Ossett United vs Horbury Town - County Cup - 10.10.23

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

chances created saw most leave the game in a positive frame of mind.

Good evening and welcome to Ingfield for the start of our West Riding County Cup campaign and what a game we have on our hands as Horbury Town visit Ingfield for the first time.

With just 2.8 miles between our two grounds, Horbury Town are our closet opponents and with the two communities almost as one it should make for an exciting occasion.

Horbury Town have had a fantastic couple of seasons, reaching the NCEL Division One play-offs last season in their first year at step six, and while they have not had the best of starts this time round, a recent good run of form will mean we have to be at our best this evening if we want to progress to round two.

A week ago in my programme notes I talked about the emotions of football, the highs of wins and the lows of defeats. We took a point against Grantham Town, and despite the game being goalless, the high intensity performance and

That was then built upon at Consett on Saturday, where another goalless draw was on the cards before a stellar end to the game with an 86th minute goal from TJ after Rhys and Rafa combined before heartbreak as we conceded in the 90th minute. But this side are made of strong stuff and with eight minutes of time added on we mounted one more attack, with many appealing for a penalty as a Consett player handled the ball not once but twice, Janni Lipka, so unlucky a week ago with two efforts cleared off the line, took a touch and unleased a rocket into the net off the inside of the post, what a strike! A goal deserving to win any game.

With two wins and an draw in the last four games we have the start of some positive momentum, winning breeds confidence and we have something to build on now. Tonight will not be easy, and certainly, Horbury Town are not to be taken for granted but we have to feel confident and full of belief.

Enjoy the game!

THE DUGOUT

GRANT BLACK -MANAGER

Our past two fixtures have seen us take positive results from teams higher up the table. Firstly a hardearned point against Grantham Town. A game where I feel we were hard done by not to come away with all 3 points.

Good evening and welcome to Ingfield as we get underway in The West Riding County Cup. As mentioned by our Club President in his column last week, the County Cup gives us a great opportunity to challenge for silverware this season.

Our visitors tonight, Horbury Town, have yet to hit the heights of last season but have improved in recent weeks. We will have to be at the top of our game if we are to make it into the hat for the next round.

Then a win away at top-half Consett. The lads battled hard throughout the game, to take a lead late on, and were then able to bounce back against a 90th minute equaliser with a late, late winner from Janni. The determination to get a result shows what this group is all about.

Enjoy tonight’s game and here is to a good performance and result under the lights.

Blackie.

Follow along every matchday on ‘X’

CAPTAIN’S COLUMN

HARRY COATES -CAPTAIN

to try and kick on and put a run of results and performances together.

As always your support never goes unnoticed and makes a huge difference to myself and the lads. Stick with us.

Welcome to Ingfield for tonight’s cup match with Horbury Town. With such a short distance between the clubs and local bragging rights at stake, the lads are fully up for the game.

Performances over the past week have been an improvement and are a truer reflection of where we are as a group. But now isn’t the time to rest on our laurels. We have

Enjoy tonight’s game and get behind the boys.

Harry

Thank you to tonight’s Match Sponsors:

Denby Grange C.A.C (Overton)

Home of:

- 11 Bowls Teams

-

2 Senior Cricket Teams

- All Stars Cricket

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 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.

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

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

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.

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

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

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

Horbury Town Club History

Before Horbury Town officially formed when records emerged in the 19641965 season, the football team in Horbury were known as the ‘Three Castles’.

During the 60’s and 70’s era, Horbury Town encountered a successful period, winning several trophies along the way. During the 80’s, the club had to endure some difficult years, plying their trade in the Wakefield Leagues but finally found glory in 1988, winning the Wakefield Division 2 and being granted acceptance into the West Yorkshire League the following season.

In the summer of 1994, the club secured a permanent residence at Slazengers Sports Club, where they still reside to this day. This was a major development to the club, allowing them to build both on and off the field.

After securing the Wakefield & District Invitation Challenge Cup in the 2007/2008 season, the most successful period at the club came in the 2010’s, winning the Wakefield & District Cup (also known as the Cyril Craven Challenge Cup) on five occasions – 2011/2012, 2013/2014, 2014/2015, 2017/2018 and 2019/2020. Those successes then followed for our reserve team in 2021/2022, when they created history, winning the ‘West Yorkshire Country Trophy’ for the first time.

In 2022, the club applied for a position in the Northern East Counties Football League, which required a top five finish in the West Yorkshire Premier Division, along with FA ground requirements. Those requirements were achieved, with a second-place finish, narrowly losing out to Horsforth St Margarets by just two points, who would also go on to beat the club in the West Yorkshire League Cup final that season.

A successful season in the NCEL for the first time also followed for Horbury, as they secured themselves a play-off spot on the final game of the regular season, beating Beverley Town 3-1 and results in other fixtures going the club’s way. A victory at Harrogate Railway the following week meant the club had the opportunity to be promoted at the first time but fell to a defeat against Rossington Main.

THE OPPOSITION

In the West Yorkshire Leagues, the reserve team were also handed promotion from Division Two, to Division One despite a fifth-place finish, thanks to a restructure of all three leagues due to the application of several new clubs. The club have also secured an U23’s side in the West Riding Centralised Division to help secure young and upcoming talent to help continue the rise of the club.

