Brighouse Town - NPL East - 21.11.23

Issue 12

Vs BRIGHOUSE TOWN PITCHING-IN NPL EAST DIVISION TUESDAY 21ST NOVEMBER – 7:45PM

OSSETT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB INGFIELD, PROSPECT ROAD, OSSETT, WF5 9HL

CLUB PRESIDENT: NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH CHAIRMAN: PHIL SMITH VICE-CHAIRMAN: NEIL SPOFFORTH SECRETARY: NEIL SPOFFORTH TREASURER: PAUL BILLING BOARD MEMBERS: LEE BROADBENT, STUART GARSIDE, JOE HANKS, STEVE HANKS, KATE HENNIGHAN, DAWN ROGERS, JAMES ROGERS MANAGER: GRANT BLACK ASSISTANT MANAGER: DAVID BROWN COACH: MICK NORBURY, RYAN PUGH, SCOUT: GARY DEVENPORT MEDICAL TEAM: EMILY CRISPIN MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING OFFICER: KATE HENNIGHAN MEDIA TEAM: CRAIG BIDDLESTONE, MATT BLACKBURN, CHRIS CASSIDY, HARRISON CARPENTER, OWEN GERRARD, JAMES GOTHARD, KEITH WOOD PROGRAMME DESIGN: JOSEPH WILLIAMSON

CLUB HONOURS (OSSETT UNITED, OSSETT TOWN, OSSETT ALBION ) WEST RIDING COUNTY SENIOR CUP WINNERS: 1949/50 WEST RIDING COUNTY CUP WINNERS: 1958/59, 1964/65, 1965/66, 1967/68, 1981/82, 1998/99, 2018/19 RUNNERS UP: 2000/01 NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION RUNNERS UP: 2001/02 PLAY-OFF RUNNERS UP: 2016/17 NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST PREMIER DIVISION WINNERS: 1998/99, 2003/04 RUNNERS UP: 1998/99, 2000/01 NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST FIRST DIVISION WINNERS: 1986/87 NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST SECOND DIVISION WINNERS: 1988/89 OSSETT UNITED IS A TRADING NAME OF OSSETT UNITED LIMITED, A PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES. IT IS A COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES. IT IS REGISTERED AT COMPANIES HOUSE, COMPANY NUMBER 11162425. THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANT CONTROL. J. ROGERS (30.4%) AND D. ROGERS (30.4%)

WELCOME TO INGFIELD PHIL SMITH, CHAIRMAN get back on level terms, but that game certainly showed everyone what this side can achieve.

This evening we entertain Brighouse Town in a re-arranged Pitching In NPL East game that was unfortunately postponed a couple of Friday’s ago. We all love the tradition on 3pm on a Saturday, but it has proven successful in nonleague to have Friday night games, and we look forward to another on 22 December when we host Sheffield.

But before we look too far forward let’s cast our minds back to our most recent game, as league leaders Hebburn Town came to Ingfield in what will go down as one of the games of the season, although after 30 minutes no one was thinking that! The performance in coming back from 0-3 from both the players on the field and the vocal support off is one of the best in recent times. The emotion felt when Rafa slid in to make it 4-3 was an amazing feeling. Credit must go to Hebburn who went again and managed to

It was unfortunate the game at Cleethorpes on Saturday was postponed as the lads were keen to get back in action but a hastily arranged training session saw an excellent workout instead with the majority of the lads spending much of the day together showing great team spirit which is essential at any level of the game.

We say it every week, but once again today will be another tough test. Vil Powell repeatedly builds strong competitive sides at Brighouse Town and again this season it is no different. We will have to be at the top of our game to get the result we want, and the same goes at the weekend when Bridlington Town visit.

I hope you all enjoy your visit to Ingfield this evening, here’s to another exciting game and hopefully three valuable points!

Phil.

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

This evening we welcome our West Yorkshire neighbours Brighouse Town whom, as Ossett United, we have played more times than any other club so far in our existence.

The eleven previous meetings (8 in the league and three times in cup competitions) have been fairly equal with Ossett winning 5, Brighouse wining 5 and there has been 1 drawn outcome. Our last encounter was on January 10 th 2023 when, here at Ingfield, Brighouse seized the ‘bragging rights’ with an emphatic 4–0 victory so that should be further motivation enough for us to put that right this evening.

We are disappointed that this game, originally scheduled for Friday October 20th, fell victim to the weather as our Friday night experiments have so far been very successful and particularly lucrative in terms of gate receipts. A Friday evening fixture against Liversedge a couple of seasons ago attracted no fewer than 1005 spectators and we were hoping for another bumper turnout for the visit of Brighouse. That said Brighouse usually do bring a decent travelling

support so hopefully we can expect a decent crowd tonight. Although we have twice met here on New Year’s Day those attendances were 616 and 739 so anything approaching that figure tonight would be a real bonus and a ‘shot in the arm’ for our coffers and our Treasurer’s mental well-being!

Our last victory here at Ingfield was far too long ago but we very nearly recorded a quite dramatic success last time out against top-ofthe-table Hebburn Town. After coming back from what looked like an impossible situation at 0 – 3 down we were leading 4 – 3 with barely a couple of added-on minutes remaining but couldn’t quite hold out in the end and the game ended in a 4 – 4 draw. It was interesting that despite conceding four goals our man-of-the-match award went to our goalkeeper Darryl Ombang who made several really eye catching saves which were right out of the top drawer and our young ‘stopper’ deserves great credit for his role in enabling us to come off the pitch with a share of the spoils. Goalkeepers all too often get less praise than they deserve but Darryl ought to be really proud of his performance against Hebburn. His display really did make all the difference on the day.

