLEVER FINISH, AND I DO BELIEVE HAD THE GAME BEEN FIVE MINUTES LONGER WE WOULD HAVE PICKED UP THE WIN. CURTIS’ GOAL BOUND EFFORT STOPPED BY A REAL ‘BODIES ON THE LINE’ BLOCK FROM A CONSETT DEFENDER.

THURSDAY WILL SEE THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE PASS, AS I WRITE THESE NOTES AHEAD OF THE GAME TONIGHT WE ARE WORKING HARD TO BRING IN ANOTHER FACE OR TWO, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INJURIES PICKED UP BY GAGEN AND DAWSON. HOPEFULLY AS THE TEAM IS ANNOUNCED TODAY THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL NAMES TO STRENGTHEN THE SIDE FOR THE FINAL MONTH OF THE SEASON.

FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME CARLTON

TOWN TO INGFIELD TODAY, A SIDE CURRENTLY IN THE BOTTOM FOUR BUT NO DOUBT FULL OF CONFIDENCE AFTER SOME VERY POSITIVE RESULTS IN RECENT GAMES. AS ALWAYS WE WILL HAVE TO BE AT OUR ABSOLUTE BEST TO GET THE RESULT WE WANT THIS EVENING.

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

T PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

ONCE AGAIN RECENT GAMES HAVE ALL TOO CLEARLY HIGHLIGHTED ONE OF OUR MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN – THAT BEING CONSISTENCY. IT’S EASY TO TALK ABOUT IT BUT AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PLAYERS DON’T GO OUT TO UNDERPERFORM BUT IT DOES HAPPEN AND CAN BE FRUSTRATING FOR THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND DEFINITELY FOR THE SUPPORTERS. I THINK WE WERE ALL A BIT DOWN AFTER RECENT RESULTS AGAINST SHEFFIELD AND LONG EATON UNITED BUT THEN, ALMOST OUT OF THE BLUE, WE GO TO HIGH FLYING STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS AND PUT ON ONE OF OUR MOST COMPLETE AND DOMINANT PERFORMANCES OF THE ENTIRE SEASON. EVERYONE IS UPBEAT AGAIN AND ALL WE CAN HOPE FOR IS THAT THE KIND OF FORM WE DEMONSTRATED ON THAT TUESDAY NIGHT CAN BE REPLICATED HERE AT INGFIELD THIS EVENING.

ONCE AGAIN I FEEL WE’LL HAVE TO BE AT OR CLOSE TO OUR BEST AS THIS EVENING’S VISITORS CARLTON TOWN ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL AT THIS LEVEL AND WHAT GREATER INCENTIVE CAN THERE BE THAN THAT. AFTER A PROMISING START TO THE CAMPAIGN THEY SUFFERED AN ALARMING

SLUMP IN FORM AND ARE NOW PLAYING TO PRESERVE THEIR NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE STATUS. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN ONE OF RELEGATION PLAY-OFF PLACES THEY SHOWED WHAT THEY ARE STILL CAPABLE OF WHEN THEY TRAVELLED TO PROMOTION HOPEFULS AND SECOND IN THE TABLE HEBBURN OWN AND AGAINST VIRTUALLY ALL THE ODDS CAME AWAY WITH A HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE 2 – 0 WIN FOLLOWED UP WITH WINS ON THE ROAD AT GRANTHAM AND CLEETHORPES. ANOTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR CONCERN IS THAT THEIR AWAY FORM IS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THEIR HOME FORM WHICH MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM EVERY RESPECT OVER THE NINETY MINUTES.

TALKING OF HOME AND AWAY FORM I MENTION SOMETHING THAT HAS PUZZLED ME FOR A WHILE. AROUND THE CLUB WE FREQUENTLY ARE TOLD ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF THE VOCAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY OUR FANS AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE PLAYERS. IT STRUCK ME AS STRANGE THEREFORE WHEN WE COMPARE OUR HOME RESULTS AGAINST OUR AWAY RESULTS AS THAT DOESN’T APPEAR TO BE THE CASE. OF COURSE OSSETT UNITED ARE INDEED FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL AND LOYAL BAND OF FANS WHO REGULARLY MAKE TRIPS UP AND DOWN THE LENGTH OF NORTHERN ENGLAND TO AWAY GAMES BUT OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF NUMBERS, THE VOLUME OF NOISE FROM OUR SUPPORTERS IS GREATER AT INGFIELD

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

THAN WHEN WE ARE PLAYING AWAY FROM HOME. HOW IS IT THEN THAT OUR RESULTS AT HOME ARE CONSIDERABLY INFERIOR TO THE FORM WHEN ON OUR TRAVELS? AT INGFIELD WE HAVE PLAYED 15 MATCHES WITH A RECORD OF WON 4, DRAWN 4 AND LOST 7. AWAY FROM INGFIELD WE HAVE PLAYED 15 MATCHES WITH A RECORD OF WON 5, DRAWN 7 WITH JUST THE 3 LOSSES. REASON – I DON’T KNOW BUT JUST AN OBSERVATION WHICH SEEMS TO CONTRADICT THE OFT HELD VIEW.