Previous Meeting

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His Name is Carlovich

Diego Maradona was not known for his modesty. The diminutive Argentinian had the biggest presence in football, and won just about everything. So when he told a player that had spent the majority of his career in the Argentine Second Division, had never played for Argentina, and had never left the country, that ‘you were better than me’, it caused quite a stir. But Tomas Carlovich was not your average Second Division player, and El Trinche certainly didn’t suffer from a lack of opportunity.

Carlovich was born in Rosario in 1946, and spent the majority of his life there. He never liked to be far from his parents’ home, his favourite bar, or his adoring fans. What little footage there is of him looks like a cross between Andrea Pirlo and Mick Jagger; six feet tall, gangly, with flowing hair and an insouciance on the pitch that only the very best possess. He spent the majority of his career at Central Cordoba and Rosario Central, both in Rosario, both (mostly) in the Second Division, and never sought anything more. But that didn’t stop his legend growing. He was paid a bonus for every nutmeg. He was paid extra for every double nutmeg; slipping it through the defender’s legs and, as they turned, putting it back through again. Usually, this would be followed by a sublime 40 yard pass to an open teammate. It delighted the home crowds, who cried out for more and

more, and drew in fans that wanted to see The Fork do his thing. To add to the mystery, nobody seems to know where his nickname came from.

Growing up in 1970s Rosario, football was everywhere, and it was easy to become obsessive. It’s the cauldron that shaped Marcelo Bielsa, but it was Carlovich who made him dream. For four years, in his childhood, he went to every possible game to watch his local hero. Ironic for someone famous for such a frenetic style to idolise a player who seems never to have played at anything more than a walking pace. A player so good that he never had to. And Bielsa wasn’t the only one entranced by the Second Division magician.

The national team wanted him, but he didn’t want to travel. AC Milan wanted him, but he had the same problem. A number of French clubs came calling, but none were willing to relocate to

Rosario, so he declined them. Realistically, he might have struggled in a more professional atmosphere. He turned up late for training, when he turned up at all. He forgot to go to matches so often that the team coach used to detour to his house to pick him up. And as Argentinian football started to focus on fitness and physicality, he refused to change. He only played two games in the top flight. But he wouldn’t have said his lack of professionalism cost him anything. He was exactly where he wanted to be.

After rejecting another call up for the 1974 World Cup, Argentina arranged a friendly with a representative team from Rosario. It was supposed to be a confidence builder, the best of Argentina against players who hadn’t made the cut. But not for Carlovich. He came alive, at his brilliant best, and spent 45 minutes destroying the national side. He barely moved all game, and yet no defender could get near him. At half-time, with the score 30 to Rosario, the national team manager Vadislao Cap begged for him to be taken off. He was, and the game finished 3-1.

It was probably the highlight of Carlovich’s career, but he shrugged it off and went back to doing his own thing. His was a career of brilliance, but never the kind of recognition it could have been. Jose Pekerman, Argentina manager at the 2006 World Cup, called him the greatest midfielder he had ever seen. Cesar Luis Menotti, who

won their first ever World Cup, described him as a kid whose ‘unique toy has been a ball since they were born.’ One suspects he saw a kindred spirit. Pele even invited Carlovich to join him in New York. As always, he declined.

When Diego Maradona signed for Newell’s Old Boys in 1993, a journalist asked him what effect having the greatest player of all time would have on the region of Rosario. ‘The best footballer has already played in Rosario’, he replied, ‘and his name is Carlovich.’ Years later, El Trinche presented him with a shirt.

Enjoy the game.

Martyn

Find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk or on social media, @TheUntoldGame

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: Michael Trevethan

Refereeing Journey: This is now my 14 th season as a referee having started in the Wakefield Saturday and Sunday leagues and progressed through to now referee in the Northern Premier Leagues and assist on the National League North.

I’ve been lucky enough to officiate at a number of football league and premier league grounds including Elland Road, Old Trafford, Hillsborough, Keepmoat and Valley Parade, to name a few, but as a Plymouth Argyle fan my favourite ground has to be Home Park!

In 2015 I was lucky enough to officiate in an International Youth tournament in Portugal which included teams from all over the world and remains one of the highlights of my refereeing career to date.

Tonight, I’m looking forward to what should hopefully be a great cup tie between two local sides, challenging for West Riding County FA’s flagship trophy. Good luck to both sides!

UP FOR THE COUNTY CUP

OUFC IN THE WEST RIDING COUNTY CUP

West Riding County Cup

Joe GREEN

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

Paul HAGREEN

Nathaniel FLEMING

Luke PLAYFORD

James SMITH

Joe PENN

Tom BROOK

Sam KYEMEREH

Joe ANGELL

Andy HORBURY

Abdul ASAMOAH

Sam AWTY

Jak KELLY

Gibril BOJANG

Ben BROOK

Danny WARD

Ben AGU

Eoin SCHOFIELD

Jock CURRAN

Brad SWAIN

Curt SENIOR

SHIRTS: SKY BLUE

SHORTS: NAVY

SOCKS: NAVY

GK: PINK

SHIRTS: RED

SHORTS: BLACK

SOCKS: RED

GK: GREEN