Annual Nightingale charity football match at Rawdon Old Boys is a success again

Oliver, dad Bob, Lewis and James Nightingale

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

Lewis Nightingale gained the bragging rights over his brothers James and Oliver in the annual charity football match at Rawdon Old Boys.

Early estimates say that the game in aid of Cancer Research UK and in the memory of their grandfather Malcolm Green, raised £1,500.

Lewis’ team won the game 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw over 90 minutes.

Horsforth’s Premier League referee Jon Moss was in charge of the match which saw Oliver put his team 1-0 up after 20 minutes.

Premier League referee Jon Moss

His side contained Huddersfield Town youngster Jordan Sinnott and Dean Windass’ son Josh.

Lewis, who plays for Evo Stik Division One North side Mossley, had FC United of Manchester striker Tom Greaves up-front with Brighouse Town man Ben Thornton playing alongside him.

Greaves scored the equaliser with a powerful low strike before Oliver scored again to put his side in front at half-time with a header from a Windass free kick.

Lewis gets the better of brother James

It looked like Oliver and James would earn the bragging rights until Thornton struck late-on to send the game to penalties – which Lewis’ team won.

Lewis said: “There was lots of interest and a lot of people helped out getting the pitch and ground ready. We had a lot of interest from family and friends and the ground was full of people from the area.”

You can still donate here - http://www.justgiving.com/Lewis-Nightingale

Striker Tom Greaves loving life at promotion-chasing FC United of Manchester

FC United striker Tom Greaves

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

He may not have made it as a professional footballer, but Tom Greaves says playing for FC United of Manchester is close enough.

Greaves, known for being a reliable forward in Yorkshire from spells with Bradford (Park Avenue), Ossett Town, Bridlington Town and Garforth Town, made the move across the Pennines to Gigg Lane earlier this year.

He quickly endeared himself to the FC fans with a hat-trick at Marine and he admits that he is loving life at FC.

“FC is by far the best club I have ever played for,” he told Sports Performer.

“It is not just the fans, it is the way they are so ambitious. They do everything in the right way, you get looked after very well.

“We went to Germany on an end of season tour and (being with FC), it is next best thing to being at a pro club.”

FC missed out on promotion to the Conference North for the third year running at the Evo Stik Premier Division play-offs final stage.

Going into the 2013-14 season, FC are a wounded animal and Greaves admits they are determined to right some wrongs.

“Without a doubt, it is promotion, we’re going out to win the league,” he said.

“Obviously in the last three seasons we have slipped up in the final so we want to go one better and go and win it outright. That’s the aim and that is what we want to do.

“We’re very confident. We play football in the right way. We have not scored many in pre-season just yet, but if we can turn that possession into goals, we’ll give a lot of teams a game.

“It was devastating (at the end of last season) because we felt we deserved to go up.

“We have signed a couple of good lads. We have lost Jake Cottrell, Carlos Roca and Kyle Jacobs, but he (Karl Marginson) has brought in quality and they are just as good, if not better than the lads we have had.”

Greaves is mainly associated for his time with Avenue which have been in two spells.

He broke through the reserves under Carl Shutt in 2004 and stayed to play for Shutt’s successor Gary Brook and then when Brook was sacked, Phil Sharpe.

He returned in 2010 when Simon Collins was appointed as Avenue boss and then was a main feature of John Deacey’s team until the pair clashed at the end of last year during a Conference North match.

However, that does not cloud the memories.

He said: “I loved it at Avenue, I have no regrets.

“With being brought up in Bradford and Avenue being my first club, I’ll always have a soft spot for them.

“I’m not (dwelling on how it ended). I had a little bust up with the manager, but we have sorted things out since then. I just thought the time was right to leave and when the opportunity came to go to FC, it was one I couldn’t turn down.”

While his time at Horsfall Stadium may have ended on a sour note, Greaves will go down in Avenue folklore for scoring, arguably, the greatest goal in their reformed history.

The striker struck the winning goal in the last minute of extra-time in the 2012 Premier Division play-offs final to propel Avenue into the Conference North, at the expense of his current club FC – a moment he will cherish forever.

“It was the highlight of my career before I signed for FC and the best moment of my life,” he added.

“It was an unbelievable feeling and the celebrations to follow were out of this world, it was crazy.

“For me at this level, it wasn’t going to get any better.”

Garforth Town chairman Brian Close delighted with season ticket sales

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Garforth Town chairman Brian Close has revealed that Northern Counties East League Premier Division season ticket sales have been better than expected.

Supporters have given their full support to Close’s five-person management committee and signed up for season tickets in numbers.

They will be there for the campaign that begins on August 10^th at home to Thackley and Close admits he is delighted with the response and is now concentrating on enticing sponsors.

