Ossett United v Grantham Town (22/04/2023)

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

GOOD AFTERNOON AND A WARM WELCOME TO INGFIELD FOR THE FINAL LEAGUE GAME OF THE SEASON.

IT IS SAFE TO SAY THE 2022/23 SEASON HAS NOT PANNED OUT, NEITHER FOR OURSELVES OR TODAY’S OPPONENTS' GRANTHAM TOWN, AS WE ALL HAVE HOPED WHEN THE SEASON KICKED OFF ON A BLISTERINGLY HOT DAY BACK IN AUGUST!

WE ARE BOTH LOOKING OVER OUR SHOULDER IN THE LEAGUE TABLE WITH A VICTORY FOR EITHER SIDE ENOUGH TO ENSURE SAFETY FROM THE RELEGATION PLAY-OFF LOTTERY, A DRAW WOULD ALSO SEE US REACH 44 POINTS AND ANOTHER SEASON IN THE NPL TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

WE START THE GAME IN 13TH PLACE IN THE TABLE, TO DROP FOUR PLACES AND INTO 17TH WOULD REQUIRE A SPECIFIC SET OF RESULTS INCLUDING BRIDLINGTON TOWN AVOIDING DEFEAT AT HOME TO STOCKSBRIDGE

PARK STEELS. LINCOLN UNITED TRAVEL TO CONSETT AND BOTH SIDES SIT BELOW US IN

THE LEAGUE TABLE A NARROW LINCOLN WIN WOULD SEE THEM CLIMB ABOVE US. FOR CONSETT TO LEAPFROG US IT WOULD THEN BE DOWN TO GOAL DIFFERENCE, WITH THE NORTH EAST SIDE CURRENTLY TWO GOALS WORSE OFF THAN OURSELVES.

THIS IS NOT A POSITION WE EXPECTED TO BE IN AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE (HOPE!) WE WILL START NEXT SEASON IN THIS DIVISION AND WITH A FULL PRE-SEASON BEHIND US WE WILL BE CHALLENGING AT THE RIGHT END OF THE TABLE.

SOME PERFORMANCES AND RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN WHAT THE MANAGEMENT TEAM WANTED OR EXPECTED, YET PERFORMANCES LIKE WE SAW AT WORKSOP TOWN LAST WEEK SHOWED THE ABILITY WE HAVE. THAT LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE, GRIT AND FIGHT, COUPLED WITH A CONSISTENCY WE HAVE LACKED ALL YEAR WILL BE THE AIM GOING FORWARD NEXT SEASON, AS IT OF COURSE IS FOR EVERY SIDE!

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU FOR THE SUPPORT SHOWN THIS SEASON AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU BACK THROUGH THE GATES NEXT SEASON.

JAMES ROGERS , CHAIRMAN

GRANT BLACK

GOOD AFTERNOON, TODAY WE HAVE ONE FINAL PUSH TO GET TO THE END OF THE LEAGUE SEASON WHERE WE WILL LOOK TO BUILD ON WHAT WAS AN EXCELLENT POINT AT WORKSOP TOWN LAST WEEKEND.

WE WENT INTO THAT GAME KNOWING WE NEEDED TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM IT, AGAINST A SIDE WHO HAD WON 16 OF THEIR 18 HOME LEAGUE GAMES HAVING SCORED 63 AND CONCEDED 10 – THAT IS SOME GOING AT ANY LEVEL OF FOOTBALL AND WHILE IT IS WELL KNOWN THEY ARE WELL BACKED THE PLAYING BUDGET MUST BE SPENT WELL AND IT CLEARLY HAS BEEN THERE THIS SEASON AS THEY DESERVEDLY HAVE WON PROMOTION.

WE HAD A SPECIFIC GAME PLAN FOR THE MATCH AND FOR IT TO WORK EVERY PLAYER HAD TO PUT IN A MINIMUM OF AN 8/10 PERFORMANCE AND THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT WE GOT. THE HOME SIDE HAD A LOT OF POSSESSION AND DESPITE THAT THE BEST CHANCE FELL TO US AS AL PETERSON SAW HIS HEADER COME BACK OFF THE CROSSBAR.

AS THE SECOND HALF PROGRESSED, THEY WERE CLEARLY GETTING FRUSTRATED, AND WE TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE AS JOSH LINDLEY OPENED THE SCORING WITH A COOL AND COMPOSED FINISH. WORKSOP CONTINUED TO PRESS, AND THEIR GOAL WAS DISAPPOINTING

AS IT CAME FROM A SET PIECE BUT THAT SAID A POINT IS SOMETHING ONLY A HANDFUL OF SIDES HAVE TAKEN FROM THEM THIS SEASON.