We have now played all six exNorthern League clubs in our division

and boast a very creditable record of three wins, one draw and two defeats. With at least four of those teams currently in or around the play-off places we haven’t fared too badly I would suggest. Having come from three goals down to then come within a whisker of victory it was brilliant to hear our home support in full voice. Home performances have often been underwhelming of late and our supporters muted but the encouragement against Hebburn was another noticeable feature of this encounter. Let’s hope that’s just the start of our fan base getting behind the team as it goes without saying that it has a really positive effect on the players on the pitch.

There was also a much improved atmosphere in the bars after the match.

As we go into December we will be holding our annual Christmas collection for the South Ossett

Foodbank whom we have supported for several seasons now.

The home fixture against Winterton Rangers on December 9th is when we will be holding the collection and we hope this year’s is as successful as it has been in the past. We would like to respectfully ask all our regulars if they are able to manage to donate some items. The Foodbank really do appreciate our efforts and it would be good to carry on the good work as Christmas approaches. Thanks in anticipation of your support.

Finally on the subject of charities can I remind all that we do have a clothes bank within the ground which supports Children’s Heart Surgery. If you are having a Christmas clear-out please consider bringing your donations to the ground in support of this very worthy cause.

THE DUGOUT GRANT BLACK - MANAGER They’ve both the character and ability to win football matches.

Good Evening and welcome home to Ingfield, as we entertain near neighbours Brighouse Town.

We extend a warm welcome to tonight’s visitors – their players, officials, staff and supporters. But hopefully they can be making the short journey home with no points to show.

It’s been a week and a half since our last match, the thrilling draw at home to Hebburn Town. As has already been mentioned, the overriding emotion at full-time that afternoon was pride. Pride that the lads never gave up, kept battling to gain a point and pride in our support. The backing we received from the terraces was second to none and spurred the lads on throughout the second half.

Although we were unable to hold on for all 3 points, myself and the backroom team know there is plenty to build on with this group.

We’ll be looking to start this tonight, against a team just a few places above us in the league standings. I believe the next run of games are vital, with matches against teams in and around us in the standings.

A positive run of results will allow us to enter the Christmas period and New Year on the front foot, looking up the table and looking to progress.

As always, thanks for the support.

It is always appreciated and never taken for granted.

Enjoy the match.

Blackie.

CAPTAIN’S COLUMN HARRY COATES - CAPTAIN The lads didn’t give up and should be proud of the point gained and hopefully we are able to back that up with a win tonight.

Unfortunately, our last fixture fell victim to the weather and was cancelled. The lads were hoping to continue on from the second half performance against top of the league Hebburn.

The performance that day is one of the best non-league comebacks I have seen. To be 3-0 down and lead the game 4-3 with 2 minutes to go just shows the character and ability we have in the dressing room.

As has been mentioned in other columns in tonight’s edition, the 12th man last weekend were incredible. So again, get behind the lads tonight and together we can start to climb that table.

Thanks as always.

Harry

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OSSETT UNITED OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER

VIEW FROM THE PRESS BOX CRAIG BIDDLESTONE because of cup commitments, to read out an attendance of only 168 was for me personally, heartbreaking.

Re-arranged games are an absolute pain at the best of times, especially when it’s a game that was initially to be played on a Saturday (or in the case of tonight’s fixture - a Friday night local derby under the lights), purely and simply because of the revenue the Saturday fixtures generate for clubs at our level.

It can be disheartening to say the least when we play midweek, especially knowing that the fixture being played could have been on a Saturday and therefore knowing that the clubs coffers would have been significantly bolstered, but we can’t control the weather, we know that, but what we control is getting behind our local club.

As I said, it can be disheartening playing midweek, but when we faced Grantham Town on a Tuesday night just over a month ago, a game that wasn’t rescheduled due to weather but

I’ve always been fully committed to Ossett United, even before the merger was made public, and it’s been a thing of pride for me seeing our attendances so high over the last 5 years, and yes, I know it was absolutely freezing that particular Tuesday night but the terraces resembled more of a ghost town than the 1000+ we had against Liversedge, or Guiseley, or the 800+ we had against tonight’s visitors, or the 525 we averaged for the first couple of seasons, and yes, I also know that results bring out the numbers, but for me, honestly, the crowd that night was an embarrassment.

That said, I also know we are in a cost of living crisis, and football can be expensive at the best of times, but for the sake of £10 surely it’s better to be supporting your local club? It’s not like we don’t have facilities available to stay dry, and warmer!

Postponements, re-arranged fixtures, abandonments, they do of course happen at all levels, I’ve recently “celebrated” 40 years since I first set foot in The City Ground, October 16th 1983, and it was as a young and impressionable teenager in 1991 that we

attempted to play Crystal Palace no fewer than 6 times before eventually beating them in the FA Cup 3rd Round. The initial fixture at Selhurst Park ended 0-0, and two attempts were made to replay the fixture at The City Ground but frost (frozen pitches were a thing back then) and then snow meant the replay was postponed on two occasions before the game was eventually played - and it ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, no thanks to John Salako lobbing Mark Crossley from the halfway line to take it to a 2nd replay!

