Glasshoughton Welfare boss Rob Hunter tips striker Callum Ward to shine

Glasshoughton striker Callum Ward

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Rob Hunter is tipping former Tadcaster Albion striker Callum Ward to shine for Glasshoughton Welfare during the 2013-2014 Northern Counties East League Premier Division season.

Ward hit the headlines last season when he scored a hat-trick for Tadcaster in their sensational FA Cup second qualifying round victory over eventual Evo Stik Division One North champions Skelmersdale United.

However, Albion boss Paul Marshall decided not to retain the striker and Glasshoughton manager Hunter is hopeful that Ward will be a hit at Leeds Road.

“Callum is a good signing for us from Tadcaster along Kieran Corley from Liversedge and they will stand us in good stead for the season.

“Callum scored 15 goals for Tadcaster last year and I don’t think the Tadcaster Albion chairman (Rob Northfield) was too pleased with his antics towards the end of the season and I think they made a decision that they weren’t going to invite him back.

“He has played two pre-season games for Harrogate Railway and a game for Pontefract. But the fact that Callum has made the decision to sign for us is a real bonus.

“I haven’t got any problems with Callum. He’s the sort of player that needs to be loved and he needs people talking to him all the time. He needs to be trusted and he needs to repay us for that.

“He will do, I’m sure he will. He scored 15 goals for Tadcaster and I think he only started 20-plus games. I think if he starts 40 games this year, I’m very confident that he will score 20-plus goals.”

Glasshougton's Darrell Young

Ward is part of a four-man strike-force with Corley, Tom Woolard and Rob Pell. They are four of 20 players that Hunter has signed on.

Joel Freestone and Matthew Donnelly has joined from Knaresborough and Hunter has beat off competition from Garforth Town to sign 19-year-old goalkeeper Paul Hagreen from Liversedge.

Andy Sunley, James Beaston, Blaine Kellett, Liam Tuck, Greig McGrory, Darrell Young and Ally Wilson are among those staying at Leeds Road.

Freddie Swales will be involved, but is going to University in September. Two players who are definitely moving on are Jack Nodder and Matt Stirland who are off to Australia in September.

His squad have taken part in three games so far. At Silsden, Billingham Synthonia and against Harrogate Railway on Tuesday night and Hunter has been pleased with what he has seen.

“We went to Silsden and used 22 players, I saw seven or eight of them for the first time,” he said.

“We played three 30 minutes and in fairness there was nothing in the game, it could have either way. We conceded late in the game and we had seven or eight trialists on the pitch so I don’t take any detrimental effects away from that game.

“However, Billingham away on Saturday was a real wake-up call because we went there full of confidence with a 19 strong players and we got totally passed off the pitch.

“They were exceptional and four or five of our lads came off at half-time wondering what had hit them. That was great because we have worked hard all pre-season, had a steady run-out at Silsden and then it was bang: ‘welcome to it lads’.

“It stood us in good stead for Tuesday night because we came with a better attitude. We got our rewards because we worked exceptionally hard.”

Glasshoughton boss Rob Hunter

The 14^th August is when Glasshoughton start their season at Staveley Miners Welfare. The NCEL calendar actually begins on the Saturday, but because of Hucknall Town’s withdrawal, one team will down tools each Saturday.

Welfare are the first ‘victims’, but Hunter is refusing to moan and has arranged an additional friendly against 2012 FA Vase runners-up West Auckland Town on August 6^th at Leeds Road.

He said: “It was a little bit frustrating so what we have had to do is go out there and get another game.

“As soon as Hucknall dropped out, I suspected it would be us (who missed out on a game on the first day). I don’t know why, I just had this horrible feeling.

“We have had to put an extra training session in. My schedule was fully mapped out as before the first training session, I knew every session we were doing, every game and how many players I needed for each one.

“I have left the Saturday (10^th August) free because it means I will be watching Staveley at Bridlington. (Assistant) Mark Smitheringale will be watching either Garforth or Brighouse.”