WE ARE NOW DOWN TO THE BUSINESS END OF THE SEASON WITH JUST 8 GAMES REMAINING. FOUR EACH AT HOME AND AWAY. HAVING FLIRTED WITH THE PROSPECT OF MAKING THE END OF SEASON PLAY-OFFS FOR MUCH OF THE SEASON I THINK EVEN THE MOST OPTIMISTIC AMONGST US WOULD CONCEDE THAT THAT IS NOW LOOKING INCREASINGLY REMOTE SO WE ARE MORE THAN LIKELY LEFT WITH PLAYING OUT THE SEASON AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 2023/2024 CAMPAIGN. I HAVE TO CONFESS

THAT I HAVE NOW REACHED THAT STAGE WHERE I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO FINISHING OUR REMAINING GAMES, RE-CHARGING OUR BATTERIES OVER THE SUMMER AND THEN BUILDING FOR THE FOLLOWING ONE HOPEFULLY WHEN GRANT CAN START TO TWEAK THE TEAM AND ASSEMBLE THE SQUAD HE WANTS TO TAKE US FORWARD.

THIS EVENING I’M SURE CARLTON TOWN’S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WILL BE TO AVERT A RETURN TO NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE FOOTBALL SO WILL BE GOING ALL OUT TO REGISTER THREE POINTS. WE EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THE DIRECTORS, OFFICIALS, MANAGEMENT, PLAYERS AND NOT LEAST THE SUPPORTERS OF CARLTON TOWN FOR TONIGHT’S GAME. WE WERE TREATED WELL WHEN WE VISITED CARLTON WAY BACK ON AUGUST 13TH WHICH WAS OUR OPENING LEAGUE FIXTURE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN RECIPROCATE TODAY.

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

PAUL COOPER

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 .

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

B

DANNY BURNS

RANDON WEBSTER

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 .

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 & DAWN ROGERS

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

CRAIG NELTHORPE

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

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

LUKE HOGG

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

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

COMMISSIONER MARONE, AS THE NEW TORINO PRESIDENT LIKED TO STYLE HIMSELF, WAS NOT A NATURAL LEADER OF THE SPORT HE HAD INVESTED IN. HE WAS HEIR TO A COLOSSAL ALCOHOLIC FORTUNE, AND WOULD LATER BECOME THE COUNT CINZANO, BUT IN THE MID-1920S HE TOOK CHARGE OF HIS HOMETOWN CLUB AND DECIDED THAT HE WOULD PLAY A PART IN MUSSOLINI’S PURSUIT OF NATIONALISTIC PRIDE. NOBODY THOUGHT MUCH OF IT WHEN HE VISITED BUENOS AIRES ON A BUSINESS TRIP, HE WAS JUST ABSENT FROM THE BOARDROOM FOR A FEW MONTHS. BUT WHEN HE DISEMBARKED FROM A STEAMER, BACK ON HOME SOIL, HE BROUGHT WITH HIM TWO FOOTBALLERS. ONE BECAME ILL AND SOON WENT BACK HOME, BUT THE OTHER WAS JULIO LIBONATTI, WHO WOULD DOMINATE ITALIAN FOOTBALL, BEFORE BECOMING IT’S FIRST ORIUNDO, AND A NATIONAL HERO. LIBONATTI HAD ALREADY BEEN MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN SOUTH AMERICA. BORN TO A POOR IMMIGRANT FAMILY, HE HAD A NATURAL TALENT FOR GOALSCORING. WHEN HE WAS OLD ENOUGH, HE WENT ALONG TO WHAT IS NOW ONE OF ARGENTINA’S GREAT CLUBS – NEWELL’S OLD BOYS – WHO HAD BEEN FOUNDED TWO YEARS AFTER HE HAD BEEN BORN, AND SHOWED WHAT HE COULD DO. THE COACHES WERE IMPRESSED, AND SIGNED HIM UP THERE AND THEN. HE WAS

JUST FIFTEEN YEARS OLD, AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS HE WAS IN THE FIRST TEAM, CONTINUING TO DO WHAT HE DID BEST.

FOOTBALL WAS BOOMING IN ARGENTINA IN THE EARLY 1920S, AS A FIERCE RIVALRY WITH URUGUAY DROVE BOTH SIDES ON TO GREATNESS; BY THE END OF THE DECADE, URUGUAY WERE TWO TIMES WORLD CHAMPIONS, BEATING ARGENTINA IN BOTH FINALS. SO LIBONATTI’S UNDOUBTED TALENT WAS DIFFICULT TO MISS. OVER SEVEN YEARS TO 1925, HE PLAYED 141 GAMES AND SCORED 78 GOALS, DELIGHTING SUPPORTED WITH HIS FLAIR AND TRICKERY, ALONG

WITH HIS UNERRING ACCURACY. NOBODY QUITE KNOWS HOW MARONE INVOLVED HIMSELF WITH LIBONATTI, BUT ONE CAN IMAGINE THAT HE TOOK NOTICE WHEN HE ARRIVED IN ARGENTINA. CONTRACTS WERE SIGNED, AND BOTH MADE THEIR WAY BACK TO ITALY.