An attempt was then made to play the 2nd replay 3 days later but frost again intervened and that game was called off. This was of course in the days where you would have as many replays as was needed before you progressed to the next round, and of course players didn’t complain about the amount of football they were playing, but once the 2nd replay was eventually played surprisingly only 22 days had

passed between the initial 0-0 draw and Forest eventually running out 30 winners in that 2nd replay.

Ironically, Forest then played Palace in the league just 5 days after that 2nd replay - and lost 1-0!

I’m really hoping that we can start to pick up numbers wise again, Ossett United has become a strong part of our local community, and it’s in times like these where we really need the supporters to get behind us, we showed against Hebburn Town that we can play football, but now, more than ever, we need you to be our 12th man on the terraces C’mon You Blues!!!

Mick Javens is the season ticket holder who has chosen the year for tonight’s half time playlist - and that year is 1964. I’ll be picking 5 belters from the top 40 biggest selling singles from that year, and as always - enjoy the tunes and enjoy the game.

Craig

Player’s Number

Sponsor

Number 1

Stanley Kelly

Number 2

The Scottish Supporters Club

MEET THE TEAM 2023/24 BACKROOM STAFF GRANT BLACK – MANAGER

2023/24 WILL BE GRANT’S FIRST FULL SEASON AS OSSETT UNITED MANAGER HAVING JOINED IN OCTOBER 2022 AND OVER SEEING A RE-BUILD OF THE FIRST TEAM SQUAD. GRANT HAS SEEN SUCCESS AT OSSETT TOWN IN HIS FIRST MANAGERIAL ROLE BEFORE ENHANCING HIS REPUTATION BELPER TOWN WHERE HELED THE SIDE TO PROMOTION TO STEP THREE AND AN FA CUP FIRST ROUND MEETING WITH NOTTS COUNTY.

DAVID BROWN – PLAYER/ASSISTANT MANAGER

BROWNIE HAS STEPPED UP FROM A COACHING ROLE TO BECOME ASSISTANT MANAGER THIS SEASON AS HIS OFF-FIELD REPUTATION CONTINUES TO GROW WITH A VARIETY OF INNOVATIVE TRAINING SESSIONS KEEP THE PLAYERS ON THEIR TOES. A REGULAR GOAL SCORER THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, HE WILL LOOK TO ENHANCE THE SIDE ON THE FIELD WHEN CALLED UPON TOO.

RYAN PUGH – GOALKEEPING COACH

RYAN’S PLAYING CAREER SAW HIM FEATURE FOR GOOLE, NEW MILLS, MATLOCK TOWN AND A FAMOUS SPELL AT OSSETT ALBION FONDLY REMEMBERED BY OSSETT TOWN FANS AFTER ONE PARTICULAR OSSETT DERBY (ASK HIM, HE LOVES TALKING ABOUT IT…) PUGHY JOINED GRANT’S BACK-ROOM STAFF AT BELPER TOWN AND HAS PROVEN POPULAR WITH GOALKEEPERS HE HAS WORKED WITH, PUSHING THEM TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE.

MICK NORBURY– COACH Norbs is no stranger to Ossett having played for both Ossett Albion and Town, his playing career saw him make almost 100 league appearances for Cambridge United, Preston North End and Doncaster Rovers. After retiring from playing he has managed in the NCEL as well as working with Grant Black at Ossett Town and Belper Town before moving to Ossett United in October 2022. Norbs left at the end of the 22/23 season to take up a role at a Dearne & District in the Central Midlands League before returning to the Ingfield coaching staff in September 2023

EMILY CRISPIN – SPORTS THERAPIST

EMILY IS NOW IN HER FOURTH SEASON WITH THE CLUB AND WORKING UNDER A THIRD MANAGEMENT TEAM SHOWS HOW VALUED SHE IS IN THE DRESSING ROOM ENSURING THE SIDE ARE FULLY PREPARED FOR THE GAME AHEAD.

GARY DEVENPORT - SCOUT

DEV WILL SPEND HIS TIME ASSESSING UPCOMING OPPONENTS AND POTENTIAL NEW SIGNINGS THIS SEASON. A KEY ROLE TO THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AS THEY PREPARE THE SIDE AHEAD OF GAMES AS WELL AS ANALYSING VIDEOS OF GAMES. HE WILL BE KNOWN TO MANY SUPPORTERS AS A HOST OF THE FORMER LEEDS UNITED PODCAST ‘TALKING SHUTT’

MEET THE TEAM 2023/24 PLAYERS JOE GREEN - GOALKEEPER

FORMER GUISELEY, NEWPORT COUNTY AND HYDE UNITED GOALKEEPER, JOE IS STRONG IN STATURE, AN EXCELLENT SHOT STOPPER AND HIS DISTRIBUTION OF THE BALL WILL BE A HUGE ASSET THIS SEASON. JOE MADE HIS PROFESSIONAL DEBUT FOR NEWPORT COUNTY IN THE FA CUP 3RD ROUND AGAINST BLACKBURN ROVERS. SPONSORED BY THE HANKS FAMILY

DARYL OMBANG – GOALKEEPER SIGNED ON LOAN FROM LEEDS UNITED IN OCTOBER. HAS MADE AN IMPRESSIVE START TO LIFE BETWEEN THE STICKS FOR THE SHEEPICORNS. IMPRESSING IN A RESOLUTE WIN AWAY AT STOCKSBRIDGE. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

