Ossett United vs Grantham Town - NPL East - 03.10.23

SSETT 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

WELCOME TO INGFIELD

PHIL SMITH,CHAIRMAN

disruptions with injuries occurring to key players at untimely moments and additions to the squad when players of the right calibre become available.

Welcome to Ingfield as Grantham Town are the visitors this evening, I hope the travelling contingent have had a comfortable journey up to West Yorkshire for this Pitching In NPL East fixture.

Football at all levels is all about emotion with very little between positivity and negativity; and with our season so far having no draws we have been at either end of this scale after each game with four victories and six defeats in all competitions so far. The game is also all about momentum, our squad is strong and definitely better than the results on paper show, so now is the time for calm heads and everyone pulling in the same direction to get the season heading in the direction we both want and believe it will go.

There have been obvious

There continues to be a strong belief amongst the squad that a good season is on the cards, the new signings have bought into this and have not joined the club to play in a struggling side. They are here to strengthen the squad and get the results going in our favour.

All the old cliches ring true, ‘we win together, we lose together’ ‘we go again’ so let us re-set, unite as one and get things rolling, starting tonight!

Stronger Together!

There can be no hiding from the fact that last Saturday’s result against Grimsby Borough was a bitter disappointment for everyone connected with Ossett United and it was noticeable that more supporters than usual left the ground somewhat disgruntled by what they had witnessed. After the win away at Newton Aycliffe we were on a high and had the opportunity, as I reflected upon in my last programme notes, to put some daylight between ourselves and the lower echelons of the league table. That we failed to do that only served to heap pressure on ourselves as we now begin a vital month in our season when we go up against five teams all outside the top five league places. Three of those are at home when we entertain tonight’s opponents Grantham Town and then Carlton Town and Brighouse Town. Normally that might be viewed as a bonus but both our league wins this season have come away from home and our three appearances here at home have resulted in defeats so home advantage wouldn’t appear to be counting for much in our case.

As we always say in this league a couple of back to back wins can

catapult a side several places up the table and that still remains the case as of now. Although our attendances here at Ingfield are still above the average for our division they do not compare to ‘gates’ of just a couple of years ago and numbers are noticeably dwindling though we are genuinely grateful, as Craig Biddlestone on the microphone never fails to acknowledge, to those loyal fans who turn out week in and week out to support our club. It is vitally important to us that we continue to attract decent sized crowds as the revenue generated enables us to progress both on and off the field of play.

It’s a while ago now but people may forget that we are working with at least one hand tied behind our backs following that shattering decision in the courts some years ago that cost us in excess of £130,000. That we are still here and fulfilling fixtures, and competing at the level we are, really is a testimony to our resilience and hopefully that will stand us in good stead to come through the difficult period that we are currently experiencing.

Next Tuesday evening (October 10th), weather permitting, we come up against, for the first time in a competitive match, our near neighbours Horbury Town who currently ploy their trade in the Northern Counties East League and at the time of writing occupy 18th place in the Division One league table. This is

THE PRESIDENT

a West Riding County Cup first round tie and as I always say at this time of the season this is the one cup competition we can realistically win as we proved in our inaugural season when we lifted the trophy in a memorable final against then National League side Guiseley. Not all clubs take the County Cup competition seriously in the early rounds but I would like to think that we do here at Ossett United and that we make every effort to go as far in the competition as we can. A good attendance, which I confidently expect, will benefit both clubs enormously financially so please

NEVILLE WIGGLESWORTH

come along and make sure we aren’t drowned out by our ‘noisy neighbours’.

Finally a warm welcome to tonight’s visitors Grantham Town who come here this evening in a comfortable mid-table position with 11 points from their eight fixtures so far. We hope the Directors, Officials, management team, players and not least their supporters enjoy their visit to Ingfield but hopefully from our perspective not the outcome of the game tonight.

THE DUGOUT

GRANT BLACK -MANAGER

pitch are striving for.

The quick run of games we have in the coming weeks gives us the opportunity to put things right.

It goes without saying that Saturday’s result was a disappointment for us all. Tonight, we have the chance to bounce back and take 3 points against a Grantham side who find themselves mid-table in 11th at the time of writing.