IN TURIN, HE WAS AS MUCH OF A SENSATION AS HE HAD BEEN IN BUENOS AIRES. HIS AGILITY AND TRICKERY EARNED HIM THE NICKNAME MATADOR, AND IT WAS WELL DESERVED. NOT ONLY DID HE IMPROVE HIS SCORING RATE, SCORING 106 GOALS IN HIS FIRST 109 GAMES, HE ALSO DEVELOPED A REPUTATION FOR LAYING ON GOALS FOR HIS STRIKE PARTNERS. THE FULL PACKAGE, UNSURPRISINGLY TORINO’S TACTICS IN THIS PERIOD COULD BE DESCRIBED AS ‘GIVE IT TO JULIO’. AND HIS DIDN’T DISAPPOINT, LEADING HIS SIDE TO TWO NATIONAL TITLES (ONE OF WHICH WAS REVOKED) AND A FINAL WHICH WAS LOST.

AS FASCISM REALLY EMBEDDED ITSELF INTO ITALIAN LIVES, BENITO MUSSOLINI UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF SPORT IN UNIFYING A COUNTRY. IT IS A TACTIC THAT HAS BEEN USED EVER SINCE, BY HISTORICAL HEROES AND VILLAINS, BUT IN THE 1920S, THE RAPID PROFESSIONALISATION AND NATIONALISATION OF THE GAME REQUIRED AN ADDED ELEMENT; ITALIANNESS. FOREIGN PLAYERS WERE BANNED FROM THE LEAGUE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ORIUNDI, THOSE WHO WERE

ABLE TO TRACE THEIR HERITAGE BACK TO AN ITALIAN ANCESTRY. FORTUNATELY FOR LIBONATTI, HE COULD DO JUST THAT.

RANGONE MAY HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE WHEN LIBONATTI FIRST GOT THE CALL, BUT BEFORE LONG IT WAS THE LEGENDARY VITTORIO POZZO WHO HAD BEEN CHARGED BY MUSSOLINI PERSONALLY TO BRING THE NATIONAL TEAM SUCCESS ON THE WORLD STAGE WHICH HE DID, IN BOTH 1934 AND 1938. LIBONATTI’S CAREER WOULDN’T LAST TO THAT ZENITH, BUT HE DID LAY THE GROUNDWORK, SCORING 15 GOALS IN 18 GAMES FOR ITALY. SADLY, THEY REFUSED TO TRAVEL FOR THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE WORLD CUP, SO HE DIDN’T GET TO SHOW HIS SKILLS AT THE INAUGURAL COMPETITION, AND BY THE 1934 EDITION IN HIS ADOPTED HOMELAND, HE HAD DROPPED INTO THE SECOND DIVISION WITH GENOA, WHERE AGE HAD SLIGHTLY SLOWED HIS SCORING.

THE IDEA OF ORIUNDI IS A TRADITION THAT CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, AND IN THE TWENTY FIRST, WITH MODERN TRAVEL A MUCH EXPANDED INTERNATIONAL GAME, PLAYER FOR THE COUNTRY OF ONE’S ANCESTORS HAS BECOME COMMONPLACE. BUT IN ITALY AT LEAST, JULIO LIBONATTI WAS THE FIRST ORIUNDO.

FIND MORE AT THE UNTOLD GAME .CO.UK OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA @THE UNTOLD GAME

CARLTON TOWN

THE CLUB WAS FOUNDED IN 1904 UNDER THE NAME OF SNEINTON FC AND FOR MUCH OF THE 20TH CENTURY PLAYED ITS FOOTBALL IN THE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FOOTBALL ALLIANCE.

SNEINTON WON THE LEAGUE IN 1905-06 AND PICKED UP THREE TITLES IN SUCCESSION BETWEEN 1907-08 AND 1909-10.

THE LEAGUE WAS STRONG ENOUGH IN THE EARLY PART OF THE CENTURY TO ENTER CLUBS INTO THE QUALIFYING ROUNDS OF THE FA CUP AND SNEINTON COMPETED FOR 20 SUCCESSIVE SEASONS BETWEEN 1907-08 AND 1930-31 ALBEIT NEVER PROGRESSING BEYOND THE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING. IT WOULD BE 73 YEARS BEFORE THEY ENTERED THE CUP AGAIN.

INDEED, THE CLUB HAD TO WAIT SOME TIME FOR FURTHER SUCCESS, WINNING THE SECOND DIVISION TITLE (THIRD TIER) IN 1984-85 AND THE FIRST DIVISION TITLE (SECOND TIER) IN 1992-93.

THE CLUB HAD LED SOMEWHAT OF A NOMADIC EXISTENCE, PLAYING AT VARIOUS GROUNDS, AND ONLY SETTLED AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION OF STOKE

LANE, GEDLING, IN THE EARLY 1990S. THIS MOVE COINCIDED WITH THE AMBITION FROM WITHIN THE CLUB TO PROGRESS BEYOND THE CONFINES OF COUNTY FOOTBALL AND, FOLLOWING A THIRD-PLACE FINISH IN THE SENIOR DIVISION (TOP TIER) IN 1994-95, THE CLUB JOINED THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

THE FIRST SEASON IN THE CML WAS REASONABLE, BUT AT THE START OF THE 1996-97 CAMPAIGN THE CLUB WAS LEFT WITH JUST THREE PLAYERS AND NO MANAGER. IN A DESPERATE QUANDARY, CHAIRMAN

BILL STOKELD TURNED TO FORMER PLAYERS TOMMY BROOKBANKS AND NEIL COOPER WHO AGREED TO TAKE OVER THE MANAGERIAL REIGNS AT SNEINTON, AND THERE BEGAN A PERIOD OF OUTSTANDING SUCCESS.