JACOB MCLOUGHLIN – DEFENDER SIGNED IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 HAVING IMPRESSED IN THE FRIENDLIES. STRONG AT THE BACK AND HAS THE ABILITY TO STEP INTO THE MIDFIELD WITH THE BALL TO START ATTACKS, HE WAS MOST RECENTLY AT YORK CITY. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

HARRY COATES - DEFENDER

A KEY SIGNING LAST SEASON FROM ASHTON UNITED DESPITE BEING CHASED

BY NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH AND NPL PREMIER DIVISION SIDES. APPOINTED CLUB CAPTAIN THIS SUMMER. HARRY IS A COMMANDING CENTRAL DEFENDER AND COMFORTABLE WITH THE BALL AT HIS FEET AND MORE THAN CAPABLE TO STEP INTO MIDFIELD.

SPONSORED BY JAMES & DAWN ROGERS

JIMMY BURKE - DEFENDER

BURKEY MADE 46 APPEARANCES FOR THE CLUB BETWEEN 2018 – 2020 AND IS A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE SQUAD. AS WELL AS A SUCCESSFUL FIRST SPELL AT THE CLUB HE PLAYED A KEY ROLE FOR HYDE UNITED AS THEY REACHED THE FIRST ROUND OF THE FA CUP. JIMMY STARTED HIS CAREER AT HUDDERSFIELD TOWN AND MADE HIS EFL DEBUT AFTER TRANSFERRING TO BURY. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

MEET THE TEAM 2023/24 PADDY MILLER – DEFENDER

PADDY SURPRISED THE NON-LEAGUE WORLD AS HE CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT LAST SEASON TO RETURN TO THE FIELD RE-IGNITING A DEFENSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRY COATES WHICH PROVED SUCCESSFUL AT BOTH HYDE UNITED AND TADCASTER ALBION. PADDY ADDS EXPERIENCE AND A SENSE OF CALM TO ANY SIDE HE IS PART OF. SPONSORED BY JP NUGENT LTD PLUMBING AND HEATING

DERRY ROBSON – DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER

TALENTED AND VERSATILE, DEZ IS AS COMFORTABLE IN MIDFIELD AS HE IN AT FULL-BACK. DERRY HAS EXPERIENCE OF PROMOTION FROM STEP FOUR AND WILL ADD DRIVE AND EXPERIENCE TO THE SIDE. DEZ JOINED THE CLUB IN 2022 FROM NPL EAST SIDE CLEETHORPES TOWN. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

FABIAN BAILEY – DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER

SIGNED FROM PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES WHERE HE SPENT FOUR SEASONS. FAB IS ABLE TO TURN HIS HAND TO A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AS REQUIRED, HE STARTED HIS CAREER AT ROTHERHAM UNITED AND HAS ALSO HAD SPELLS AT FRICKLEY ATHLETIC AND OSSETT TOWN. SPONSORED BY RICH CALLAGHAN COREY GREGORY – MIDFIELDER

CULTURED MIDFIELDER, COREY RETURNS TO INGFIELD AFTER A SPELL AT BRIGHOUSE TOWN. NO STRANGER TO GRANT BLACK WHO HAS SIGNED HIM FOR A THIRD TIME HAVING WORKED WITH HIM AT OSSETT TOWN AND BELPER TOWN. COREY WILL BE A DRIVING FORCE IN THE HEART OF THE PITCH.

SPONSORED BY THE ADAMSON FAMILY Tom Claisse - Midfield

Claisse brings a wealth of experience to Ingfield having played for Whitby Town, Farsley Celtic, Ossett Albion and Town, Bradford Park Avenue, Tadcaster Albion and most recently North Ferriby after starting his career at Bradford City.

Claisse has also captained the RAF Football side and was given the honour of carrying the FA Cup to the Royal Box, handing it to Prince William, ahead of the 2018 final between Manchester United and Chelsea.

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

MEET THE TEAM 2023/24 JANNI LIPKA - MIDFIELDER

A KEY PLAYER IN THE SUCCESSFUL HYDE UNITED SIDE WHO PLAYED MK DON’S IN THE FA CUP, LIPKA HAS GREAT EXPERIENCE AND HAS PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE FOR THE CLUB SINCE SIGNING LAST SEASON. HAVING HAD AN INJURY INTERRUPTED SEASON LAST YEAR, WITH A FULL PRE-SEASON BEHIND HIM JANNI IS EXPECTED TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH THIS SEASON. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

ZAK DEARNLEY - MIDFIELDER

SPENT THE 22/23 SEASON AT LIVERSEDGE AND STOCKSBRIDGE P.S HAVING STARTED HIS CAREER AT MANCHESTER UNITED WHERE HE WAS PART OF THE FIRST TEAM SQUAD. SCORED 11 GOALS FOR OLDHAM ATHLETIC IN 44 LEAGUE TWO APPEARANCES. HAS ALSO SPENT TIME AT HALIFAX TOWN AND GUISELEY. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