“We put cash flows in place and we budgeted for season tickets and we have actually doubled the figure we put down on the cash flow,” he said.

“We’re really pleased with that and supporters do seem keen to get behind the club.

“Sponsors-wise, we have Jonathan S White Accountants back. I have tried to attract a few others who have said ‘not this time’.

“We do have Premier Waste back on board, but we’re looking for some local businesses to sponsor us. I would like a local community business as a stadium sponsor.”

The new beginning at Garforth was marked on Tuesday night when Carlisle United visited Wheatley Park.

Garforth Town head coach Graham Nicholas

Over 200 people attended and Close was happy with the first game under the new committee.

“It was very positive as there was a decent turnout and I thought the atmosphere was good,” he said.

“Initially I thought it would be mostly Carlisle supporters and although there was quite a few, there seemed to be a lot of locals. I think everyone enjoyed themselves.”

The 6-0 defeat to League One side Carlisle was new Garforth head coach Graham Nicholas’ first game in charge since he was appointed last month.

Nicholas was picked from a shortlist of three and Close has been extremely happy with the progress made – the Miners head coach began his tenure with no players and had put a team together at short notice.

“I’ve been really impressed with him so far,” he said.

“He has seemed very tactically aware and has a good rapport with the players. He’s also keen on discipline which the club ethos is – we like good discipline within the club. We have previously won an award for it.

“He seems organised and has a personal touch with everything. He started with nothing and has attracted some good players in. It is a difficult time at the moment because players want to play at a higher level and are not so keen to commit.

“But this week he has had a few positive bits of feedback from players and I think, beginning on Monday, he’s going to start signing players.”



Ossett Albion boss Richard Tracey pleased with showing during Guiseley defeat

Ossett Albion boss Richard Tracey

Ossett Albion 0-1 Guiseley AFC

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

Ossett Albion manager Richard Tracey was far from deflated despite Guiseley trialist James Burgess’ late goal which secured the Conference North promotion hopefuls their first pre-season victory.  

Evo Stik Division One North side Albion more than matched their higher league opponents and were only undone by a stroke of luck with 15 minutes remaining.

Tracey, who was appointed as the permanent Ossett manager in May, was pleased with his team’s performance and saw many good things in the game at Dimple Wells.

“The real positive was how disciplined we were by keeping our shape and in the first half, in particular, I thought we kept possession really well,” he told Sports Performer.

“I think at times we dominated possession in the first half. Guiseley grew into the game as it went on and obviously nicked the win at the end.

“I think we were the better side in the first half. We played the majority of the game in their half and had the majority of the chances. They had a couple of strikes from set-plays. Other than that, I think we controlled the game really well (in the first half).

“There were a lot of positives for us. 22 players turned out and no-one has let themselves down.

“We didn’t deserve to lose and for the possession that Guiseley created, I don’t think they really hurt us. We had a few chances early doors which maybe we could have done a little better with.

“But it looked like it would end up as a 0-0. But then from a good honest tackle, it has broken for their centre-forward and he’s scored. He took his finish well.”

James Burgess

Burgess’ goal was an unlikely event during a game that saw few chances created.

Ossett defied their underdog status by being the greater threat during the first half. Winger Ryan Harrison, signed from Farsley AFC this week along with centre-midfielder Craig Tonkinson, was a constant nuisance, but when he was substituted, Albion lost his quality.

All Albion goalkeeper Adam Rhodes had to deal with was a free kick from Andy Holdsworth.

The second half was a non-event as neither side threatened until Burgess capitalised on a pass from Gavin Rothery.

With Lions boss Steve Kittrick struggling to sign a centre-forward after the departures of James Walshaw, Josh Wilson and Kevin Holsgrove, Burgess has been given a chance on trial at Nethermoor.

Ryan Harrison

Burgess had a trial at Farsley last summer before playing for Garforth Town during their relegation campaign last season.

The striker is extremely quick and this allowed him to take advantage of his stroke of luck. He sprinted away and finished very coolly as Rhodes approached.

That was it from a game perspective as Ossett never came close to responding. Guiseley nearly added a second goal when a long range Rothery strike cannoned back off the post. However, one goal was enough for Kittrick’s men.

Ossett Albion (from): Rhodes, Nicholson, Tonks, Holt, Owen, Durham, Moxon, A Hayton, Noble, Johnson, Kelly, Jackson, Ringsell, Gay, W Hayton, Poole, Greenhalgh, Harrison, Riley, Tonkinson, Black.

Guiseley: Drench, Holdsworth, Meynell, Burns, Ellis, Webb, Bower, Rothery, Lawlor, Hobson, Marsh. Subs: Giles, Parkinson, Harris, Burgess, Rea, O’Neil, Ible, Harrison, Townsend.