As a group, we have to believe that we can turn performances into results. That is what myself, the backroom staff and the lads on the

We make one change to the squad for tonight’s game as Matt Bancroft joins us on a dual registration from Scarbrough. He replaces Joe Green who played through illness at the weekend. Our thanks go to Jonno Greening and Scarborough for making the deal happen.

Your support is never taken for granted and makes a huge difference.

Thanks and enjoy the game. Blackie.

CAPTAIN’S COLUMN

HARRY COATES -CAPTAIN

Luckily in this league games come thick and fast and we hope to start a run of points against Grantham.

As a group we know we are massively underachieving. We know we can get ourselves out of the sticking start to the season that we have found ourselves in.

Win one, lose one isn’t good enough and as a team we need to find some consistency.

As a group we owe gaffer, the management and the fans a good performance tonight and that is what we plan on doing. Thanks again.

Harry

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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 OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER

Player’s Number Sponsor

Number 1 Stanley Kelly

Number 2 The Scottish Supporters Club

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’

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

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

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

JAYDEN JOHN - DEFENDER

A NATURAL LEFT-BACK, JAYDEN IS COMFORTABLE ANYWHERE DOWN THE LEFT SIDE AND COUNTS GUISELEY AND DOVER ATHLETIC AMONGST HIS FORMER CLUBS. HIS IS QUICK, STRONG AND HAS ALL THE ATTRIBUTES YOU’D EXPECT FROM A MODERN FULL BACK

SPONSORED BY LJB JOINERY

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.

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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.

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JOSH WOODCOCK – DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER

PRIMARILY A RIGHT BACK, JOSH IS COMFORTABLE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PITCH AS WELL AS FURTHER FORWARD INTO MIDFIELD. THE 21-YEAR-OLD MADE OVER 50 APPEARANCES FORBELPER TOWN AND CAN COUNT

ROTHERHAM UNITED AND LINCOLN CITY AMONG HIS FORMER CLUBS.

SPONSORED BY PAUL COOPER

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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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

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

Jake Cassidy - Forward

Cassidy made over 100 football league appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers, Notts County, Southand United Oldham Athletic. After a spell in the National League with Guiseley and Hartlepool United, Stevenage Borough took him back into League Two, paying a five figure transfer fee for his services. Jake also has international honours to his name, representing Wales at u19 and u21 level.

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

THE OPPOSITION

Grantham Town Club History

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 player 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 6578 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 4th 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 his first season and 5th 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 4th 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 3695. 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

THE OPPOSITION

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 playoff 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 and 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 15th 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 12th in the Premier Division and the following year 18th .

2016/2017 saw the club had its best season for many years and had a chance of reaching the playoffs right up to the final week of the season finally finishing in 8th spot. In addition, they reached the league cup final going down 2-1 to Bamber Bridge.

2017/2018 saw the club finished in 4th spot in the premier division and went on to reach the playoff final going down 2-0 at Ashton United. Manager Adam Stevens stood down after the game replaced by Ian Culverhouse for the 2018/2019 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

THE OPPOSITION

games in charge before Covid brought the season to a close. He has spent the summer rebuilding the side for the new season. 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 2021/2022 season. Carlton Palmer stood down as manager in early November with assistants James Colliver and Matt Chatfield taking charge of team affairs. The club moved quickly to appoint Dennis Greene as manager 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. The club were relegated to step 4 at the end of the 2021/22 season after 10 years at step 3. Chatfield took the managers job permanently at the start of the season. The club have struggled this season but did win the Lincolnshire Senior cup beating Spalding United 1-0 at Lincoln City’s LNER stadium. After avoiding relegation on the final day of the season the club have undergone a complete rebuild in the summer. Matt Chatfield has been replaced by Paul Rawden who returns to the club and along with his assistant Steve Kirkham has had to build a complete side on a much reduced budget.

THE OPPOSITION

CURTIS HALL– Goalkeeper

Began his career as a youngster with Notts County. He had a spell on loan at Ilkeston and has also played at South Normanton and Belper United.

JONASZ GADOMSKI – Goalkeeper

One of the few players remaining from last season. Local player who was previously part of Nottingham Forest Academy.

ELLIOTT WALKER – Defender

Came through the Doncaster Rovers Academy before joining Stocksbridge Park Steels. He then joined Mickleover before signing for the Gingerbreads in pre season.