RHYS PLATER- MIDFIELDER

YOUNG WINGER SIGNED FROM ARMTHORPE WELFARE WHERE HE HAS SCORED 12 GOALS IN 50 APPEARANCES AFTER HE IMPRESSED IN PRE-SEASON AGAINST US. RHYS HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON THE SQUAD WITH AN ASSIST ON HIS DEBUT. HE ADDS SPEED AND SKILL TO THE GROUP AND IS AN EXCELLENT OPTION FOR THE MANAGEMENT TEAM

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

KELAN SWALES - FORWARD

YOUNG SIGNED ON DUAL-REGISTRATION FORMS WITH NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH SIDE ALFRETON TOWN. KELAN HAS SPENT SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL YEARS PLAYING IN AMERICA AND IS NOW LOOKING TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF BACK IN ENGLAND. KELAN SPENT TIME IN THE HALIFAX TOWN ACADEMY BEFORE HIS MOVE TO AMERICA. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

DESMOND AMPONSAH – FORWARD

QUICK AND TRICKY FROM EITHER FOOT, DESMOND IS SURE TO GET THE FANS EXCITED, A REAL DEFENDERS NIGHTMARE. DESMOND SPENT LAST SEASON WITH LIVERSEDGE AND TADCASTER ALBION GAINING NPL EXPERIENCE. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

TJ IBRAHIM – FORWARD

A DYNAMIC WINGER WITH AN EYE FOR GOAL, TJ WAS THE FIRST SUMMER SIGNING JOINING THE CLUB FROM BRIGHOUSE TOWN WHERE HE HAS SPENT THE PAST FIVE SEASONS. TJ HAS GIVEN FULL BACK’S SLEEPLESS NIGHTS OVER RECENT YEARS AND KNOW HOW THEY THINK AS HE IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF FULFILLING THAT POSITION HIMSELF IF REQUIRED.

SPONSORED BY KEITH & KATH WOOD

MEET THE TEAM 2023/24 ALEX PETERSON - FORWARD

A KEY MEMBER OF THE SIDE, ALEX’S WORK RATE IS SECOND TO NONE AND HE IS A HANDFUL FOR ANY DEFENDER THAT HE COMES UP AGAINST. STRONG AND EXCELLENT IN THE AIR HE IS A FOCAL POINT OF THE OSSETT SIDE BRINGING PLAYERS AROUND HIM INTO THE GAME WHILST ALSO FINISHING ANY CHANCES CREATED.

SPONSORED BY MOZ & MARZ

RAFA FERREIRA – FORWARD

A FLAIR PLAYER WHO IMPRESSED IN PRE-SEASON AND EARNT HIMSELF A DEAL AT THE CLUB, RAFA HAS SPENT TIME AT GUISELEY, PICKERING TOWN AND TADCASTER ALBION AHEAD OF JOINING OSSETT UNITED THIS SUMMER. SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

SAM KELLY - FORWARD

ANOTHER SUMMER SIGNING AND ONE THAT WILL UNDOUBTABLY EXCITE THE INGFIELD FAITHFUL. TALL, STRONG AND QUICK, SAM WILL ADD A NEW OPTION UPFRONT FOR THE SIDE HAVING SPENT TIME IN AMERICA WHERE HE EARNED A PLACE IN THE TEAM OF THE YEAR THANKS TO HIS PROWESS IN FRONT OF GOAL SCORING 22 GOALS IN 31 APPEARANCES FOR FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES.

SPONSORED BY SPOFF & KATE

THE OPPOSITION Brighouse Town AFC – Club History The club was originally formed in 1963, as a representative side of the Blakeborough Valve Company of Brighouse and their home games were played on the Woodhouse Recreation Ground, with the side competing in the Huddersfield Works League. The club gained various league honours over the years, the most successful coming in the 1968/69 season, when they won both the League Cup as well as the Halifax District Cup. Following this success, the club took the huge step of obtaining its own ground at Hove Edge. Whilst at Green Lane, where they played for more than a decade, they achieved two more league titles before taking another major step, in applying for and achieving West Riding County Amateur League status in 1975.

The club thrived there, until their Green Lane ground was developed for housing, upon which they moved to their present ground, just round the corner, on St Giles Road. There followed a period of stagnation, competing mainly in the lower divisions of the WRCAL until 1988 when the demise of the Blakeborough Company resulted in a new outlook, as well as a new name.

This change proved to be the catalyst for the most successful period in the clubs history so far.

The newly named Brighouse Town AFC won promotion to the WRCA Premier Division in their first season, as well as winning the WRCAL Division One Cup. In 1991 the Premier Division Championship was won for the first time and in 1992 soon followed the West Riding County Challenge Cup. In 1994 Town won the Premier Division League Cup and were runners up in the County Challenge Cup, and they were Premier Division Champions again in 1995 Season 1995/96 was perhaps the most successful season in the clubs history so far. Brighouse Town once again won the WRCAL Premiership title and also completed the double by winning the WRCA League Cup. They also won the Bob Wedgeworth Memorial Trophy.

Season 2008-09, saw the club make the significant step into SemiProfessional football by entering and being accepted into the Northern Counties East League Division One. After only two seasons in NCEL Division One, the Club won promotion to the NCEL Premier Division under the guidance of Mark Brier and Daz Attwood. 2011/12 Season saw the appointment of Paul Quinn as Manager and after 4th and 2nd place finishes in his first two seasons, the NCEL Premier Title was achieved with a record points total in 2013/14 – the Clubs 50th anniversary season.

