Ossett United v North Shields (25/03/2023)

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

MATCH SPONSOR

WELCOME TO INGFIELD, I HOPE EVERYONE TRAVELLING FROM NORTH SHIELDS HAS HAD A SAFE JOURNEY AND ENJOYS A WARM WELCOME FROM US TODAY. THERE WAS CERTAINLY AN ENATERTAINING FINISH ON BONFIRE NIGHT WHEN WE TRAVELLED TO THE NORTHEAST FOR THE FIRST FIXTURE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.

A TIGHT GAME LOOKED TO HAVE BEEN WON AT THE DEATH AS ALEX PETERSON SCORED ON HIS DEBUT DEEP INTO ADDED TIME BEFORE WE SAW AN EQUALISER FROM THE NORTH SHIELDS GOALKEEPER, FINLAY HODGSON, AS CHAOS ENSUED IN THE PENALTY AREA AS OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN THE NUMBER 1 FINDS HIMSELF IN THE OPPOSITE PENALTY AREA IN THE LAST SECONDS OF THE GAME!

HOPEFULLY IF THERE IS ANY LAST-MINUTE DRAMA THIS AFTERNOON IT GOES IN OUR FAVOUR!

WE HAVE ENDURED SOME DIFFICULT GAMES IN RECENT WEEKS, NOT HELPED WITH PLAYERS BEING UNAVAILABLE THROUGH INJURY AND SUSPENSION, FURTHER

JAMES ROGERS , CHAIRMAN

COMPOUNDED AT CONSETT WHERE WE LOST TWO PLAYERS DURING THE FIRST 45 MINUTES THEN IN OUR MOST RECENT GAME CHRIS DAWSON PULLED UP MINUTES BEFORE KICKOFF MEANING A LATE CHANGE TO THE LINEUP.

THESE SITUATIONS GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO OTHERS AND TUESDAY NIGHT SAW A FIRST CALL UP FOR KEEL DEL-GRANDE FROM OUR BTEC PROGRAMME AND LUCA LAZZARIWILLIAMS FROM THE U18 WHO BOTH TOOK THEIR PLACE AMONGST THE SUBSTITUTES.

WHILE THEY DID NOT GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET ONTO THE FIELD, I AM SURE THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ROUND THE FIRST TEAM WILL DO THEM THE WORLD OF GOOD AND IF THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY, I AM SURE THEY WILL GRASP IT WITH BOTH HANDS.

TODAY WE WELCOME BACK HARRY COATES AFTER HE HAS MISSED THE LAST TWO GAMES AND THE INJURED PLAYERS ARE BEING MONITORED CLOSELY. HOPEFULLY THEY ARE CLOSE TO A RETURN TO STRENGTHEN THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.

ENJOY THE GAME

GRANT BLACK

ON TUESDAY EVENING I WAS DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE TWO PLAYERS FROM THE OSSETT UNITED YOUTH SETUP , IN LUCA LAZZARI-WILLIAMS AND KEEL DEL-GRANDE .

I AM IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH THE U 18 MANAGER , DAVE HALEY , AND THE BTEC MANAGER , ISAAC ASSENSO , WHO KEEP UP UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS OF THEIR PLAYERS . A NUMBER HAVE TRAINED WITH THE FIRST TEAM AND ARE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR TO BE INCLUDED ON A REGULAR BASIS .

ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE GAMES TO PLAY AND A SEASON TO SEE TO THE END , THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE MAKEUP OF THE SQUAD FOR NEXT SEASON AS WE WILL STRENGTHEN WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT IN SINCE OCTOBER .

WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT THE SQUAD WILL BE IN A MUCH STRONGER POSITION COME THE START OF NEXT SEASON AS WE LOOK TO DRIVE THE CLUB FORWARD , UP THE LEAGUE TABLE , AND CHALLENGE FOR PROMOTION WHICH IS WHAT WE ALL WANT TO BE PART OF !

AS WE KNOW FROM OUR PREVIOUS

ENCOUNTER WITH NORTH SHIELDS THEY WILL BATTLE AND FIGHT UNTIL THE LAST KICK OF THE GAME , THEY ARE UNBEATEN SINCE THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY AND SIT THREE PLACES ABOVE US IN THE LEAGUE . A POSITION IN THE TABLE WE BELIEVE WE CAN REACH BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS . A VICTORY TODAY , AND WITH A GAME IN HAND ALSO GIVES US THE POSSIBILITY OF CLIMBING ABOVE TODAY ’S VISITORS IN THE COMING WEEKS .

WE WILL BE FIGHTING FOR EVERY POINT AVAILABLE BETWEEN NOW AND 22ND APRIL WHEN OUR SEASON ENDS HERE AGAINST GRANTHAM TOWN , WHEN THE HARD WORK ALREADY STARTED FOR NEXT SEASON WILL REALLY STEP UP A LEVEL.