WE WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE ONE OR TWO PLAYERS BACK TODAY WHO HAVE BEEN UNAVAILABLE IN RECENT WEEKS ALTHOUGH THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR OTHERS WHOSE SEASON IS ALREADY OVER. THIS HAS REALLY SPREAD US THIN OVER RECENT WEEKS AND EVEN TODAY THERE WILL BE PLAYERS NOT IN THEIR NATURAL POSITIONS, BUT WE WON’T USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE. TODAY WILL BE EVENTFUL, I AM SURE, BUT HOPEFULLY WE END THE SEASON ON A POSITIVE NOTE AND I CANNOT WAIT TO GET BACK AT IT NEXT SEASON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

MATCHDAY HOSPITALITY FROM £250

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

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

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

SELECT THE OFFICIAL PLAYER OF THE MATCH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN THE DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME AND PA ANNOUNCER

GOURMET BUFFET

SIX BEERS, WINE OR SOFT DRINKS PER PERSON

ENQUIRIES TO: COMMERCIAL@OSSETTUTD.COM

T PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

THIS AFTERNOON’S MATCH BRINGS THE CURTAIN DOWN ON OUR FIFTH SEASON IN THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE AS OSSETT UNITED. THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT IN THOSE FIVE SEASONS WE HAVE HAD AN AWFUL LOT TO CONTEND WITH AND SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN LITERALLY BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE SUNK BIGGER CLUBS THAN OURSELVES. SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT BUT OUR RESILIENCE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL AND WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED THUS FAR SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THAT CONTEXT. HOPEFULLY, AND WITH A BIT OF LUCK THOUGH, IT WON’T BE TOO LONG NOW UNTIL WE CLEAR OURSELVES OF UNWANTED FINANCIAL BURDENS AND WE CAN START LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE WITH RENEWED OPTIMISM. EARLY IN OUR EXISTENCE WE COULD QUITE EASILY HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED TO THE ‘DEFUNCT CLUB’ LIST BUT WE HAVE SURVIVED AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL EVENTUALLY EMERGE ALL THE STRONGER FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.

IT’S BEEN A SEASON THAT’S PROMISED A LOT AT TIMES BUT EVENTUALLY DELIVERED A RATHER DISAPPOINTING END AS FAR AS OUR FINAL LEAGUE POSITION IS CONCERNED BUT NOW, LIKE THOUSANDS OF FOOTBALL CLUBS AROUND THE

COUNTRY, WE ARE ABOUT TO PUT THE 2022/2023 CAMPAIGN BEHIND US AND LOOK FORWARD WITH RENEWED OPTIMISM TO 2023/2024. WE WILL BE LOOKING TO IMPROVE OUR CONSISTENCY LEVELS IN LEAGUE COMPETITION AND MAYBE HAVE MORE SUCCESSFUL RUNS IN THE FA CUP AND FA ROPHY. A DART AT THE COUNTY CUP WOULD ALSO BE A BONUS. OFF THE FIELD IS WHERE THE GREATEST ANTICIPATION IS CONCERNED AS GROUND DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE GETTING UNDER WAY AS SOON AS THE LAST BALL IS KICKED. WE WILL BE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWERS TO MAKE SURE SUPPORTERS RETURN NEXT SEASON TO AN ENHANCED MATCH DAY EXPERIENCE.

ON THE SUBJECT OF SUPPORTERS WE CAN’T LET THE SEASON CLOSE WITHOUT MENTIONING OUR MAGNIFICENT SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE SEASON JUST GONE. EVEN WHEN THINGS HAVEN’T BEEN GOING TOO WELL THE CORE OF OUR SUPPORT HAS STUCK WITH US AND FOR THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL. WITHOUT SUCH SUPPORT THE NEW FLOODLIGHTS AND PITCH PERIMETER BARRIER WHICH WERE INSTALLED TOWARDS THE BACK END OF LAST SEASON COULDN’T HAVE BEEN AFFORDED. OUR AVERAGE ATTENDANCE THROUGHOUT THIS SEASON STANDS AT 428 WHICH IS THE THIRD HIGHEST IN DIVISION ONE EAST BEHAND STOCKTON TOWN AND WORKSOP TOWN WHO AVERAGE 638 AND 628 RESPECTIVELY.

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

IT WAS NICE TO COME AWAY FROM WORKSOP TOWN LAST SATURDAY WITH A DRAW – A RESULT I HAVE TO CONFESS I DIDN’T SEE COMING! THE WORKSOP CHAIRMAN SPOKE TO US BRIEFLY AFTER THE GAME AND CONFIRMED THAT, IN HIS OPINION, THEIR TWO TOUGHEST ENCOUNTERS OF THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN WERE AGAINST OSSETT UNITED. AT THE TIME OF WRITING IT WOULD BE MATHEMATICALLY JUST POSSIBLE FOR US TO END UP IN THE RELEGATION PLAY-OFF GAMES BUT LAST SATURDAY’S RESULTS, NOT LEAST THAT BRILLIANT POINT WE OURSELVES ACQUIRED AT WORKSOP, MAKE THAT A LESS LIKELY EVENTUALITY THAN IT MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN. SADLY THOUGH THAT WAS PAUL COOPER’S LAST GAME FOR US AND HIS PRESENCE, SUCH HAS BEEN HIS FORM OF LATE, WILL BE BADLY MISSED NOW THAT HIS

SUSPENSION HAS KICKED IN.