BROOKBANKS LED THE CLUB BRILLIANTLY FOR 14 YEARS FROM 1996 – 2010 WITH THE CLUB GAINING FOUR PROMOTIONS UNDER HIS STEWARDSHIP. HE TOOK JUST TWO YEARS TO GAIN PROMOTION FROM THE PREMIER DIVISION TO THE SUPREME DIVISION OF THE CML, AND THREE YEARS LATER ONLY GROUND GRADING ISSUES PREVENTED ELEVATION INTO THE NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE.

IN 2002 CHAIRMAN MICK GARTON OF LOCAL COMPANY MSR NEWSGROUP TOOK OVER THE HOT SEAT AT STOKE LANE IN 2002 BRINGING FINANCES TO ENSURE GROUND-GRADING WOULDN’T BE AN ISSUE AGAIN AND THE CLUB ALSO CHANGED ITS NAME TO CARLTON TOWN. IN ITS FIRST SEASON UNDER ITS NEW NAME IT DULY WON THE CML TITLE AND GAINED PROMOTION TO THE FIRST DIVISION OF THE NCEL.

THE MILLERS SPENT THREE YEARS IN THIS DIVISION BEFORE WINNING THE LEAGUE IN 2005-06 AND GAINING PROMOTION TO THE NCEL PREMIER DIVISION. HOWEVER, BY THIS STAGE THE CLUB WAS WITHOUT CLUB PRESIDENT AND LEGEND BILL STOKELD, WHO PASSED AWAY WATCHING THE MILLERS ON 23 OCTOBER 2004. BILL HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CLUB FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND IT IS FITTING THAT HIS NAME LIVES ON THROUGH THE NAME OF THE STADIUM ITSELF.

ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FOLLOWING SEASON,

THE MILLERS

2006-07, DEAN GENT’S 94TH MINUTE WINNER

SECURED A 2-1 WIN AT GARFORTH TO EARN A SECOND SUCCESSIVE PROMOTION, THIS TIME TO THE NPL FIRST DIVISION SOUTH. CARLTON HAVE REMAINED AT STEP 4 EVER SINCE.

CARLTON’S FIRST SEASON AT THIS LEVEL SAW THEM

FINISH A CREDITABLE 10TH , AND IN 2008-09 THEY

FINISHED FOURTH AND MADE THE PLAY-OFFS, WHERE FUTURE ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL JAMIE

VARDY WAS AMONGST THE SCORERS AS STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS WON 5-2 IN SOUTH

YORKSHIRE.

ANOTHER TOP HALF FINISH FOLLOWED IN 2009-10 BEFORE BROOKBANKS DECIDED TO MOVE ON TO

PREMIER DIVISION HUCKNALL TOWN.

NEW MANAGER LES MCJANNET RECRUITED A WHOLE NEW SQUAD, AND HIS SIDE MADE A FANTASTIC START TO THE CAMPAIGN, LOSING JUST ONE OF THE OPENING 15 GAMES AND FINISHING IN EIGHTH PLACE. THE CLUB ALSO MADE IT TO THE

FINAL OF THE NOTTS SENIOR CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME BEFORE BEING WELL BEATEN BY CONFERENCE NORTH EASTWOOD TOWN.

THE NEXT THREE SEASONS BROUGHT EVEN MORE SUCCESS. 2011-12 SAW THE MILLERS FINISH SECOND IN THE TABLE, THEIR HIGHEST PYRAMID FINISH TO DATE, SCORE 101 LEAGUE GOALS AND ONLY GO OUT OF THE PLAY-OFFS AFTER A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT DEFEAT AGAINST LEEK TOWN.

THE LEAGUE FORM DIPPED IN 2012-13 BUT

MCJANNET BROUGHT SILVERWARE TO THE CLUB IN THE FORM OF A FIRST EVER NOTTS SENIOR CUP SUCCESS, BEATING HIS FORMER CLUB SUTTON

TOWN 5-2 IN THE FINAL, EVEN THOUGH CENTREHALF GRANT BRINDLEY HAD TO PLAY IN GOAL DUE TO AN INJURY CRISIS. THE CLUB ALSO MADE IT

THROUGH THE THIRD ROUND QUALIFYING OF THE FA CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME BEFORE GOING OUT TO BRADFORD (PARK AVENUE).

IF THE FIRST HALF OF THE DECADE HAD BEEN CHARACTERISED BY SUCCESS AFTER SUCCESS, THE FOLLOWING FIVE YEARS WAS SEEMINGLY ONE LONG STRUGGLE AGAINST RELEGATION IN FRONT OF EVERDECREASING CROWDS WITH JUST THE ONE TREMENDOUS HIGHLIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

IN 2014-15 THE MILLERS OPENED WITH THREE DEFEATS AND NEVER REALLY RECOVERED, EVENTUALLY FINISHING IN 18TH POSITION. AT THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN MCJANNET DECIDED TO CALL IT A DAY.