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

TODAY WE WELCOME ANOTHER OF THE NORTH EAST CONTINGENT IN OUR DIVISION WHEN NEWLY PROMOTED NORTH SHIELDS ARE OUR VISITORS. WE

DREW 1 – 1 EARLIER IN THE SEASON LAST TIME WE MET WHEN, DISAPPOINTINGLY, WE CONCEDED A VERY LATE EQUALISER. RECENTLY SHIELDS HAVE BEEN ON AN EXCELLENT RUN OF FORM WHICH HAS SEEN THEM CHARGE THEIR WAY UP THE LEAGUE TABLE AND INTO THE TOP TEN.

AS WE ALL KNOW NOBODY IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD EVER TAKES TEAMS FROM THE NORTH EAST LIGHTLY AND I’M SURE WE WON’T BE MAKING THAT MISTAKE WHEN PROCEEDINGS GET UNDER WAY THIS AFTERNOON. WE HAVE, HOWEVER, A FAIRLY DECENT RECORD AGAINST THE FORMER NORTHERN LEAGUE TEAMS ESPECIALLY AWAY FROM HOME. SO FAR TO DATE WE HAVE PLAYED ALL SIX SIDES ON THE ROAD WITH A RECORD OF 5 DRAWS AND JUST THE ONE DEFEAT AND THAT WAS AGAINST THE LOWEST PLACED OUTFIT IN SHILDON. OUR HOME RECORD IS SOMEWHAT LESS SOLID HAVING DRAWN 2 AND LOST 3 SO A WIN THIS AFTERNOON WOULD BE ALL THE MORE WELCOME.

ALTHOUGH WORKSOP TOWN HAVE ALREADY CLINCHED THE LEAGUE TITLE NOTHING IS DECIDED

THE OTHER END OF THE TABLE AND WE PROBABLY NEED A COUPLE OF MORE WINS TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE OF RETAINING OUR NORTHERN REMIER LEAGUE STATUS AND THREE POINTS THIS AFTERNOON WOULD CERTAINLY HELP OUR CAUSE AND CREATE SOME BREATHING SPACE AS WE GO INTO THE FINAL SIX MATCHES OF THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN.

INCLUDING TODAY WE HAVE SEVEN MATCHES REMAINING IN OUR RUN-IN TO THE 2022/2023 SEASON. THREE OF THOSE GAMES ARE HERE AT INGFIELD AND FOUR ARE AWAY FROM HOME WHICH, WITH THE WAY OUR RESULTS HAVE GONE THIS SEASON, MIGHT NOT BE A BAD THING. ALSO ADVANTAGEOUS MIGHT BE THE FACT THAT OF THOSE SEVEN GAMES FOUR OF THEM ARE AGAINST TEAMS CURRENTLY BELOW US IN THE TABLE SO, WITH THE FINISHING LINE IN SIGHT, IT COULD, ON PAPER AT LEAST, BE A WHOLE LOT WORSE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO GO INTO THE FINAL GAMES NOT HAVING TO LOOK OVER OUR SHOULDERS AT WHAT’S GOING ON BELOW US OR HAVING TO RELY ON OTHER TEAM’S RESULTS TO HELP OUR CAUSE.

HERE AT OSSETT UNITED WE LIKE TO PROMOTE OURSELVES AS A COMMUNITY CLUB BUT HESITATE TO USE THAT AS A LABEL WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. OUR ARRANGED ANNUAL COLLECTIONS FOR THE SOUTH OSSETT FOODBANK HAD TO BE POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE ADVERSE WEATHER IN MARCH BUT WE ARE KEEN TO CONTINUE OUR

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

ASSOCIATION/PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHARITY AND NOT LET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CARRY OVER INTO NEXT SEASON. WITH THAT IN MIND WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE OUR NEXT AND FINAL COLLECTIONS ON SATURDAY APRIL 10TH AND SATURDAY APRIL 22ND WHEN WE PLAY RESPECTIVELY BRIGHOUSE TOWN AND GRANTHAM TOWN. WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ANYBODY IN OUR FAN BASE ADVANCED NOTICE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE IF THEY FEEL THAT ARE ABLE. PERHAPS BETWEEN NOW AND MID-APRIL YOU COULD PUT TOGETHER A FEW ITEMS FOR DONATION AND BRING THEM ALONG TO THE GROUND ON ONE OF THOSE DATES. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU IN ANTICIPATION OF YOUR CO-OPERATION.

ON THE SUBJECT OF CHARITABLE WORK UNDERTAKEN BY OUR CLUB A COLLECTION WAS MADE RECENTLY FROM THE CLOTHES BANK WHICH IS

SITUATED NEAR THE DOOR TO THE CLUB SHOP. MORE BAGS OF USED CLOTHING ITEMS THAN I ANTICIPATED WERE COLLECTED AND THE DRIVER WAS WELL IMPRESSED WITH THE AMOUNT OF DONATIONS MADE. HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL KEEP OUR COLLECTION BANK IN MIND WHEN CLEARING OUT WARDROBES ETC. NOT LEAST BECAUSE ALL OF THE ITEMS DONATED GO DIRECTLY TO THE CHILDREN’S HEART SURGERY CAUSE RATHER THAN A PRIVATE COMPANY WHO MAKE A PERCENTAGE DONATION TO CHARITY.