FINALLY BUT VERY IMPORTANTLY AND SADLY THIS SEASON WE LOST THE SERVICES OF LUKE SWINDEN AND CHRIS BOWKER WHO, DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, RELINQUISHED THEIR ROLES WITHIN THE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB SET UP. SINCE OSSETT UNITED’S FORMATION LUKE AND CHRIS HAVE BEEN DRIVING FORCES WITHIN THE CLUB AND THEY ARE, INDEED, A SAD LOSS AND WILL BE A VERY HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE ARE GENUINELY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENTS AND EVERYTHING THEY DID TO MAKE OSSETT UNITED A BETTER CLUB. IMMENSE THANKS TO BOTH FOR THEIR SERVICES AND WE HOPE TO SEE THEM AROUND THE PLACE WHENEVER LEEDS UNITED’S FIXTURES ALLOW.

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

VACANCY AT OSSETT UNITED

VOLUNTARY MATCH DAY PROGRAMME EDITOR

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTARY MATCH DAY PROGRAMME EDITOR TO ASSIST THE MEDIA TEAM FOR THE 2023/24 SEASON TO WORK ON THIS VERY PROGRAMME.

THE VOLUNTARY MATCH DAY PROGRAMME EDITOR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING CONTENT FOR, AND PUTTING TOGETHER THE MATCH DAY PROGRAMME FOR EACH HOME LEAGUE AND CUP GAME.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• CREATE ENGAGING AND CREATIVE CONTENT, WITH ACCESS TO THE MANAGEMENT TEAM, PLAYERS AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES.

• LIAISE WITH THE WOMEN’S AND U18 TEAM MANAGEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL CONTENT.

• WORK ALONGSIDE THE MEDIA TEAM FOR ARTWORK AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO INCLUDE IN THE PROGRAMME. AS WELL AS THE CLUB STATISTICIAN FOR HISTORICAL INFORMATION.

• ENSURE THE PROGRAMME IS COMPLETED, IN LINE WITH LEAGUE RUES, PROOFREAD AND SIGNED OFF BY PUBLISHING DEADLINE.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• CREATIVE AND ARTICULATE WRITER WITH AN EYE FOR DETAIL.

• ABILITY TO WORK TO TIGHT DEADLINES.

• HAVE AN INTEREST IN NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

• PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, BUT NOT ESSENTIAL.

• ABILITY TO COMMIT TO APPROXIMATELY 3-5 HOURS PER PROGRAMME (19 LEAGUE GAMES, PLUS FA CUP AND FA TROPHY GAMES AS REQUIRED).

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL RECEIVE TWO TICKETS FOR ALL HOME FIXTURES.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SHOULD BE SENT TO MEDIA@OSSETTUTD.COM

GRANTHAM TOWN

THE CLUB WAS FOUNDED IN 1874 AND EARLY COMPETITION WAS IN THE MIDLAND AMATEUR LEAGUE WHICH WAS WON IN 1910/11. THE CENTRAL ALLIANCE WAS WON IN 1924/25 AND THE CLUB FINISHED RUNNERS-UP TO SHREWSBURY TOWN IN THE MIDLAND COUNTIES LEAGUE IN 1938. AFTER THE WAR LOCAL LEGEND JACK MCCARTNEY SCORED 416 GOALS IN JUST 456 APPEARANCES UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1955.

IN 1964 UNDER MANAGER JIM RAYNER THE MIDLAND LEAGUE WAS WON WITH THE CLUB SCORING 152 GOALS IN THE SEASON. RAYNER MOVED TO NOTTS COUNTY TO BE REPLACED IN 1965 BY TERRY BLY AS PLAYER/MANAGER AND THE NEXT 14 YEARS ARE STILL REMEMBERED AS THE GOLDEN YEARS FOR THE CLUB. THE MIDLAND LEAGUE WAS WON IN 1971 AND IN 1972 AND REGULAR CUP RUNS BROUGHT LARGE CROWDS TO THE LONDON ROAD GROUND WITH THE MOST MEMORABLE BEING IN 1973 WHEN JACK CHARLTON BROUGHT HIS MIDDLEBOROUGH SIDE TO LONDON ROAD WHERE A RECORD CROWD OF 6,578 SAW MIDDLEBOROUGH WIN 2-0. THE CLUB MOVED INTO THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE WINNING DIVISION 1 NORTH IN 1978 AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR FINISHING RUNNERS-UP IN THE PREMIER DIVISION. FOLLOWING RELEGATION, THE CLUB BOUNCED BACK THE FOLLOWING YEAR TO WIN DIVISION 1 NORTH AGAIN.

FOLLOWING THE REORGANIZATION OF NON-

LEAGUE FOOTBALL, THE CLUB WERE MOVED TO THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE AND FINISHED FOURTH IN 1984 BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR THEY FAILED TO GAIN RE-ELECTION AND RETURNED TO THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE.

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS MEANT THE CLUB HAD LITTLE SUCCESS UNTIL IN 1987. THE BOARD APPOINTED MARTIN O’NEIL AS MANAGER AND ALONG WITH ASSISTANT JOHN ROBERTSON PROMOTION WAS MISSED BY A SINGLE POINT IN HIS FIRST SEASON AND FIFTH SPOT GAINED THE YEAR AFTER. MARTIN MOVED ON TO CLIMB THE MANAGERIAL LADDER AT THE END OF THAT SEASON.