THE OPPOSITION Promotion to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One North brought the highest level of football in the history of the Club only six years after leaving the West Riding County Amateur League, and a new and exciting challenge lay ahead. A very respectable 15th place finish was achieved in the Club’s inaugural season, and with valuable experience gained, solid foundations have been laid for playing football at this level.

In what ultimately became his final season, Paul Quinn cemented his legacy at the Club with a 9th place 2016/17 finish , the highest position achieved in the Clubs history and a fitting reflection of the tremendous job Quinn and his Assistant Mark Booth had done for Brighouse Town.

2017/18 Season brought a new era with Manager Vill Powell and Assistant Nat Brown taking over the reins and starting to rebuild the squad after a player exodus following Paul Quinn’s departure. Powell’s appointment just before the start of the season meant that squad rebuilding had to be done as the season went along, never an easy job in such a competitive League.

Despite spending time in the lower part of the table during the 2nd half of the season, Town hit top form in the run-in to finish the season in a very respectable 17th position.

Powell used his first proper pre-season at Brighouse Town to strengthen his Managerial team; confirming Leon Wainman and Stacy Reed as his Assistants, and had the majority of his playing squad already in place for the first training session of the new 2018-19 season. This resulted in a fantastic season, firstly qualifying for the end of season Play-offs, and then going on to win the Play-off final with an emphatic 3-0 victory against Pontefract Cols.

The promotion place to the Premier Division that this would usually have brought, was denied to Town due to having an insufficient points-to-games ratio during the season which was the criteria to decide who got promotion, due to a lack of promotion places available for all the Play-off winners!!

Despite this disappointment, the season had brought the highest ever League position in the Club’s history.

Season 2019-20 saw Town’s late push for a Play-Off place brough to an abrupt end due to the Covid 19 outbreak and ultimately the season being declared null and void. Manager Vill Powell has added experienced Coach and ex-professional John Francis to his coaching team and is happy with the squad of players he has assembled for the 2020-21 season. Season 2020-21 came to an even more abrupt finish than the previous season with the majority of teams not getting into double figurers for games played before Covid 19 forced the season to be curtailed. FA restructuring has created an extra Division at Town’s level, with Vill Powell still at the helm looking forward

THE OPPOSITION to 2021-22 season in the newly formed NPL East Division. Thankfully there were no Covid issues in the 2021-22 season and it was played to its’ conclusion and saw Town make an excellent late push for the play-offs before narrowly missing out to ultimately finish with a very creditable 7th place finish. Town did manage to make a bit more history for the Club by making a first ever appearance in the final of the West Riding Senior County Cup, but were unable to make their first appearance a winning one.

Season 2022-23 was very easily assessed; a good start, a very poor middle and an excellent finish, ultimately yielding a creditable 8th place finish. A real highlight of the season was the news that Town youngster Sam Reed had earned himself a professional contract at Sheffield Wednesday after a successful end of season trial at the championship club. Sam wasn’t the only player to be leaving the club, with only a handful of the current squad being retained due to various reasons. So, it will be very much a new squad for season 2023-24 with manager Powell bringing in a host of new players to the newly named Heffernan Utilities Stadium.

Previous Meetings Date

Comp

Venue

Score

Scorers

27.08.18

League

A (381)

2-2

Chippendale, Grayson

17.09.18

L. Cup

A (172)

0-1

27.11.18

WRCC

H (221)

0-0

(WON 5-4 ON PENS)

01.01.19

League

H (616)

4-0

Priestley, Greaves, Knowles, Khan

26.08.19

League

H (461)

1-2

Monkhouse

01.01.20

League

A (296)

4-0

Greaves, Basic, Porritt, Stockdill

07.01.20

L. Cup

H (199)

3-0

Knowles, Harrison, Haswell

30.08.21

League

A (387)

0-2

01.01.22

League

H (739)

1-0

Ofoegbu

26.12.22

League

A (424)

1-2

Peterson

10.04.23

League

H (373)

0-4

THE OPPOSITION Harry Garman DOB: 11/04/2001. Leeds Position: GK Previous Clubs: Manchester Met Uni, Whaley Bridge, Yorkshire Ams, Alwoodley Jayden Anthony Major DOB: 29.08.2002. Manchester Position: CM Previous Clubs: Burnley, FC United, Flint Town FC Josh Grant DOB: 10-8-91. Leeds Position: CM Previous Clubs: Farsley, Wakefield, Ossett, Liversedge, Tadcaster Myron Jordan Gibbons DOB: 15/11/2000. Doncaster Position: Striker Previous Clubs: Doncaster Rovers, Staveley MWFC, Rossington Mai Ashley Butterworth DOB: 26/11/2001. Wakefield Position: CM Previous Clubs: West Bridgford FC, Heanor Town FC Jamie Allsop DOB: 28/05/1997. Wakefield Position: CB Previous Clubs: Nostell MW, Garforth Town Alexander Phillipson DOB: 03/02/2001. Chesterfield Position: Defender Previous Clubs: Chesterfield FC, Matlock Town, Lija Athletic (Malta), Ossett United, Selston FC Malachi Bailey DOB: 26.09.02. Leeds Position: Striker Previous Clubs: Brighouse 23s , Pro Direct, Sawbridgeworth , Pro Elite Academ