FINALLY A WARM WELCOME TO OSSETT UNITED ON WHAT IS, I THINK, THEIR FIRST VISIT TO INGFIELD TO THE DIRECTORS, OFFICIALS, MANAGEMENT, PLAYERS AND NOT LEAST THE SUPPORTERS OF NORTH SHIELDS. WE HOPE THEY ENJOY THEIR VISIT AND HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY BACK UP NORTH AFTER THE MATCH.

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

NORTH SHIELDS

NORTH SHIELDS ATHLETIC WAS ORIGINALLY FORMED IN 1896 AND PLAYED INITIALLY IN THE SOUTH SHIELDS & DISTRICT LEAGUE. THEY PROGRESSED THROUGH THE NORTHERN COMBINATION, NORTHERN ALLIANCE AND NORTH EASTERN LEAGUE AND BECAME A MAJOR FORCE IN NORTH EAST FOOTBALL, OUTSIDE THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE, MOVING TO PLAY AT HAWKEY’S LANE AROUND 1900. THEY ORIGINALLY JOINED THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE, BEFORE SWITCHING TO THE NORTH EASTERN LEAGUE IN 1908.

THE CLUB EMERGED AS PRESTON COLLIERY F.C. AFTER THE GREAT WAR, REVERTING TO NORTH SHIELDS A.F.C. IN 1928. THEY ENJOYED

TREMENDOUS LOCAL SUPPORT WITH A RECORD

12,800 WATCHING THE LOCAL DERBY WITH SOUTH SHIELDS IN OCTOBER 1936. SHIELDS

WON THE NORTH EASTERN LEAGUE TITLE IN 1950, BEFORE THE LEAGUE FOLDED IN 1958.

SPELLS IN THE MIDLAND LEAGUE AND NORTHERN COUNTIES LEAGUE FOLLOWED BEFORE THE CLUB JOINED THE NORTHERN LEAGUE IN THE 1964-65 SEASON, FINISHING THIRD AT THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT.

THE ROBINS MOMENT OF CROWNING GLORY CAME IN 1969, WHEN THEY WON THE FA AMATEUR CUP BY BEATING SUTTON UNITED IN FRONT OF 47,000 SPECTATORS AT WEMBLEY

STADIUM. SHIELDS WERE A GOAL DOWN AFTER ONLY FOUR MINUTES BUT WON WITH SECOND

HALF STRIKES FROM RICHIE HALL AND BRIAN JOICEY – BOTH LAID ON BY ORRICK, A SHIPYARD WORKER FROM BYKER. THE CLUB, WHICH ALSO WON THE NORTHERN LEAGUE TITLE AND CHALLENGE CUP THAT SAME YEAR, WERE DECLARED JOINT HOLDERS OF THE EUROPEAN AMATEUR CUP THE FOLLOWING SEASON WHEN TWO GAMES AGAINST ITALIAN SIDE ALMAS RESULTED IN A LEVEL AGGREGATE SCORE.

IN 1982, THE ROBINS WON 1-0 AT HALIFAX TOWN IN THE FA CUP FIRST ROUND, BEDE MCCAFFREY SCORING THE ALL-IMPORTANT GOAL THAT YEAR. WALSALL WERE THE VISITORS TO APPLEBY PARK IN THE SECOND ROUND, FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN THE CLUB’S HISTORY AND LEFT WITH A 3-0 VICTORY.

HAVING MOVED INTO THE NATIONAL PYRAMID BY JOINING THE NCEL IN 1989, NORTH SHIELDS EARNED PROMOTION TO THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE BY WINNING THE TITLE IN 1992. HOWEVER, FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AROSE, WHICH MEANT APPLEBY PARK HAD TO BE SOLD TO AND LEAD TO THE CLUB FOLDING. HOWEVER, THEY ALMOST INSTANTLY REFORMED AS A NEW CLUB, THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF LOCAL PEOPLE AND MANY OF THE CURRENT COMMITTEE. THE CLUB, HEADED BY NEW CHAIRMAN RICHARD SLADE, SOUGHT AND GAINED IMMEDIATE ADMISSION TO THE SECOND DIVISION OF THE WEARSIDE LEAGUE. THEY WERE PROMOTED TO THE TOP FLIGHT AS RUNNERS-UP IN THEIR FIRST

THE ROBINS

SEASON, BRIEFLY REVERTING BACK TO NORTH

SHIELDS ATHLETIC FOR FOUR SEASONS. THEY ENJOYED SUCCESS IN LOCAL CUP COMPETITIONS, TOO, THE SHIPOWNERS CUP AND NFA SENIOR

BOWL ADDED TO THAT TITLE IN THE 1998-99

TREBLE-WINNING SEASON.