TOM ZERBONI – Defender

Came through the Grimsby Town Youth system and figured regularly in their youth sides. Joined in Pre season.

SAM TESSLER– Defender

Originates from the USA. Played last season for Yaxley where he was vice captain.

CHRIS SALT – Defender

Rejoined for his second spell at the club in mid September from Malty Main. Began his career at Sheffield United before moving into non league with Worksop, Gainsborough, Buxton and Stamford amongst his previous clubs.

OSAKOPOLAR SOLOMON – Defender

Young player who came through the Nottingham Forest Youth system playing at both U18 and U21 levels. He also had a loan spell at Redditch United.

SAMUEL MUGGLETON – Defender / Midfield

Joined in pre season from Farsley Celtic. Was at Leicester City as a youth and counts Barnet York Eastleigh and Chestrfield amongst his previous clubs.

SEBASTIAN ROBBEMOND– Midfield / Defender

Was part of the Academy of Football Australia and played in Australia for Comera FC. Played last season in Northern Counties East for Armthorpe Welfare.

ETHAN BOJANG– Midfield

Gambian U20 International who came through the Doncaster Academy before spending a year at Peterborough United where he had a loan spell at Spalding.

THE OPPOSITION

ALI ELKOSSI – Midfield

Joined in pre season CountsBelper Town Sheffield FC Yaxley and Darlaston Town amongst his former clubs.

KUWESI OFUSHINE – Midfield / Forward

Joined in the summer for his second spell at the club Played in Sweden for Degefors IF. Counts Boston Town, South Normanton, Long Eaton and Rainworth amongst his other clubs.

HARRY OLIVANT – Midfield / Forward

Local player who joined in early September from Harrowby United. Former Lincoln City Youth plsyer He has also figured for Spalding Stamford and Newark FC.

GREG SMITH – Forward

Local player who joined on loan from Basford last season and made the move permanent in the summer. Experienced player who counts Stamford Spalding Boston United, Brackley, Kings Lynn and Gainsborough amongst his previous clubs.

LUKE HINSLEY – Forward

Signed in September from Cleethorpes Town. Includes Belper, Matlock, Buxton, Worksop and Frickley amongst his former clubs.

RODRIGO GONCALVES -Forward

Returned to the club in the summer Was part of the Grantham Town Academy before playing at Wisbech, Sleaford and Stamford.

IFFEANYI OFOGBU – Forward

Rejoined for second spell at club in mid September from Stocksbridge Park Steels. Began his career at Huddersfield and Chesterfield before playing at Tadcaster, Worksop, and Ossett.

PAUL RAWDEN – Manager

Rejoined the club in early June for his second spell as manager. Has previously managed at Harrowby Newark and Sleaford.

STEVE KIRKHAM – Assistant Manager

Previously joint manager at Newark Flowserve. Has also managed at Eastwood and Gedling MW.

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Mr Libertadores

Looking every bit like an Argentinian Larry David, Carlos Bianchi could have been one of the all-time greats as a player. A teenage sensation, he burst onto the scene at Velez Sarsfield as a precocious 18 year old, topping the scoring charts in his first season as a professional as his boyhood club won their first ever league title in 1967. For many fans, this was the greatest Velez side ever to take the field, but despite Bianchi’s unstoppable efforts, they never built on their success. He continued to score freely, and after 121 goals in 165 games, earned himself a move to Reims.

Seven years in France saw him win top goalscorer five times, with a switch to PSG in 1977, where he was by many considered their finest import before the Qatari takeover. He returned to Velez in 1980 and added another 85 goals to his tally, before returning to Reims once more for a final season before retirement.

For all his individual success, Bianchi’s goals had yielded just a single trophy; that early title with Velez. Worse, his move to Europe had marked him as a selfish, egotistical player and had cost him a career in the national side. It was an injustice that would drive him in his managerial career. A few years of struggle at Reims and a few more at Nice fed a reputation in Argentina that he was not capable of leading a side, but not at Velez, where he remained a

legend in the truest sense of the word. In 1993, he was given his chance.

He transformed Velez, allowing his players the individual freedom to express themselves, within an unbreakable collective. The players loved their new mentor. In his debut season, just as when he was a player, he led Velez to the league title. But that was just the start.