THE OPPOSITION Brandon Webster DOB: 12/08/2000. Sheffield Position: Left Back / Left Wing Previous clubs: Scunthorpe United, Sheffield United, Loughborough Dynamo, Ossett United, Staveley Miners Welfare Jack Crook 27/08/2001. Leeds Position: Midfielder Harrogate Town U23s, Tadcaster Albion, Eccleshill United Shohaib Nazir 29/05/1996. Sheffield Position: Centre Mid/ LB Previous Clubs: Yorkshire Ams, Ilford FC, Billericay Town u23s Matthew Ingham DOB: 1/3/2000. Bradford Position: Defender Previous Clubs: Farsley Celtic Mack Warne DOB 05/12/03. Doncaster Position: Centre Midfield Previous Clubs: Rotherham United Sam Drake 02/04/1998. Huddersfield Position: Centre Mid Previous Clubs: Farsley Celtic Luca Grant DOB: 16/03/2004. Leeds Position: LW/RW/CAM Previous Clubs: Albion Sports Joshua Courtenay Smith DOB 30/10/04. Brighouse Position: Fullback Previous Clubs: None

THE OPPOSITION Harry Stone 15/11/2002. Brighouse Position: CM Previous Clubs: Brighouse Sports, Brighouse Town U23s

Mohammad Qasim 09/07/1997. Bradford Position: Forward Previous Clubs: Guiseley, Albion Sports, Campion, Silsden Vill Powell - Manager Born in Sheffield, Vill was a professional at Sheffield Wednesday for 3 years. He then moved on to play in the Finnish Premier league for HJK Helsinki. After 2 years in Finland he moved to Northern Ireland to play for Derry City for a year before returning to England where he played nonLeague scoring 73 goals in one season at Retford United before moving to Grays Athletic in the Conference South where he won the FA Trophy and league double. After several years playing for Havant and Waterlooville and Weymouth, He then returned to Sheffield and over a 7 year period played for Sheffield FC, Stocksbridge PS, and Goole FC in the Evo-stick South league Division 1. At Stocksbridge where he played for 2 seasons he won the league Play-off final and promotion to the Evostick Premier playing alongside England striker Jamie Vardy. With Uefa A Licence and FA Full Youth Award, Vill’s first coaching role was at Sheffield FC, and then a coaching role at Rotherham United Academy before joining the first team coaching staff at Harrogate Town in the Conference North before moving to his first managerial role at Brighouse Town.

Stacey Reed – Asst. Manager Louis Axcell – Asst. Manager Leon Wainman – First Team Coach Nathan Fennell – Physio Charlotte Biggs – Asst. Physio

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 (2PM5PM) - 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

CLUB HISTORY THE FORMATION Ossett United was created on 1 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.

The two clubs merged under the leadership of a new board brought together from the two previous clubs. 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.

EARLY CHANGES Despite a successful first season on the pitch, off field things were not as successful with a number of board resignations 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 with Stuart Garside, Steve Hanks, Paul Billing, Neil Spofforth and Joe Hanks joining the board.

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).

CLUB HISTORY Despite a successful first season on the pitch, off field things were not as successful with a number of board resignations 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 with Stuart Garside, Steve Hanks, Paul Billing, Neil Spofforth and Joe Hanks joining the board.

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).

James Rogers and Phil Smith swapped roles due to Smith’s work commitments with Rogers taking 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.

GROUND IMPROVEMENTS With the off-field rollercoaster settling down the Board progressed numerous ground improvements at Ingfield with the replacement of the pitch side barrier and installation of LED floodlights being completed in 2021 before attention turned to improving the changing room facilities which took shape in the summer of 2023 thanks to further grants from the Football Foundation.

The extension includes an additional match official room, two offices and a medical room as well as a larger, modern changing room that will become fully operational by the summer of 2024.

The Boardroom has also been strengthened in the summer of 2023 with Dawn Rogers and Kate Hennighan taking their place alongside the eight members already in place.

CLUB HISTORY UP TO NOW...

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.

Following the departure of Andy Welsh a couple of months in to the 2019/20 season Wayne Benn, assisted by Chick Hayward, oversaw two covid hit seasons. Hopes were high after a positive pre-season in 2021/22 with Benn reshaping the squad. The season started well with Ossett United in the top half of the table but a run of only one win in three months saw a change in the dugout at Christmas with Jas Collvier and Mark Ward taking a joint managerial role.

The season ended well with the pair unbeaten at Ingfield with seven wins and two draws but away from home inconsistent performances and results saw a ninth placed finish in only the clubs second completed season.

Colliver and Ward strengthened the squad throughout pre-season, and despite on paper the squad looking as strong as it ever had, results did not match expectations. Mark Ward resigned in September with Colliver taking sole charge before leaving the club by mutual consent the following month.

Grant Black became the clubs fourth permanent manager in October 2022, winning his first game in charge, 2-0 at the eventual play-off champions Long Eaton United and only tasting defeat twice in his first 16 games.

Results tailed off as the season ended with the club finishing in 15th place but the management team had a clear plan in place for the type of player they wanted to bring in ahead of the 2023/24 season with their and the clubs ambition being a much higher finish than recently experienced.