IN 1999, THE CLUB MOVED TO RALPH GARDNER

PARK, NOW KNOWN AS THE DAREN PERSSON

STADIUM, AND BEGAN TO DEVELOP THE GROUND

TO MEET THE NORTHERN LEAGUE STANDARDS.

ONCE AGAIN KNOWN AS NORTH SHIELDS FC, THE CLUB BEGAN TO KICK ON, LEAGUE RUNNERSUP IN 2000-01 AND WINNERS BY EIGHT POINTS

THE FOLLOWING SEASON. THEY ALSO CONTINUED TO COLLECT SILVERWARE

ELSEWHERE, WINNING THE MONKWEARMOUTH

CHARITY CUP IN 2001 AND AGAIN IN 2003.

AFTER A FIFTEEN-YEAR ABSENCE, THE ROBINS

GAINED PROMOTION BACK INTO THE NORTHERN

LEAGUE IN 2004 FOLLOWING THEIR THIRD

WEARSIDE LEAGUE TITLE AND A FURTHER

SHIPOWNERS CUP TRIUMPH.

“THE ROBINS” FINALLY GAINED PROMOTION BACK INTO THE NORTHERN LEAGUE IN 2004 AND WERE PROMOTED TO DIVISION 1 IN 2014 UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF GRAHAM FENTON.

THE CLUB WON THE FA VASE FINAL IN 2015 AS THE ATTACKING AND NEVER-SAY-DIE TEAM

ASSEMBLED BEAT GLOSSOP NORTH END AT WEMBLEY 2-1 AFTER EXTRA TIME AFTER FALLING

BEHIND EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF.

BAINBRIDGE’S HEADER EVENED THINGS UP AND

ADAM FORSTER WROTE HIMSELF INTO THE CLUBS HISTORY WITH THE WINNER. THE TEAM

WAS ONCE MORE THE PRIDE OF THE TOWN AND DIDN’T THE SUPPORTERS LOVE IT!

THE FOLLOWING SEASON 2015-6 SHIELDS

FINISHED FIFTH IN THE LEAGUE WHILST LIFTING THE NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP BEATING

BLYTH SPARTANS 4-3 IN A THRILLING FINAL AT ST JAMES PARK.

GARY ORMSTON OPENED THE SCORING FOLLOWED BY A GARETH BAINBRIDGE BRACE WITH RYAN CARR NOTCHING A DRAMATIC LAST MINUTE WINNER. MANAGER GRAHAM FENTON LEFT THE CLUB IN SEPTEMBER 2016 TO JOIN

SOUTH SHIELDS, WITH JON MCDONALD REPLACING HIM AS MANAGER. MCDONALD KEPT

NORTH SHIELDS AT THE TOP UNTIL EARLY APRIL, LOSING OUT TO SOUTH SHIELDS IN THE TITLE RACE. NORTH SHIELDS ALSO LOST THE SENIOR CUP TO BLYTH AND THE LEAGUE CUP TO SOUTH SHIELDS AFTER WHICH JON MCDONALD LEFT THE CLUB.

SHIELDS MOVED TO APPOINT ASSISTANT

MANAGER, BRIAN SMITH AS THE NEW MANAGER, WITH GARY ORMSTON STEPPING UP AS ASSISTANT AND ANDY GOWANS JOINING THE COACHING SET UP ALONGSIDE WILF KEILTY.

BRIAN SMITH LEFT THE CLUB IN FEBRUARY 2018 TO BE REPLACED BY EX-WHITLEY BAY BOSS

MARC NASH.

NASH BROUGHT WITH HIM ANTHONY WOODHOUSE WHO WAS WELCOMED BACK TO HIS OLD STAMPING GROUND AS ASSISTANT. THE DUO MARKED THEIR DEBUT IN CHARGE WITH A SENSATIONAL 6-5 VICTORY OVER JARROW ROOFING AFTER THE ROBINS WERE TRAILING 5-2

NORTH SHIELDS

LATE IN THE GAME. WITH STEVE SWINYARD COMING IN AS COACH THE NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM GUIDED THE CLUB TO A FINAL 8TH POSITION AS THE SEASON CLOSED.

THE CAMPAIGN OF 2019-20 BEFORE HALTED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE SIDE SAW AN IMPRESSIVE 4TH PLACED FINISH WITH GAMES IN HAND ON THE TEAMS ABOVE. THE TEAM SCORED 56 GOALS ONLY CONCEDING 37.

THE FOLLOWING SEASON (‘20-21) WAS ANOTHER CURTAILED WITH THE SHIELDSMEN AGAIN IN A STRONG 4TH POSITION WITH 26 POINTS FROM 11 GAMES HAVING LOST ONLY ONCE AS WELL AS ENJOYING A DECENT FA VASE RUN INCLUDING A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT SUCCESS

AT BRIDLINGTON TOWN.