HE WAS REPLACED BY HIS ASSISTANT WAYNE SCOTT WHO HAD LED THE UNDER 21S TO AN IMPRESSIVE SECOND PLACE IN THEIR DIVISION IN MCJANNET’S FINAL YEAR. SCOTT’S FIRST TWO SEASONS IN CHARGE WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL, WITH CARLTON STARTING POORLY BEFORE HITTING THEIR STRIDE IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH, PUTTING TOGETHER EXCELLENT WINNING RUNS, AND PULLING WELL CLEAR OF THE DROP IN POINTS TERMS AT LEAST. THOSE SEASONS SAW 18TH AND 19TH PLACED FINISHES IN THE LEAGUE BUT SCOTT’S SECOND SEASON AT THE HELM ENDED IN SPECTACULAR STYLE WITH THE MANAGER LEADING THE CLUB TO ITS THIRD WIN IN THE NOTTS SENIOR CUP, BEATING LOCAL RIVALS BASFORD UNITED 4-1 AT NOTTS COUNTY’S MEADOW LANE.

2018-19 SAW CARLTON PLAY IN THE NEWLYREORGANISED NPL FIRST DIVISION EAST WHICH INCLUDED SOME MAMMOTH AWAY JOURNEYS INCLUDING A 344-MILE ROUND TRIP TO MORPETH BUT CONTAINED JUST 20 TEAMS, DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS 22. CARLTON STRUGGLED AND ONCE

CARLTON TOWN

AGAIN FINISHED 19TH WHICH SHOULD HAVE MEANT RELEGATION, BUT THE MILLERS WERE GRANTED A REPRIEVE AFTER AFC MANSFIELD WERE RELEGATED INSTEAD FOR GROUND-GRADING ISSUES.

AT THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN CARLTON PARTED COMPANY WITH SCOTT AND BROOKBANKS RETURNED AS MANAGER, JOINTLY WITH HIS EXCOALVILLE SIDEKICK MARK HARVEY. THE NPL ABANDONED THE EAST-WEST SPLIT OF THE FIRST DIVISION AFTER JUST ONE SEASON DUE TO IMBALANCE IN THE TRAVELLING DISTANCES AND RETURNED EFFECTIVELY TO A NORTH-SOUTH SPLIT, ALBEIT WITH THE TWO DIVISIONAL NAMES BEING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

CARLTON HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN 2019-20 WITH FOUR STRAIGHT WINS. THEY SPENT A MONTH AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE IN THE AUTUMN AND WERE IN FIFTH PLACE IN THE TABLE WHEN THE SEASON WAS BROUGHT TO ITS ABRUPT END DUE TO COVID 19.

CARLTON ONLY MANAGED TO PLAY NINE LEAGUE GAMES OF THE TRUNCATED 2020-21 SEASON BEFORE IT TOO WAS BROUGHT TO AN EARLY END DUE TO THE VIRUS. THEY DID MANAGE A FIRST FA CUP WIN IN SIX YEARS, ALBEIT ON PENALTIES, AND THEIR BEST DISPLAY OF THE CAMPAIGN WAS IN DEFEAT AT HIGHER RANKED BANBURY UNITED IN THE SAME COMPETITION.

THE SUMMER OF 2021 SAW THE EXPANSION OF STEP 4 WHICH LED TO CARLTON BEING PLACED INTO THE NEWLY-FORMED NPL MIDLANDS DIVISION. 2021-22 WAS A FINE SEASON WITH THE MILLERS WINNING FIVE OF THE OPENING SIX GAMES TO

MOUNT A GENUINE PROMOTION CHALLENGE.

CARLTON SLIPPED OUT OF THE TOP FIVE AFTER SOME INCONSISTENT DISPLAYS IN THE WINTER MONTHS, BUT THE SIDE RALLIED TOWARDS THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN AND ONLY JUST MISSED OUT ON A PLAY-OFF SPOT WITH A SIXTH PLACED FINISH, THE BEST IN 10 YEARS.

THE MILLERS WON THROUGH TO THE FIRST ROUND PROPER OF THE FA TROPHY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PICKED UP THEIR FOURTH NOTTS SENIOR CUP TITLE WITH A 1-0 WIN AGAINST MANSFIELD TOWN U23. THE SEMI-FINAL WIN AGAINST NOTTINGHAM FOREST U23 WAS PLAYED IN FRONT OF A CLUBRECORD HOME CROWD OF 733.

OFF THE PITCH THE CLUB’S COMMERCIAL TEAM MADE GREAT STRIDES IN ENGAGING WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BRINGING START GUESTS TO THE CLUB ON MATCHDAYS AND A THRIVING SUPPORTERS CLUB SAW HOME GATES AND AWAY FOLLOWINGS INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY WAS SPENT ON PITCH IMPROVEMENTS WHICH SAW ONLY ONE HOME GAME POSTPONED DURING THE SEASON AND THE CLUB ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING TO DEVELOP THE GROUND.

THE CLUB WAS MOVED DIVISIONS AGAIN IN THE SUMMER AND WILL PLAY 2022-23 IN THE FIRST DIVISION EAST OF THE NPL. THIS WILL ONCE AGAIN MEAN SOME MAMMOTH AWAY TRIPS TO THE NORTHEAST, BUT THE CLUB WILL BE LOOKING TO BUILD ON THE SUCCESS OF LAST SEASON AND MOUNT ANOTHER GENUINE PROMOTION CHALLENGE.