The following season, they were irrepressible on the continental stage. They were drawn in the toughest group of the tournament, and won it at a canter. More pleasingly, local rivals Boca finished bottom. Bianchi would lead his charges all the way, however, and in one of the tightest finals in Libertadores history, defeated Sao Paulo on penalties. The retained their league title too. In two years of management in South America, Bianchi had three trophies.

Later that year, he went one better. The Club World Championship saw Velez take on European Champions Milan, the Fabio Capello variant that was so dogged that they won the league scoring just 34 goals, and beat them 2-0. More trophies followed in 1995 and 1996.

A brief, unsuccessful spell at Roma followed, before Bianchi returned to his homeland, this time with Boca. Success wasn’t immediate this time though, it took Boca two years to win the title instead.

Bianchi inherited a squad already brimming with talent. Martin Palermo, Fabio Coloccini, Walter Samuel, and the mercurial Juan Roman Riquelme were individually brilliant, but had failed to come together as a unit. Bianchi instilled a fierce tactical discipline, except for allowing Riquelme to float between the lines, and Boca slowly began to dominate Argentinian football. Three titles followed, in 1998, 1999 and 2000, but this simply gave Bianchi a way into the competition that really mattered to him; the Copa Liberatdores.

In 2000, Boca scythed their way through continental competition, with Riquelme cementing his reputation as South America’s best player as his side put Palmeiras to the sword in the final. Once again, Bianchi would follow up his success on the global stage, beating a Real Madrid side that contained Hierro, Raul, Figo and Guti in

the Club World Cup. It wasn’t just the brilliance of his side, it was their flexibility.

Where some of the great coaches get stuck in a tactical style and find it difficult to adapt, Boca under Bianchi were like a different team every week. Against Vasco on the way to retaining the following season’s Libertadores, they were an exceptional attacking side. In the next round against Palmeiras, they gave a dogged, determined defensive masterclass. The only thing all these different Boca sides had in common; they won. In 2003, with many of his stars sold to Europe, he led a young side to his fourth Libertadores title. A young Carlos Tevez led the scoring charts. Once more, he beat Milan in the Club World Cup. It was effectively a glorious coda on a remarkable managerial career.

Denied the chance to take charge of Argentina because of the reputation he had developed as a player, Mr. Libertadores had a couple of very brief stints in charge of Atletico Madrid and, later, Boca again. But he never took a long term job, and enjoyed his retirement. For such a short career, as his American doppelganger might say, he was pretty, pretty good.

Enjoy the game.

Martyn

CLUB HISTORY

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.

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

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.

The Man In The Middle

Name: Matthew Tyers

Refereeing Journey: have been refereeing for 16 years now. My refereeing highlights include taken charge of a U16 international Denmark vs Spain and Scunthorpe vs Maidstone.

I am hoping for a game that the fans enjoy to watch.

TALE OF THE TAPE

PITCHING-IN NPL EAST

Joe GREEN

Matt BANCROFT

Fabian BAILEY

Jimmy BURKE

Harry COATES

Jayden JOHN

Jacob McLOUGHLIN

Paddy MILLER

Josh WOODCOCK

Corey GREGORY

Zak DEARNLEY

Rhys PLATER

Rafa FERREIRA

Derry ROBSON

Tom CLAISSE

TJ IBRAHIM

Desmond AMPONSAH

Kelan SWALES

Sam KELLY

Alex PETERSON

Charlie REANEY

Jake CASSIDY

Curtis HALL

Elliott WALKER

Osakopolar SOLOMON

Ryan EBANKS

Chris SALT

Sam MUGGLETON

Kusei OFUSHINE

Ethan BOYANG

Greg SMITH

Ifea OFOGEBU

Rodrigo GONCALVES

Harry OLIVANT

Jonaz GADOMSKI

Eli CHRISTIE

Sam TESSLER

Ali ELKOSSI

Tom ZERBONI

Sebastian ROBBEMOND

Luke HINSLEY

SHIRTS: SKY BLUE

SHORTS: NAVY

SOCKS: NAVY

GK: ALL PINK

SHIRTS: GREY

SHORTS: GREY

SOCKS: GREY

GK: ORANGE