ULTIMATELY THREE CLUBS WERE PROMOTED THAT YEAR ON A POINTS PER GAME BASIS COMBINED OVER TWO SEASONS - THE ROBINS MISSING OUT BY THE NARROWEST OF MARGINS.

THE ROBINS’ CLINCHED THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND PROMOTION TO THE NORTHERN PREMIER

LEAGUE EAST WITH A 3-1 TRIUMPH AT WHITLEY

BAY SPARKING EMOTIONAL CELEBRATIONS.

SHIELDS WON 25 AND DREW 9 OF THEIR 38 GAMES - OVERCOMING AN 11 POINT DEFICIT BEHIND CONSETT AT ONE STAGE AND HAVING TO PLAY THEIR LAST SIX MATCHES ALL AWAY.

CENTRE FORWARD DAN WILSON ENDED THE SEASON AS THE LEAGUE’S JOINT TOP SCORER WITH 29 GOALS PLUS 11 IN CUP TIES.

“THERE’S SO MUCH PRIDE IN WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED AS A CLUB” COMMENTED A BEAMING BOSS MARC NASH.

2021-22

HOWEVER MARC NASH’S MEN WERE TO MAKE NO MISTAKE IN AN UNFORGETTABLE

CAMPAIGN CRUISING TO THE NORTHERN LEAGUE

FIRST DIVISION TITLE BY 9 POINTS - THEIR FIRST SUCH TRIUMPH SINCE 1969.

THE MANAGEMENT TEAM CHALLENGED THE PLAYERS TO RESPOND AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF A QUARTER-FINAL LOSS IN THE VASE AFTER A MARATHON EIGHT MATCH

ADVENTURE FEATURING THREE PENALTY SHOOTOUT VICTORIES.

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 MODERN GAME IS AWASH WITH STATISTICS.

ONE CAN HARDLY PUT A MATCH ON TV WITHOUT XG TELLING YOU WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE WINNING THE GAME, XA TELLING YOU WHO HAS BEEN MOST CREATIVE, OR SHOT CREATING ACTIONS TELLING YOU, WELL, HOW MANY ACTIONS CREATED SHOTS. IF SOMEONE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT PPDA IS, I’M ALL EARS. BUT IT’S DIFFICULT TO ARGUE WITH THE RESULTS. BRENTFORD HAVE EXTREMELY CLOSE TIES TO AN ANALYTICS COMPANY AND HAVE CONFOUNDED EVERYBODY, BRIGHTON’S OWN ANALYTICS DEPARTMENT, AUGMENTING THEIR SCOUTING NETWORK, HAS BROUGHT THEM COLOSSAL FEES IN RECENT YEARS. IT HAS BECOME AN UNAVOIDABLY EVOLUTION OF THE GAME, AND THOSE WHO STICK RIGIDLY TO THE OLD WAYS ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND.

BUT ANALYTICS ARE NOT A NEW INVENTION. WHILE THE TECHNOLOGY NOW ALLOWS A MUCH DEEPER STATISTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE GAME, THE STORY OF FOOTBALL STATISTICS BEGINS BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR, WITH WING

COMMANDER CHARLES REEP.

CHARLES REEP WAS NOT A FOOTBALL MAN. AN ACCOUNTANT BY TRADE, HE JOINED THE RAF IN 1928, AND STARTED WORKING HIS WAY UP THE RANKS. HIS ENCOUNTER WITH SPORT WAS BY CHANCE: CHARLIE JONES, A TITLE WINNER WITH ARSENAL IN 1931 AND 1933 DECIDED, AFTER THE SECOND TITLE, TO EMBARK ON A SERIES OF LECTURES EXPLAINING HERBERT CHAPMAN’S STYLE AND WHAT MIGHT LOOSELY BE DESCRIBED AS

PHILOSOPHY. REEP WAS FASCINATED, AND STARTED THE PROCESS OF RECORDING THIS STYLE IN THE WAY HE KNEW BEST, WITH NUMBERS. UNFORTUNATELY, HE FOUND HIS WORK INTERRUPTED BY THE WAR, AND IT WOULD BE A DECADE AND A HALF BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO EXPLORE IT. AFTER RETURNING FROM GERMANY, REEP WAS FRUSTRATED TO FIND THAT VERY FEW OF CHAPMAN’S INNOVATIONS HAD BEEN ADOPTED, AND WAS PARTICULARLY DISMAYED THAT WINGERS, SO IMPORTANT TO ARSENAL’S TITLE WINNERS, WERE ONCE AGAIN MARGINALISED.