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OSSETT UNITED MEDIA PARTNER

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD

.

ON ONE HAND YOU DO FEEL FOR CLUBS THAT NOT ONLY HAVE TO TRAVEL THAT FAR NORTH BUT ALSO TRAVEL THAT FAR NORTH ON A WINTRY

TONIGHT WE WELCOME CARLTON TOWN TO THE WORLD FAMOUS INGFIELD, AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW CARLTON ARE FROM MY HOME CITY OF NOTTINGHAM (THEY’RE ACTUALLY IN THE BOROUGH OF GEDLING IF WE’RE GOING TO BE PEDANTIC).

CARLTON TOWN LAST SEASON WERE IN THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE MIDLANDS DIVISION, AND BECAUSE OF PROMOTION AND RELEGATION THEY ENDED UP, AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL, IN THE EAST DIVISION THIS SEASON. BOTH THEY AND LONG EATON ARE THE FURTHEST SOUTH IN OUR DIVISION, AND YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY BOTH CLUBS DECIDED TO APPEAL THE DECISION TO MOVE ACROSS AS IT IS QUITE A TREK UP TO PLACES LIKE NORTH SHIELDS, DUNSTON AND CONSETT.

GEOGRAPHICALLY THOUGH, BOTH CLUBS ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE M1 AND NOT A MILLION MILES AWAY FROM THE A1, SO ALTHOUGH THERE IS A FAIR DISTANCE FROM THE EAST MIDLANDS TO THE NORTH EAST, THE ROUTES ARE

TUESDAY NIGHT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THE NON-LEAGUE PYRAMID IS SET UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE REGIONALISED LEAGUES GET LESS AND LESS REGIONALISED THE FURTHER UP THE PYRAMID A CLUB GOES, AND AS SUCH THE DISTANCES YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL BECOME GREATER.

THE MIDLANDS SECTION OF THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE COVERS AS FAR WEST AS SUTTON COLDFIELD IN THE WEST MIDLANDS, TO AS FAR EAST AS DEREHAM IN NORFOLK, WHICH DISTANCE WISE IS OVER 150 MILES (2 AND HALF HOURS). THE DISTANCE FROM NOTTINGHAM TO NORTH SHIELDS IS ABOUT 5 OR SO MILES MORE (AROUND 15 MINUTES MORE), NOT A MASSIVE AMOUNT REALLY, BUT HAD CARLTON AND LONG

EATON BEEN IN THE MIDLANDS DIVISION AROUND HALF OF THE LEAGUE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE M1 AND A1 BUT WITHOUT THE DISTANCES THAT THEY NOW COVER UP TO THE NORTH EAST.

HOWEVER, I PERSONALLY CAN’T SEE A FAIRER WAY TO SPLIT THE LEAGUES (EAST, MIDLANDS AND WEST), IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT

SPALDING UNITED AND STAMFORD FC ARE THE TEAMS IN THE MIDLANDS DIVISION THAT ARE THE FURTHEST EAST AND THEREFORE MORE SUITED TO THE EAST DIVISION, BUT IF YOU CONSIDER

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

SPALDING TO NORTH SHIELDS IT IS JUST UNDER 200 MILES (NEARLY 3 AND A HALF HOURS), COMPARED WITH 100 MILES (2 HOURS) TO SUTTON COLDFIELD, SO MY FEELING IS THAT THE LEAGUE WERE RIGHT TO TURN DOWN THE APPEAL.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE BOTTOM 4 IN THE PREMIER DIVISION AND IT LOOKS LIKE BELPER TOWN ARE ALL BUT DOWN, SO THEY COULD GO IN EITHER THE EAST OR MIDLANDS SECTION NEXT SEASON, LIVERSEDGE ARE 8 POINTS FROM SAFETY SO MORE THAN LIKELY THEY WOULD RETURN TO THE EAST DIVISION, THOUGH DON’T COUNT OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THEM PLAYING IN THE WEST DIVISION, AND THE OTHER 2 SPOTS ARE TAKEN UP BY MARSKE UNITED (EAST

DIVISION) AND NANTWICH TOWN (WEST DIVISION) - SO BASICALLY IT IS AN ABSOLUTE MINEFIELD OF POSSIBILITIES, AND THAT’S WITHOUT LOOKING AT STEP 4 PROMOTION AND RELEGATIONS, AND STEP 5 PROMOTIONS - I WOULDN’T WANT TO BE THE ONE WHO SITS DOWN AND WORKS OUT THE DIVISIONS NEXT SEASON!

ON TO TONIGHT, I’VE CHOSEN THE HALF-TIME PLAYLIST, SOME OF YOU MIGHT GET THE CONNECTION, THOUGH IT HAS TO BE POINTED OUT THAT I AM 100% OSSETT UNITED TONIGHT, IT’S MERELY A COINCIDENCE THAT MANY CARLTON TOWN FANS ARE ALSO NOTTINGHAM FOREST FANS.

ENJOY THE GAME!