2023/2024 DATE

OPPONENT

COMP. RES. SCORERS

04/07/23 07/07/23 11/07/23 14/07/23 18/07/23 22/07/23 25/07/23 29/07/23

(A) HORBURY TOWN (A) ARMTHORPE TOWN (A) WORKSOP TOWN (A) TADCASTER ALBION (A) HEMSWORTH M.W (A) GOOLE (A) GARFORTH TOWN (H) WIDNES FC

FRIENDLY FRIENDLY FRIENDLY FRIENDLY

3-1 3-2 0-1 1-0 S.KELLY TROPHY 2-0 FRIENDLY 1-4 FRIENDLY 0-3 FRIENDLY 1-0

IBRAHIM, ONWUBIKO, TRIALIST D ONWUBIKO, KELLY, REANEY

05/08/23 12/08/23 15/08/23 19/08/23 22/08/23 26/08/23 28/08/23

(H) 1874 NORTHWICH (A) SHEFFIELD FC (H) DUNSTON FC (H) WYTHENSHAWE (A) ASHINGTON (H) STOCKTON TOWN (A) PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES

FA CUP NPL EAST NPL EAST FA CUP NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST

2-0 1-3 2-4 2-0 1-0 0-1 0-4

PETERSON (2) OWN GOAL IBRAHIM, AMPONSAH BURKE, REANEY SWALES

02/09/23 (H) MARSKE UNITED 09/09/23 (A) NORTH FERRIBY 16/09/23 (A) NEWTON AYCLIFFE 30/09/23 (H) GRIMSBY BOROUGH

FA CUP FA TROPHY NPL EAST NPL EAST

0-3 1-2 3-1 0-2

03/10/23 (H) GRANTHAM TOWN 07/10/23 (A) CONSETT 10/10/23 (H) HORBURY TOWN 14/10/23 (H) CARLTON TOWN 28/10/23 (A) STOCKSBRIDGE P.S

NPL EAST NPL EAST COUNTY CUP NPL EAST NPL EAST

0-0 2-1 2-0 0-2 1-0

04/11/23 (A) NORTH FERRIBY 11/11/23 (H) HEBBURN TOWN 20/10/23 (H) BRIGHOUSE TOWN 25/11/23 (H) BRIDLINGTON TOWN

NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST

1-3 4-4

02/12/23 (A) BELPER TOWN 09/12/23 (H) WINTERTON RANGERS 16/12/23 (A) DUNSTON FC 22/12/23 (H) SHEFFIELD FC 26/12/23 (A) LIVERSEDGE

NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST

01/01/24 (H) PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES 06/01/24 (A) STOCKTON TOWN 13/01/24 (H) ASHINGTON 20/01/24 (H) STOCKSBRIDGE P.S 27/01/24 (A) BRIGHOUSE TOWN

NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST

MOM

ATT 450

JOHN ROBSON, ONWUBIKO WOODCOCK MILLER

MILLER EDWARDS (2), AMPONSAH

212 PETERSON WOODCOCK BURKE GREEN COATES

MILLER GREEN PLATER MCLOUGHLIN

321 472 158 357

PLATER

168 377 744 346 202

IBRAHIM, LIPKA REANEY, LIPKA

REANEY

PETERSON

ROBSON

PETERSON

392 321 271 327 553 323 432

521

2023/2024 DATE

OPPONENT

COMP. RES. SCORERS

03/02/24 (H) NEWTON AYCLIFFE 17/02/24 (A) GRIMSBY BOROUGH 24/02/23 (H) CONSETT

NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST

02/03/24 16/03/24 23/03/24 30/03/24

(A) CARLTON TOWN (A) WINTERTON RANGERS (H) BELPER TOWN (A) GRANTHAM TOWN

NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST

01/04/24 (H) LIVERSEDGE 06/04/24 (A) HEBBURN TOWN 13/04/24 (H) NORTH FERRIBY 20/04/24 (A) BRIDLINGTON TOWN 27/04/24 (H) CLEETHORPES TOWN

NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST NPL EAST

MOM

ATT

Man In The Middle Name: Samuel Bragg Refereeing Journey: Having grown up in West Yorkshire, Sam completed his refereeing course at the age of 16 in Todmorden, hosted by local Ossett referee Bobby Madley.

He began refereeing open-age football shortly after, and continued to do so whilst at University in Cardiff where he studied Physiotherapy.

Since returning to Yorkshire, he is now working for the NHS in Leeds and has progressed up the refereeing ladder over the last 5 years; and is looking to push his career in refereeing as far as possible.

Joe GREEN Darryl OMBANG Fabian BAILEY Jimmy BURKE Harry COATES Jacob McLOUGHLIN Jeremie MILAMBO Corey GREGORY Rhys PLATER Rafa FERREIRA Derry ROBSON Janni LIPKA Tom CLAISSE TJ IBRAHIM Desmond AMPONSAH Kelan SWALES Sam KELLY Alex PETERSON

SHIRTS: SKY BLUE SHORTS: NAVY SOCKS: NAVY GK: ALL PINK

Harry GARMAN Jamie HASSAL Brandon WEBSTER Jack DANDO Jack CROOK Sam DRAKE Jamie ALLSOP Alexander PHILLIPSON Josh GRANT Myron GIBBONS Ashley BUTTERWORTH Mohammad QASIM Darius SMITH Jack WILSON Sam BENTLEY Will CALLIGAN Matty NEBARD

SHIRTS: ORANGE SHORTS: ORANGE SOCKS: ORANGE GK: ALL GREY

MATCH OFFICIALS AR1 MATTHEW COLES

REFEREE SAMUEL BRAGG

AR2 GORDON GREAVES