Referee: Ian Johnston

Man of the match: Michael Burns (Guiseley)

Glasshoughton chairman Phil Riding says club will use blank opening Saturday to their advantage

Glasshoughton Welfare chairman Phil Riding

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Chairman Phil Riding says Glasshoughton Welfare will use their blank opening day of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division campaign to their benefit.

Due to Hucknall Town’s decision to resign from the NCEL, the Premier Division now has 23 teams which means that one club will down tools each Saturday afternoon.

Riding admits the free weekend is a knock to manager Rob Hunter’s preparations, but says the club will stay focussed and be ready to start at Staveley Miners Welfare on Wednesday 14^th August.

“It is a hard start and we’re obviously disappointed not to have a game on the first day,” he said.

“I understand why it has happened and someone had to have the short straw.

“It is a shame when we were all geared up to start on August 10^th and it is has been put back four days.

“It is a let-down as we were so focussed on August 10^th.

"We are looking to put another friendly in, but it is a bit difficult as other teams are also starting their seasons.

“But knowing (manager) Rob (Hunter) and Smudge (assistant) Mark Smitheringale, they’ll have them in training if we can’t get a game.

“It is a little window of opportunity for us as after training we may go and watch a game somewhere.

“We may go and watch Staveley and get a little sneak preview which is something you can’t normally do.

“We have to use it (the blank Saturday) to our advantage and we will do.”

Glasshoughton Welfare boss Rob Hunter

Glasshoughton are aiming for a top half finish under former Tadcaster Albion assistant boss Hunter who steered the club away from the relegation zone last season.

Welfare began their pre-season friendlies schedule at Silsden in a 2-1 defeat and Riding has been very impressed with Hunter’s management during the summer.

“Rob is very meticulous and from the last game of the season, he went straight into pre-season mode,” he said.

“We were one of the first teams to get their pre-season friendlies booked.

“He’s never off the phone to players. He’s like a pest which is actually a nice thing to say.

“The pre-season schedule which he has organised has been first class.

“The players have worked hard and put shifts in and we’re looking forward to the season.”

Riding has also confirmed that Glasshoughton will be running a new under 19s side in the Northern U19 Alliance Football League North Division for the 2013-14 season.

Garforth host Thackley on first day as Northern Counties East League fixtures are released

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Northern Counties East League Premier Division newcomers Garforth Town kick off the season with a home game with Thackley on Saturday August 10^th.

The NCEL fixtures were released today and Graham Nicholas’ new look side will then make the short trip to Division One champions Albion Sports on Wednesday 14^th.

Glasshoughton Welfare will visit Wheatley Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

The last day of the season sees Garforth travel to Retford.

Meanwhile, Rob Hunter’s Glasshoughton will have to down tools on the opening day due to the odd of teams in the Division because of Hucknall Town’s withdrawal from the league.

Their first game is on the first Wednesday when they will make the trip to Staveley Miners Welfare.

Glasshoughton’s first home game is on September 7^th against Pickering Town.

Welfare will finish the season at Leeds Road against Winterton Rangers.

Other attractive fixtures on the first day of the Premier Division season include Brighouse Town’s home clash with Albion Sports.

Early title favourites Worksop Parramore host Pickering.

In Division One, AFC Emley visit Yorkshire Amateur.

The full fixtures can be found here http://www.ncefl.org.uk/

Work hard, says Scarborough boss Rudy Funk to Northern Counties East League promotion hopefuls

Scarborough boss Rudy Funk

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Title-winning Scarborough Athletic boss Rudy Funk has passed on advice on how to win the league to Northern Counties East League Premier Division clubs.

Funk leaves the NCEL for a second time having also led Rainworth Miners Welfare to promotion in 2010 after finishing in second place to champions Bridlington Town who turned down the opportunity of Evo Stik League football.

Funk is well-versed in the competing at the top of the Premier Division and said: “It (the league) is not an easy one for the simple reason that there is so many teams in the league and there is only one team that gets promoted.

“The only advice I can give to people who are still in the Northern Counties is work hard, stay consistent and believe in each and one of you’s ability – that’s from the chairman to the last man.

“If you can do that, you can be successful.”

Scarborough only lost three games during an incredible campaign that saw them win the title with 99 points – two ahead of Brighouse Town.

A season that Funk ranks as his top one.

“The reason why I’m probably saying it was one of the best is because of the fans here,” he said.

“The fans are just second to none. I don’t call them fans, I call them a big family. They all stick together. They all have their say and if things go wrong, they all have their say.

“Hopefully we can have better times to come.”