JOHN ROBERTSON RETURNED AS MANAGER IN 1990 AND AT THIS TIME THE CLUB LEFT ITS LONDON ROAD HOME AND AFTER A YEAR GROUND SHARING AT SPALDING RETURNED TO THE TOWN INTO THE NEW SOUTH KESTEVEN SPORTS STADIUM.

LITTLE SUCCESS WAS ACHIEVED UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF GARY MILLS AS MANAGER IN 1996. UNDER GARY FOURTH PLACE WAS ACHIEVED IN THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE MIDLAND DIVISION IN 1997 AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE CHAMPIONSHIP WAS WON ALSO THE CLUB REACHED THE QUARTER-FINAL OF THE FA TROPHY GOING OUT AFTER A REPLAY TO CONFERENCE SIDE SOUTHPORT. THE FIRST GAME AT GRANTHAM ATTRACTED A STADIUM RECORD ATTENDANCE OF 3,695.

THE GINGERBREADS

THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE CLUB WAS TAKEN OVER BY REG BREARLEY THROUGH HIS COMPANY ANTRAC. MILLS WAS REPLACED AS MANAGER AND THE CLUB WENT FULL-TIME, BUT HUGE FINANCIAL LOSSES SAW THE CLUB’S FUTURE THREATENED WHEN ANTRAC WALKED AWAY. THE CLUB WAS FORCED TO ENTER A CVA, AND A DIFFICULT PERIOD FOLLOWED AS THE CLUB STRUGGLED TO GET BACK ONTO ITS FEET. THIS WAS REFLECTED ON THE PITCH AND WHEN JOHN WILKINSON ARRIVED AS MANAGER AT CHRISTMAS 2000 THE CLUB HAD JUST 9 POINTS BUT FOLLOWING A TREMENDOUS RUN WERE FINALLY RELEGATED ON GOAL DIFFERENCE ON 47 POINTS. PROMOTION BACK TO THE PREMIER DIVISION WAS ACHIEVED IN 2002 AS RUNNERS-UP.

FOLLOWING WILKINSON’S RESIGNATION ROGER ASHBY BECAME MANAGER AND LEAD THE CLUB TO THE FIRST ROUND PROPER OF THE FA CUP IN NOVEMBER 2003 WHERE THEY PLAYED LEYTON ORIENT AT HOME IN FRONT OF THE MATCH OF THE DAY CAMERAS ONLY LOSING 2 – 1 TO AN INJURY-TIME GOAL.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2006, THE CLUB WERE MOVED FROM THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE BACK TO THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE. IT TOOK THE CLUB SOME TIME TO ADJUST TO THE MOVE AND THEY WERE RELEGATED TO DIVISION 1 SOUTH. JOHN WILKINSON RETURNED AS MANAGER AND IN 2008 LEAD THE CLUB TO THE DIVISION 1 SOUTH PLAY-OFFS WHERE THEY LOST 2-1 TO NANTWICH

FOLLOWING A BRIEF SPELL WITH PHIL STARBUCK AS MANAGER JIM ALBANS AND WAYNE HALLCRO

CAME IN AS JOINT MANAGERS. IN 2011/12 THE CLUB REACHED THE DIVISION 1 SOUTH PLAY-OFF FINAL LOSING 2-0 TO RUSHALL OLYMPIC BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR THEY WON THE DIVISION BY A 10-POINT MARGIN. THE CLUB FOUND LIFE IN THE PREMIER DIVISION DIFFICULT FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF CHAIRMAN STEVE BOAM ALBANS AND HALLCRO ALSO RESIGNED. AFTER A PERIOD UNDER FORMER PLAYERS GARY SUCHAREWYCZ AND IAN ROBINSON THEY RETURNED AND LED THE CLUB TO FIFTEENTH SPOT IN THE PREMIER DIVISION.

DURING SEASON 2014/15 THE CLUB HAD TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CUT ITS PLAYING BUDGET WHEN PREDICTED INCOME WAS NOT ACHIEVED. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERAL PLAYERS LEAVING THE CLUB. ALSO DEPARTING WAS JIM ALBANS BUT HIS PARTNER WAYNE HALLCRO STAYED AND RECRUITED FORMER COALVILLE MANAGER ADAM STEVENS TO REPLACE ALBANS AS JOINT-MANAGER AND THE PAIR SET ABOUT REBUILDING THE SIDE. HALLCRO DEPARTED IN LATE JANUARY TO TEAM UP AGAIN WITH ALBANS AT BELPER TOWN TO LEAVE ADAM STEVENS IN SOLE CHARGE OF TEAM MATTERS. UNDER STEVENS THE CLUB FINISHED TWELFTH IN THE PREMIER DIVISION AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR EIGHTEENTH. 2016/17 SAW THE CLUB HAVE ITS BEST SEASON FOR MANY YEARS AND HAD A CHANCE OF REACHING THE PLAY-OFFS RIGHT UP TO THE FINAL WEEK OF THE SEASON FINALLY FINISHING IN EIGHTH POT. IN ADDITION, THEY REACHED THE LEAGUE CUP FINAL GOING DOWN 2-1 TO BAMBER BRIDGE.