ACTION FROM CARLTON’S LAST VISIT TO INGFIELD, THE GAME ENDED 1-1 IN JANUARY 2019

CLUB HISTORY

THE FORMATION

OSSETT UNITED WAS CREATED ON THE 1ST JUNE 2018 FOLLOWING THE MERGER OF OSSETT TOWN AFC (EST. 1936) AND OSSETT ALBION AFC (EST. 1944). BOTH OSSETT TOWN AND OSSETT ALBION HAD MANAGED TO GAIN

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE STATUS AND MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF FOOTBALL FOR A REMARKABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

EARLY HISTORY

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

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

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

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

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

2021/22

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

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

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

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY 2023

FEBRUARY

PITCHING IN NPL EAST

REFEREE RECOMMENDATION AFTER OPERATING A WORK M IN AGAIN M AND REFEREE I BIG O M

PLAYED FINISHED ABSOLUTELY THIS VERY BE

MIKE EMERY – GOALKEEPER: VAST EXPERIENCE WITH BOSTON UNITED, ST NEOTS, LINCOLN UTD, WARRINGTON RYLANDS, RUNCORN LINNETS, PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES AND BARTON TOWN.

RICHARD STAINSBY – GOALKEEPER: ANOTHER VASTLY EXPERIENCE KEEPER WITH SPELLS AT DEEPING RANGERS, ILKESTON TOWN, BASFORD

UTD, EASTWOOD TOWN, CORBY TOW, STAMFORD, BEDFORD TOWN, LANGTOFT UTD, DESBOROUGH

TOWN.

DAN BROWN - YOUNG CENTRE-HALF WHO THE CLUB HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR, RECENTLY SIGNED FROM SOUTHWELL FC, DUNKIRK FC, REACHED THE FA YOUTH CUP FIRST ROUND. HAD A GREAT SEASON 2019/20.

MARTIN BALL - CLUB LEGEND WHO CAME THROUGH THE ACADEMY RANKS, ALSO HAD MUCH SUCCESS AS A YOUNGSTER UNDER TOMMY BROOKBANKS HERE AT CARLTON. HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN AT GRANTHAM

TOWN AND RECENTLY RETURNED TO THE HEART OF THE DEFENCE TO COINCIDE WITH THE MANAGERS RETURN AND IS OFFERING HIS SUPPORT IN THE DUGOUT TOO.

DEAN FREEMAN – CENTRE-HALF JOINED CARLTON

TOWN FC THIS SUMMER FROM COALVILLE TOWN, OTHER CLUBS HE HAS HAD SPELLS AT BELPER

TOWN, RAINWORTH MW AND BARNSLEY FC.

TYLER JOHAL - LEFT SIDED MIDFIELDER WHO IS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE AT LEFT BACK, QUICK UP AND DOWN THE LINE WITH AN EXCELLENT DELIVERY.

DANNY ELLIOT - TOUGH TACKLING MIDFIELDER

RETURNED TO THE CLUB THIS SEASON AND SCORED

A WONDER GOAL IN THE SENIOR CUP FINAL THREE

SEASONS AGO AT MEADOW LANE TO HELP CARLTON BEAT BASFORD 4-1 IN THE FINAL. FORMER

NOTTINGHAM FOREST PLAYER.

NIALL DAVIE - VERY VERSATILE MIDFIELDER, HARDWORKING AND PACEY AND HAS SETTLED IN WELL UNDER THE NEW MANAGEMENT DUO. ANOTHER THAT HAS COME THROUGH THE ACADEMY SET UP.

NIALL HYLTON - YOUNG LEFT WINGER JOINED CARLTON TOWN FC FROM LOCAL CLUB GEDLING MW, VERY PROMISING PLAYER, HE CAN PLAY AS A WINGER AND DEFENDER.

ARRAN OPOKU – FORWARD. JOINED THE CLUB DURING THE ‘18/19 SEASON AND MADE AN EXCELLENT EARLY IMPRESSION. STRUGGLED WITH INJURY LAST SEASON HAS STARTED THIS SEASON BRIGHTLY AND WILL BE HOPING FOR AN INJURY FREE CAMPAIGN TO BRING GOALS TO CARLTON’S FRONT LINE.

TYLER BLAKE – STRIKER. HAD A BRIEF SPELL ON LOAN DURING THE ‘17/18 SEASON FROM MANSFIELD TOWN FC BEFORE HIS PERMANENT MOVE TO CARLTON TOWN FC IN THE ‘18/19

SEASON BUT SADLY SPENT MOST OF THE SEASON INJURED. HAS MADE A CRACKING START UNDER THE NEW MANAGEMENT DUO IN THE CURRENT SEASON AND SCORED A HAT TRICK EARLIER IN THE SEASON

V FRICKLEY ATHLETIC. HAD A GREAT SEASON

2019/20,

LAWRENCE STEWART – DEFENDER. FORMER CLUBS

- NOTTINGHAM FOREST, ALFRETON TOWN,

GRANTHAM TOWN, ILKESTON, NEWARK

FLOWSERVE. LAWRENCE SPENT THE EARLY STAGES

THE MILLERS

OF HIS CAREER AT NOTTINGHAM FOREST WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH THE ACADEMY AND SECURING A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT. ALONG WITH THAT

LAWRENCE REPRESENTED ENGLAND AT 16-18S LEVEL WITH 9 CAPS, WINNING THE VICTORY SHIELD AND MONTAIGU TOURNAMENT. IN

LAWRENCE’S NONLEAGUE CAREER HE REACHED THE

PLAY-OFFS WITH ILKESTON TOWN AND PLAYED A BIG PART IN CARLTON WINNING THE NOTTS SENIOR

CUP, BEATING BASFORD UNITED AT MEADOW

LANE.