AFTER A PARTICULAR TURGID HALF OF FOOTBALL BETWEEN SWINDON AND BRISTOL ROVERS IN 1950, HE PULLED OUT HIS NOTEPAD AND PEN, AND SPENT THE SECOND HALF RECORDING SOME OF THE THINGS HE SAW, INCLUDING PASSING SEQUENCES AND PLAYER POSITIONS. AT MAY HAVE BEEN AT THE MOST

AN ACCOUNTANT IN A MINERS HAT

RUDIMENTARY LEVEL, BUT FOOTBALL ANALYTICS WAS BORN. HE RECORDED 147 SWINDON ATTACKS AS THEY EVENTUALLY FOUND A WINNER, AND EXTRAPOLATED HIS FINDINGS TO COVER A WHOLE GAME. WHAT HE DISCOVERED WAS THAT IT WOULD JUST TAKE A TINY IMPROVEMENT IN CONVERSION RATE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GOALS PER GAME BY 50%, FROM TWO TO THREE. IN A SPORT WITH SO FEW GOALS, THAT WOULD BE A HUGE ADVANTAGE.

IN 1951, HE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF RELEGATION THREATENED BRENTFORD, WHO BROUGHT HIM IN FOR THE FINAL 14 GAMES OF THE SEASON. USING HIS ANALYTICS, THEY TWEAKED THEIR SYSTEM AND STORMED EASILY TO SAFETY, WINNING 13 OF THOSE GAMES. AND THEN HE WENT BACK TO RECORDING DATA, MOST REGULARLY AT PLYMOUTH, WHERE HE WAS RECOGNISABLE BY THE MINER’S HELMET HE WORE, USING THE LAMP TO ILLUMINATE HIS NOTEBOOK. IN 1958, HE EVEN WENT TO THE WORLD CUP TO SEE HOW THE VERY BEST DID IT, AND SEE WHAT THAT DID TO HIS FINDINGS. A DECADE LATER, HE PUBLISHED HIS FINDINGS IN THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY.

NOT THAT HIS FINDINGS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. REEP CONCLUDED THAT THE BEST CHANCE OF SCORING A GOAL WAS WITH THE FEWEST PASSES IN THE MOVE. ESSENTIALLY, IF HE IS THE FATHER OF FOOTBALL ANALYTICS, HE IS THE UNCLE OF THE LONG BALL. WITH ALL OF THE DATA AND

TECHNOLOGY ON OFFER TODAY, IT SEEMS THAT THE ORTHODOXY IS INSTEAD TO MAKE LOTS OF SHORT PASSES RATHER THAN A FEW LONG ONES, AND HIS IDEAS HAVE BEEN CRITICISED. SOME EVEN CLAIM THAT REEP’S OWN DATA WAS MISINTERPRETED, AND THAT A PROPER ANALYSIS OF WHAT HE RECORDED SUGGESTED IT WAS FAR BETTER TO MAKE FOUR OR MORE PASSES. NOTABLE GAPS IN THE DATA INCLUDED SET PIECES, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RECORD THE FATIGUE THAT CAME FROM THE DEFENDING TEAM CHASING THE BALL.

REEP’S IDEAS MAY HAVE ENDED UP CREATING CRAZY GANG WIMBLEDON RATHER THAN MANCHESTER CITY OR BRENTFORD OR BRIGHTON, A PHYSICAL, LONG BALL SIDE WHO UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF GETTING THE BALL IN THE BOX AND DISMISSED THE VALUE OF POSSESSION. BUT EVEN SO, TO DISMISS THE WING COMMANDER WOULD BE UNFAIR. HALF A CENTURY AFTER HE FIRST STARTED RECORDING DATA, MISTAKES WERE STILL BEING MADE; ALEX FERGUSON FAMOUSLY SOLD JAAP STAM AFTER HIS RECORDED TACKLES DECLINED, NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HIS INCREASING INTERCEPTIONS, HE WAS ACTUALLY IMPROVING AS A PLAYER. WHO IS TO SAY THAT TEN YEARS FROM NOW, THE ALGORITHMS WON’T REALISE THAT TODAY’S NUMBER CRUNCHERS HAVE GOT IT WRONG? WHATEVER HIS ERRORS, HE WAS A FRUSTRATED ACCOUNTANT IN A MINER’S HELMET, AND HE CHANGED FOOTBALL.

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

THOMAS MAHER

TOM MAHER CURRENTLY SERVES WITH THE ARMY AND BEGAN REFEREEING BACK IN 2017.

HE QUICKLY MOVED UP THE LEVELS , REFEREEING ACROSS THE WEST YORKSHIRE AND NORTH EAST COUNTIES

LEAGUES .

ENJOYING THE CHALLENGES OF REFEREEING , HE SAYS “EVERY GAME BRINGS SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND MANY TALKING POINTS ”!

ADDING “I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OFFICIATE AT MANY GROUNDS ACROSS YORKSHIRE THIS SEASON , ELLAND ROAD , BRAMMALL LANE AND THE KC STADIUM TO NAME A FEW HIGHLIGHTS ”!