GRANTHAM TOWN

SAW THE CLUB FINISHED IN FOURTH SPOT IN THE PREMIER DIVISION AND WENT ON TO REACH THE PLAY-OFF FINAL GOING DOWN 2-0 AT ASHTON UNITED. MANAGER ADAM STEVENS

2017/18

STOOD DOWN AFTER THE GAME REPLACED BY IAN CULVERHOUSE FOR THE 2018/19 SEASON. CULVERHOUSE RESIGNED IN OCTOBER AND WAS REPLACED BY FORMER NOTTS COUNTY ASSISTANT MANAGER RICHARD THOMAS. RICHARD THOMAS LEFT THE CLUB IN FEBRUARY TO BE REPLACED BY FORMER HARROWBY UNITED MANAGERS PAUL RAWDEN AND RUSS COUSINS.

RAWDEN AND COUSINS LEFT THE CLUB IN LATE FEBRUARY AND AFTER A GAME UNDER THE CONTROL OF CARETAKER MANAGER DANNY RACCHI, MARTIN MCINTOSH WAS APPOINTED AS MANAGER. MARTIN MANAGED JUST TWO GAMES IN CHARGE BEFORE COVID BROUGHT THE SEASON TO A CLOSE. HE SPENT THE SUMMER REBUILDING THE SIDE FOR THE NEW SEASON BUT

WITH THE SEASON HALTED DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC MCINTOSH LEFT THE CLUB. FORMER ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL CARLTON PALMER WAS APPOINTED AS TEAM MANAGER AND ALONG WITH HIS ASSISTANTS JAS COLLIVER AND MATT CHATFIELD TOTALLY REBUILT THE SIDE FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON. CARLTON PALMER STOOD DOWN AS MANAGER IN EARLY NOVEMBER WITH ASSISTANTS JAMES COLLIVER AND MATT CHATFIELD TAKING CHARGE OF TEAM AFFAIRS. DENNIS GREENE WAS BROUGHT IN AS MANAGER WHICH SAW COLLIVER LEAVE THE CLUB WITH MATT CHATFIELD BECOMING ASSISTANT. THE CLUB PARTED COMPANY WITH GREENE IN MARCH WITH CHATFIELD STEPPING UP TO TAKE CHARGE UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON. DESPITE A STRONG FINISH TO THE SEASON THE CLUB WERE RELEGATED TO STEP 4. CHATFIELD WAS CONFIRMED AS MANAGER FOR THE 2022/23 SEASON.

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

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

CRAIG BIDDLESTONE

SEPTEMBER TO LEAVE JAS AS SOLE MANAGER AND AGAIN WE JUST COULD NOT GET PROPERLY GOING AND RESULTS AND PERFORMANCES TOOK A DOWNTURN, CULMINATING IN JAS LEAVING IN OCTOBER.

SO, WE’RE HERE, THE END OF ANOTHER SEASON, OUR 5TH FULL SEASON AS A CLUB (THANKFULLY THERE WASN’T A ‘5 YEAR PLAN’), AND IT HAS FOR MANY OF US BEEN A SEASON OF FRUSTRATION BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCH.

THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THE MERGER WAS TO CREATE A BIGGER, BETTER CLUB, POOL THE RESOURCES AND GROW THEM, BECOME SELFSUFFICIENT (SOMETHING I BELIEVE WE’VE DONE), AND AIM FOR A HIGHER LEVEL, AND WHILST OFF THE PITCH, FACILITIES WISE, WE HAVE SOMETHING HERE THAT MANY A CLUB ABOVE WILL BE ENVIOUS OF, ON THE PITCH IT HASN’T OF COURSE GONE THE WAY WE WOULD HAVE HOPED, FOR NOW.

AT THE VERY START OF THIS SEASON, WE HAD A FULL PRE-SEASON WITH JAS & WARDY, WHERE THEY COULD BRING IN THEIR PLAYERS, PLAY THEIR STYLE OF FOOTBALL, AND HELP US PUSH FOR AT LEAST A SOLID PLAY-OFF POSITION. FOR WARDY THOUGH IT HAD BECOME APPARENT THAT THE JOINT MANAGEMENT TEAM WASN’T WORKING AS HIS STYLE OF PLAY WASN’T EXACTLY MATCHED TO JAS’S. WARDY STEPPED DOWN IN EARLY

WHEN BLACKY AND HIS TEAM CAME IN AS THE REPLACEMENTS, THERE WAS EUPHORIA AT THE CLUB FROM ALL LEVELS, THE FORMER OSSETT TOWN MANAGER AND HIS TEAM THAT WENT TO THE PLAYOFFS ONLY TO LOSE HARSHLY TO FARSLEY CELTIC IN THE FINAL AFTER THE REF HAD SPENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME DOWN INJURED, THAT TOOK THEM TO AN FA CUP 4TH QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY AGAINST SOLIHULL MOORS, THAT THEN WENT ONE BETTER AT THEIR NEXT CLUB BY GETTING BELPER TOWN PROMOTED TO THE PREMIER DIVISION, AND ALSO WAS UNLUCKY TO LOSE TO NOTTS COUNTY IN THE EXACT SAME ROUND WAS BACK AT INGFIELD.