DARYLL THOMAS – EXCELLENT STRIKER. PREVIOUS

CLUBS: NOTTINGHAM FOREST (YOUTH), DUNKIRK,

SHEPSHED DYNAMO, HUCKNALL TOWN, CARLTON

TOWN, RETFORD UNITED, ILKESTON TOWN,

MATLOCK TOWN, BELPER TOWN AND

LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO.

DAN FLETCHER – LEFT BACK. A TOUGH

TACKLING LEFT BACK JOINED GEDLING TOWN FC AT THE AGE OF 17, THEN THE FOLLOWING SEASON

JOINED CARLTON TOWN FC AT THE AGE OF 18, BEEN AT CARLTON TOWN FC APPROXIMATELY 10

YEARS ALL TOGETHER. PREVIOUS CLUBS HUCKNALL

TOWN FC, BASFORD UNITED FC, SHEPSHED

DYNAMO FC AND EASTWOOD TOWN FC.

ALEX HOWES – CENTRE MIDFIELD, EXCELLENT

MIDFIELD PLAYER PREVIOUSLY WITH BASFORD UTD,

TAMWORTH AND NOTTS COUNTY.

AARON O’CONNOR – FORWARD. VASTLY

EXPERIENCED STRIKER WITH BASFORD UNITED,

TAMWORTH, KETTERING TOWN, STEVENAGE,

FOREST GREEN ROVERS, NEWPORT COUNTY,

LUTON TOWN, RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS, MANSFIELD

TOWN, GRAY’S ATH, GRESLEY ROVERS, NUNEATON

BORO, SCUNTHORPE UNITED AND ILKESTON TOWN.

BRADLEY WELLS – FORWARD. ANOTHER VASTLY EXPERIENCED STRIKER WITH SPELLS AT FRICKLEY

ATHLETIC, ILKESTON TOWN, HEDNESFORD TOWN, NEWARK FLO, AFC MANSFIELD, GAINSBOROUGH

TRINITY, SPALDING UTD, STAMFORD, BELPER

TOWN AND LONG EATON UTD.

KHYLE SARGEANT – CREATIVE MIDFIELDER RETURNING TO THE CLUB AFTER A SEASON AWAY AT RAINWORTH.

JARED HOLMES – 33 YEAR OLD MIDFIELDER WHO HAS PLAYED FOR NUMEROUS CLUBS INCLUDING COALVILLE, STAMFORD, HUCKNALL, LOUGHBOROUGH AND EASTWOOD.

JONATHAN WHITE – DEFENDER. VERY PROMISING DEFENDER, HE PLAYED FOR HIS UNIVERSITY SIDE LAST SEASON BEFORE JOINING CARLTON TOWN FC, PRIOR TO THAT JON WAS AT BRADFORD CITY ACADEMY FOR TWO YEARS.

KYLE TOMLIN – CENTRE MIDFIELD. VERY EXPERIENCED MIDFIELD PLAYER WITH SPELLS AT COALVILLE TOWN, MANSFIELD TOWN FOR THREE YEARS AND BURTON ALBION FOR SIX YEARS.

LEWIS DUROW – DEFENDER. ANOTHER VERY PROMISING STRONG ATTACKING DEFENDER, HAS PLAYED FOR ILKESTON TOWN, HOLBROOK SPORTS AND MICKLEOVER RBL.

LOUIS CZERWAK – MIDFIELD. EXCELLENT YOUNG MIDFIELD PLAYER GAINED EXPERIENCE AT CHESTERFIELD TOWN U19 & U20 SQUADS, ALSO WITH ALFRETON TOWN, EASTWOOD COM AND NOTTS COUNTY.

OLIVER GEE – MIDFIELD / FORWARD. ANOTHER VERY PROMISING STRONG ATTACKING PLAYER SIGNED FOR CARLTON TOWN FROM CORBY TOWN, ALSO PLAYED FOR DUNKIRK FC.

Ever thought of volunteering to help your local football club?

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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

PAUL COOPER

FABIAN BAILEY

GRANT BLACK

HARRY COATES

HARRY GAGEN

PADDY MILLER

CRAIG NELTHORPE

DANNY SOUTH (CPT)

BRANDON WEBSTER

IDRIS ATTA

JAMES CADMAN

LUKE HOGG

JOSH LINDLEY

JANNI LIPKA

OLI METCALFE

TOM PRIESTLEY-STANDING

DERRY ROBSON

JACK BUTTERFILL

DAVID BROWN

JAMES CARVELL

NATHAN CURTIS

ALEX PETERSON

JAMES WALSHAW

MICHAEL EMERY

LAWRENCE STEWART

LEWIS

DANIEL

DEAN

JARED

NIALL

KYLE

NIALL

ALEX

OLIVER

NAT WATSON

ZAC HILL

ALEX

RICHARD

KYLE