“I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO REFEREEING TODAY’S GAME AND WISH BOTH SIDES THE VERY BEST OF LUCK FOR TODAY AND THE REMAINDER OF THEIR SEASONS ” .

NORTH SHIELDS

FINN HODGSON SUMMER SIGNING FINN JOINS US FROM NORTHERN LEAGUE SIDE WEST ALLOTMENT. THE EXCELLENT YOUNG SHOT-STOPPER AND STARTS MANY ATTACKS WITH HIS EXCELLENT DISTRIBUTION SKILLS. STILL ONLY TWENTY-YEARS-OLD, FINN’S CAREER STARTED WITH STINTS AT BOTH CRAMLINGTON JUNIORS AND NEW HARTLEY JUNIORS.

AARON STEAVENS FORMER SOUTH SHIELDS ACADEMY KEEPER NEARLY SIGNED FOR US 2 YEARS AGO AS COVER FOR GREG PURVIS BUT MOVED TO GUISBOROUGH ON LOAN INSTEAD WHERE HE GAINED GOOD EXPERIENCE AS THEIR NUMBER ONE. PREVIOUSLY HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AT SEAHAM ALSO. FOR A YOUNG KEEPER AARON HAS LOADS OF APPEARANCES IN NL AND OFTEN FIGURED IN SOUTH SHIELDS CUP SQUADS AS COVER. WE ARE DELIGHTED HE HAS COME IN TO CHALLENGE FINN AS IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE COMPETITION IN ALL AREAS OF THE SQUAD.

TOM BEXTON FORMER WOLVES AND SOUTH SHIELDS

DEFENDER WHO IS COMFORTABLE IN POSSESSION WHICH IS WHAT ATTRACTED HIM TO US. A MAJOR ASSET TO HAVE ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

EVAN FOGARTY WE SIGNED EVAN A FEW MONTHS AGO ON A DUAL REGISTRATION WITH BLYTH TOWN. HE'S A VERY GOOD, YOUNG DEFENDER WHO LOVES DEFENDING, MEANING HE RELISHES THE DUALS AND THE AERIAL BATTLES AND DOESN'T MIND A TACKLE. A THROWBACK YOU MIGHT SAY. I THINK IF HIS DEBUT IS ANYTHING TO GO BY THEN HIS FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT INDEED.

JJ CHRISP JJ IS A PRODUCT OF NEW HARTLEY JUNIORS. CAN PLAY AT FULL BACK OR IN MIDFIELD. VERY TENACIOUS AND DOESN'T MIND THE PHYSICAL SIDE OF THE GAME. A GREAT LEFT FOOT ENHANCES HIS SKILL AND AWARENESS. HE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AS HE MOVES UP A FEW LEAGUES WITH NORTH SHIELDS FOLLOWING A YEAR IN THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE.

PLAYER PROFILES

STEPHEN FORSTER STEPHEN FORSTER A FLYING WINGER WHO IS EQUALLY ADEPT AT DEFENDING AS WELL AS GOING FORWARD. EX CARLISLE UNITED, BIRMINGHAM CITY, AND MORPETH TOWN.

CHRIS MCDONALD MCDONALD IS A STRONG AND VERSATILE DEFENDER/ MIDFIELDER WITH EXPERIENCE FROM CAPTAINING WHITLEY BAY TO PLAYING FOR BERWICK RANGERS IN SCOTTISH LEAGUE SECOND DIVISION MORE RECENTLY PLAYING FOR MORPETH TOWN. CHRIS HAS SCORED SOME SPECTACULAR GOALS IN HIS PLAYING CAREER.

JACK WALKER JACK RETURNS TO THE CLUB FOR HIS SECOND SPELL BEING REUNITED WITH NORTH SHIELDS CAMERON CUNNINGHAM TIPPED AS THE NON-LEAGUE MESSI, CAM IS AN EXTREMELY TALENTED YOUNG PLAYER THAT BURST ONTO THE SCENE. MADE THE TRANSITION FROM JUNIOR INTO SENIOR FOOTBALL WITH EASE AND IS TIPPED TO GO VERY FAR IF HE CONTINUES TO PROGRESS AT A RAPID RATE. A PRODUCT OF TYNEMET COLLEGE WHERE HE WORKED CLOSELY WITH MANAGER, MARC NASH.

ADAM FORSTER ADAM ‘SKIP’ FORSTER REJOINS THE CLUB FOR HIS SECOND SPELL. THE FORMER BLYTH SPARTANS MIDFIELDER HAS BEEN GIVEN THE CAPTAINS ARMBAND FOR THE ROBINS AND WAS A VITAL MEMBER OF THE NORTH SHIELDS SIDE THAT WON THE FA VASE AND SENIOR CUP. ADAM SCORED THE EXTRA TIME WINNER AGAINST GLOSSOP NORTH END IN THE FA VASE FINAL IN 2015.