AS WITH ANY MID-SEASON MANAGERIAL CHANGE YOU NEVER KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT’S GOING TO GO FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. MANY PLAYERS AT THE CLUB WILL MOVE ON AS THEY’RE NOT IN THE THE NEW MANAGERS PLANS, AND MANY NEW PLAYERS WILL COME IN, BUT IT’S NOT AS SIMPLE AS NEW MANAGER, NEW PLAYERS, IT TAKES TIME FOR THOSE PLAYERS TO WANT TO LEAVE THEIR CLUBS AND JOIN A NEW ONE MID-SEASON, SOME PLAYERS (AL PETERSON, NATHAN CURTIS, DANNY SOUTH ETC) WILL WANT TO JOIN “THEIR” MANAGER, OTHERS WILL TAKE PERSUASION, AND IN A LOT OF CASES

PLAYERS WILL WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON AS LOYALTY TO THEIR CLUB BEFORE MOVING ON.

FROM AFAR, I HAVE NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER THAT

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX

BLACKY AND HIS BOYS ALREADY HAVE A NUMBER OF PLAYERS LINED UP FOR NEXT SEASON, GRANT AND HIS TEAM HAVE A TRACK RECORD AT THIS LEVEL, AND BECAUSE OF THAT I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ONCE WE GET THIS SEASON OUT OF THE WAY, REGROUP, AND GET THE RIGHT PLAYERS IN OSSETT UNITED WILL BE THE FORCE WE WERE DESIGNED TO BE.

OFF THE PITCH IT HAS BEEN EQUALLY AS FRUSTRATING, I TOUCHED ON THE VOLUNTEER THING IN MY LAST PROGRAMME NOTES, AND THE MEDIA TEAM IS MADE UP OF JUST THAT, VOLUNTEERS. THIS SEASON WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN THE PEOPLE WE HAVE WANTED TO, WE’VE TRIED, WE’VE EXPERIMENTED, BUT HAVE JUST NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE CHRIS BOYD FROM LAST SEASON (CAMERA/VIDEO/GRAPHICS), AND A LOT OF THE ONUS HAS BEEN LEFT ON ME AND THE TEAM TO TRY AND PRODUCE SOMETHING, ANYTHING, HEY, I ONLY LEARNT HOW TO CREATE GRAPHICS 10 MONTHS, AND I’M STILL TRYING NOW!

IN THE PAST WE’VE SUCCESSFULLY UTILISED HUDDERSFIELD UNIVERSITY, AND HOPEFULLY BUILT A PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, BUT BY THEIR ADMITTANCE THEY JUST SIMPLY HAVE NOT HAD THE NUMBERS THIS SEASON STUDYING MEDIA, THIS IS BECAUSE OF COVID AND LOW INTAKES DURING THAT PERIOD, WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER COLLEGES AND UNI’S THAT DO MEDIA COURSES BUT THE’VE ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUES AS HUDDERSFIELD, WE’VE ADVERTISED ON SOCIALS AND ON THE VERY SUCCESSFUL PITCHING-IN VOLUNTEER HUB, BUT AGAIN JUST HAVEN’T FOUND THE RIGHT PEOPLE, BUT THERE AGAIN VOLUNTEERS THAT WORK TO THE STANDARD WE WANT DON’T GROW ON TREES.

I WILL KEEP PUSHING OF COURSE, AND WHILST I SIMPLY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BE ABLE TO

DO VIDEOS AFTER EVERY GAME I KNOW HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO YOU THE SUPPORTERS TO HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS. FROM A RADIO PERSPECTIVE I’M ALSO AS FRUSTRATED THAT WE HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO OFFER COMMENTARY ON AS MANY AWAY GAMES AS WE HAVE, CHRIS CASSIDY IS IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS UNI COURSE AND ALTHOUGH HE HAS SAID HE WANTS TO STAY ON HE WILL OF COURSE NEED A FULL-TIME JOB, SO WON’T BE AROUND AS MUCH.

MY DJ’ING HAS TAKEN ME AWAY FROM THE COMMENTARY ROLE TOO, ESPECIALLY IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON, THOUGH I HAVE PUT PLANS IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE FRIDAY’S THAN SATURDAYS NEXT SEASON, THEREFORE INCREASING MY AVAILABILITY, AND ADDED TO THAT I’D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME MATT BLACKBURN TO THE TEAM. MATT APPROACHED US HAVING SEEN AN AD ON THE VOLUNTEER HUB, HE’S BEEN DOWN SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY AND WILL TAKE OVER THE LEAD COMMENTARY ROLE FROM CHRIS NEXT SEASON, SO WELCOME MATT.

ONE LAST THING, THERE ARE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE MEDIA TEAM TO THANK FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORT THIS SEASON TO NAME THEM INDIVIDUALLY, SOME CAME AND WENT, SOME STAYED AND ARE STILL HERE, AND SOME HAVE BEEN MORE ‘BEHIND THE SCENES’, BUT TO EVERY ONE OF YOU, THANK-YOU, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR FOOTBALL CLUB.

FINALLY, TODAY’S FINAL HALF-TIME PLAYLIST HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY LONG SUFFERING SUPPORTER MARTY OLDROYD. LET’S GET BEHIND BLACKY AND THE TEAM TODAY, GET THE RESULT WE NEED, AND HOPEFULLY YOU ENJOY MARTY’S CHOICE OF MUSIC AND THE GAME.

THE FORMATION

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

EARLY HISTORY

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

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

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

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

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

2021/22

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

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

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

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY 2023

FEBRUARY

MARCH

PITCHING IN NPL EAST

OUFC U18S

OSSETT UNITED U18S HAVE HAD A FANTASTIC SEASON FINISHING ON TOP OF THE JUNIOR PREMIER LEAGUE (JPL) U18 YORKSHIRE AND REACHING THE FINAL OF THE WEST RIDING FA MINOR U18 CUP FINAL. ON TOP OF THIS SUCCESS THREE PLAYERS HAVE SIGNED FOR THE FIRST TEAM, IDRIS ATTA, LUCA LAZZARIWILLIAMS AND THOMAS PRIESTLEY-STANDING, WHO IS STILL ONLY AN UNDER 16 PLAYER. THE TEAM HAVE PROGRESSED VERY WELL FROM LAST SEASON, WHERE THEY FINISHED MID-TABLE IN THE JPL, WHICH WAS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AND A VERY GOOD CHALLENGE FOR THEM AS AN U17 SIDE. DEVELOPMENT OF PLAYERS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE U18S AND THIS SEASON LEWIS STEPHENSON, LUCAS HOGSONWHITWORTH, SAM ADAMS AND THOMAS PREISTLEY-STANDINGS (U16) HAVE ALL STEPPED UP AS U17 PLAYERS AND PLAYED CONSISTENTLY WELL WITH OUR U18 YOUTH TEAM. IN THE FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON AGAINST EMLEY ANOTHER THREE U16 PLAYERS JOINED THOMAS IN THE SQUAD; JOSH HOLLAND STARTED UP FRONT

AND SCORED HIS BRACE, CHARLIE DAVY-WALKER STARTED IN AND MARSHALLED THE MIDFIELD, CHRIS BUMHIRA CAME ON AFTER 15 MINUTES AND PLAYED WELL IN DEFENCE AND THOMAS HIS SELF, SCORED A HATRICK AND WAS AWARDED MAN OF THE MATCH IN A 7-0 TABLE TOPPING PERFORMANCE.

ALL OF OUR U16 PLAYERS AND MOST OF OUR U18 PLAYERS HAVE PROGRESSED AND DEVELOPED THROUGH THE YORKSHIRE ELITE ACADEMY BUT WE STILL DO OFFER TRIALS TO ADVANCED LEVEL PLAYERS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A ROUTE INTO SEMI-PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. WE ARE CURRENTLY PUTTING TOGETHER OUR NEW SQUADS FOR NEXT YEAR'S U18S AND HOPEFULLY U23S.

PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT OUR U18S IN THE FINAL OF THE WEST RIDING MINOR CUP, THE DATE FOR YOUR DIARY IS THURSDAY THE 18TH MAY, KICK OFF 730PM AT THE WEST RIDING FA HQ, FLEET LANE, WOODLESFORD, LS26 8NX.

GRANTHAM TOWN

DAN HAYSTEAD – GOALKEEPER RE-JOINED FOR A SECOND SPELL AT THE CLUB IN PRESEASON FROM STAMFORD. ALSO COUNTS

BOSTON UNITED HINCKLEY, SHEFFIELD FC BELPER AND ILKESTON AMONGST HIS FORMER CLUBS

MATT TOOTLE – DEFENDER JOINED IN PRESEASON FROM BOSTON UNITED. VERY EXPERIENCED PLAYER WHO BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A YOUNGSTER AT CREWE GOING ON TO MAKE 199 APPEARANCES BEFORE MOVING TO SHREWSBURY (16 APPEARANCES) AND NOTTS COUNTY (95 APPEARANCES)

JAKE WRIGHT – DEFENDER ANOTHER PRESEASON SIGNING FROM BOSTON UNITED. EXPERIENCED PLAYER WHO COUNTS HALIFAX (64 APPEARANCES) BRIGHTON (6 APPEARANCES)

OXFORD UNITED (222 APPEARANCES) AND

SHEFFIELD UNITED (46 APPEARANCES)

AMONGST HIS FORMER CLUBS. HAS BEEN MADE TEAM CAPTAIN

JONATHAN WAFULA – MIDFIELD / FORWARD SIGNED LAST SEASON FROM MATLOCK TOWN. BEGAN HIS CAREER AT CHESTERFIELD BEFORE MOVING ON TO REPRESENT WORKSOP, SHAW LANE, GAINSBOROUGH, BOSTON UNITED AND GUISELEY.

SISA TUNTULWANA – DEFENDER

PROMOTED TO THE FIRST TEAM SQUAD LAST SEASON AFTER SOME IMPRESSIVE

PERFORMANCES FOR THE CLUBS ACADEMY SIDES. WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT LAST SEASON

RICKY MILLER – FORWARD JOINED FROM NATIONAL LEAGUE DOVER (106 APPEARANCES)

LAST SEASON. EXPERIENCED PLAYER WHO BEGAN PLAYING LOCALLY WHERE HIS CLUBS INCLUDED STAMFORD, SPALDING, CORBY AND BOSTON UNITED BEFORE HE PLAYED IN THE LEAGUE FOR THE LIKES OF LUTON TOWN (12 APPEARANCES), PETERBOROUGH (10 APPEARANCES) AND PORT VALE (28 APPEARANCES).