DAVID PALMER DAVID JOINS THE CLUB TO ADD QUALITY TO THE MIDFIELD AREA PREVIOUS CLUBS SEAHAM RED STAR STAR, JARROW ROOFING, SOUTH SHIELDS. PALMER HAS WON THE NORTHERN LEAGUE WITH SOUTH SHIELDS AND PROMOTED WITH SHILDON.

DAVID ROBINSON ANOTHER QUALITY ADDITION TO THE

THE ROBINS

MIDFIELD AREA. THE FORMER SEAHAM AND BLYTH AFC CAPTAIN IS A BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER THAT WILL LEAVE EVERYTHING OUT ON THE PITCH FOR THE TEAM AND IS A PLAYER THAT WILL CERTAINLY CHIP IN WITH GOALS AND ASSISTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

CONNOR OLIVER THE MIDFIELDER JOINS AFTER LEAVING NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE OUTFIT MORPETH TOWN AND BRINGS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE HAVING STARTED OUT AT SUNDERLAND BEFORE JOINING HARTLEPOOL UNITED, BLACKPOOL, MORECAMBE, NORTH FERRIBY, HALIFAX, BLYTH SPARTANS AND GATESHEAD.

PAUL VAN-ZANDVLIET LOCAL LAD PAUL IS ANOTHER PRODUCT OF TYNE MET COLLEGE. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE NORTHERN COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING SQUAD WITH NORTHUMBERLAND SCHOOLS COUNTY AND WAS ALSO THE CAPTAIN OF THE NFA REPRESENTATIVE SIDE LAST YEAR. HIS PERFORMANCES

LAST YEAR ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF SHEFFIELD UNITED WHERE HE PLAYED TWICE FOR THE YOUTH TEAM IN VICTORIES OVER HULL CITY AND LEEDS UTD. PAUL'S BOX TO BOX AND POWERFUL STYLE WILL NO DOUBT PROPEL HIM TO BE A FANS FAVOURITE IN TIME, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM NORTH SHIELDS. ANTONIO AGOSTINHO TINO IS A PLAYER KNOWN TO THE CLUB AS A YOUNGSTER WHEN HE FEATURED FOR US

IN THE FA YOUTH CUP IN 2019 WHEN WE REACHED THE 1ST ROUND PROPER. HIS GOALS AGAINST AFC FYLDE IN THE FINAL QUALIFYING ROUND WERE THE HIGHLIGHT. HE WENT ON TO APPEAR FOR CONSETT BEFORE RETURNING TO HIS NATIVE PORTUGAL. SINCE COMING BACK TO THE UK TINO HAS TRAINED PRE-SEASON WITH BLYTH SPARTANS BUT HAS NOW OPTED TO JOIN US. HE IS ANOTHER EXCITING PROSPECT.

BRAD HIRD THE FORMER RYHOPE CW TOP GOALSCORER JOINS THE ROBINS TO BRING SOME GOALS TO THE SIDE. BRAD IS A DYNAMIC AND NIPPY FORWARD WHO ENJOYS GETTING INTO GOAL SCORING POSITIONS AND GETTING A FEW GOALS TOO.

TOM POTTER HE EXCITING FORWARD HAS PLENTY OF NORTH EASTERN FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS. POTTER HAS WON THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE AND NORTHUMBERLAND FA SENIOR CUP WITH MORPETH IN 2019 AND THEN THE 2020 FA VASE AND PROMOTION WITH HEBBURN TOWN.

DAN TURNER DAN HAS REPRESENTED THE CLUB IN THE FA YOUTH CUP AND SCORED 4 GOALS AS THEY REACHED THE FINAL QUALIFYING ROUND. A REGULAR SCORER FOR NEW HARTLEY JUNIORS. MADE HIS SHIELDS DEBUT V BISHOP AUCKLAND AWAY IN THE 5-1 WIN.

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

LUKE HOGG

JANNI LIPKA

JOSH LINDLEY

OLI METCALFE

TOM PRIESTLEY-STANDING

DERRY ROBSON

JACK BUTTERFILL

DAVID BROWN

JAMES CARVELL

NATHAN CURTIS

KEEL DEL-GRANDE

ALEX PETERSON

FINLAY HODGSON

AARON STEAVENS

ANTONIO AGOSTINHO

JOHNATON JAMES CHRISP

CAMERON CUNNINGHAM

LIAM DOYLE

EVAN FOGARTY

ADAM FORSTER

STEPHEN FORSTER

LUKE HEPPELL

BRADLEY HIRD

NATHAN KIDD

CALLUM LARMOUTH

CHRISTOPHER MCDONALD

ANTHONY MYERS

CONNOR OLIVER

DAVID PALMER

THOMAS POTTER

DAVID ROBINSON

DANIEL TURNER

PAUL VAN-ZANDVLIET

JACK WALKER

JOSHUA WALKER

JAMES WALSHAW REFEREE

DANIEL WILSON

MATCH OFFICIALS