LEE SHAW – FORWARD LOCAL PLAYER WHO SCORED 30 GOALS WHEN THE CLUB REACHED THE PLAY-OFF FINAL IN 2017/2018. THIS EARNED HIM A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT AT CHESTERFIELD. PLAYED AT GUISELEY AND ALFRETON BEFORE RETURNING TO HIS HOMETOWN CLUB LAST SEASON

ELLIOTT DURRELL – MIDFIELD SIGNED FROM NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH TELFORD LAST SEASON. EXPERIENCED PLAYER WHO COUNTS HEDNESFORD, RUSHALL, TAMWORTH, MACCLESFIELD, CHESTER AND YORK AMONGST HIS FORMER CLUBS. HE WAS NPL PREMIER DIVISION PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN 2012/2013.

NATHAN TYSON – FORWARD

JOINED IN PRE-SEASON FROM CHESTERFIELD (27 APPEARANCES). VERY EXPERIENCED PLAYER WHO COUNTS AMONGST HIS FORMER CLUBS READING (33 APPEARANCES) WYCOMBE (102 APPEARANCES) NOTTINGHAM FOREST (176

THE GINGERBREADS

APPEARANCES) AND DERBY (39 APPEARANCES). HAS REPRESENTED ENGLAND AT UNDER 20 LEVEL.

CHARLIE JEMSON – DEFENDER JOINED IN PRE-SEASON FROM ILKESTON. CAME THROUGH THE NOTTINGHAM FOREST YOUTH SYSTEM BEFORE PLAYING AT PETERBOROUGH SPORTS, COALVILLE, TAMWORTH, WORKSOP AND GAINSBOROUGH.

KEEGAN TOWNROW – DEFENDER JOINED LAST SEASON. CAME THROUGH THE DONCASTER ACADEMY. HE HAS ALSO PLAYED AT BOSTON TOWN AND TAMWORTH

DAMIEN MCCRORY – MIDFIELD / DEFENDER

JOINED IN PRESEASON FROM NUNEATON BOROUGH. BEGAN HIS CAREER AT PLYMOUTH BEFORE LOAN SPELLS AT PORT VALE GRIMSBY AND DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE JOINED BURTON ALBION IN 2012 (196 APPEARANCES) BEFORE MOVING TO NOTTS COUNTY (28 APPEARANCES) HAS REPRESENTED THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

AT BOTH UNDER 18 AND UNDER 19 LEVELS

BRADLEY MUNNS – FORWARD LOCAL PLAYER PROMOTED TO THE FIRST TEAM SQUAD AFTER IMPRESSING FOR THE CLUBS ACADEMY AND UNDER 23 SIDES LAST SEASON

ASHTON HALL – DEFENDER JOINED LAST SEASON FROM SHEFFIELD FC. BEGAN AS A YOUNGSTER AT SHEFFIELD UNITED BEFORE JOINING THE MATLOCK TOWN ACADEMY PROGRESSING TO THEIR FIRST TEAM.

HARRY WOOD – MIDFIELD JOINED IN FEBRUARY FOLLOWING HIS RETURN TO THE UK AFTER PLAYING IN MALTA. HE WAS PREVIOUSLY AT MATLOCK AND CHESTERFIELD

MATTHEW MCBRIDE – MIDFIELD SIGNED FIRST TEAM FORMS LAST SEASON AFTER IMPRESSING FOR THE CLUBS ACADEMY AND UNDER 23 SIDES

HARRY JOHNSON – MIDFIELD ANOTHER LOCAL PLAYER WHO HAS STEPPED UP FROM THE CLUBS ACADEMY AND UNDER 23 SIDES

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

PAUL COOPER

FABIAN BAILEY

HARRY COATES

HARRY GAGEN

LUCA LAZZARI-WILLIAMS

PADDY MILLER

CRAIG NELTHORPE

DANNY SOUTH (CPT)

BRANDON WEBSTER

IDRIS ATTA

JAMES CADMAN

CHRIS DAWSON

LUKE HOGG

JANNI LIPKA

JOSH LINDLEY

OLI METCALFE

TOM PRIESTLEY-STANDING

DERRY ROBSON

DAVID BROWN

JAMES CARVELL

NATHAN CURTIS

KEEL DEL-GRANDE

ALEX PETERSON

JAMES WALSHAW

DAN HAYSTEAD

MATT TOOTLE

JOE STACEY

DAMIEN MCCRORY

JAKE WRIGHT

ASHTON HALL

LEE SHAW

JOSH WALDRAM

GREG SMITH

MASON LEE

NATHAN TYSON

KIERAN HAYES

DAN COCKS

CHARLIE JEMSON

BRADLEY MUNNS

SISA TUNTULAWANA

ELLIOTT DURELL

MATCH OFFICIALS