Sweeping changes to come at Garforth Town after Vernol Blair steps down

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Vernol Blair’s reign as Garforth Town manager appears to be at an end after claiming that Rupert Lowe intends to bring sweeping changes to the struggling Northern Counties East League Premier Division outfit.

Long-serving Blair thanked the club’s supporters and staff for their support during a turbulent year that could have easily seen Garforth fold.

Blair almost single-handily kept Garforth alive on-the-pitch, but he admitted on Twitter this morning that he will not be in charge next season.  

It means that Blair, who is an ideal candidate for the vacant Yorkshire Amateur post, ends his association with Garforth that has lasted almost a decade.

Blair tweeted: “I’ve spoke to Rupert (Lowe) and he’s bringing in people in someone (sic) to run the club from top to bottom, that’s all I know.”

Former Southampton chairman Lowe’s position at Garforth is still unclear as he is not listed as a director on Companies House.

His only business connection to Garforth and Town owner Simon Clifford is that he is a director of Futebol De Salao.

But, the future of Garforth needs to be resolved soon as the NCEL season begins on August 10^th and the club currently appears to have no players on the books.

Gary Allanson becomes assistant manager at Winterton Rangers

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

2010 NCEL Premier Division title-winning manager Gary Allanson has returned to the NCEL after taking up the post of assistant manager at Winterton Rangers.

Allanson led Bridlington Town to glory in his first season in sole charge and then finished third in his second campaign before stepping down in April 2011.

Allanson had initially being joint-manager with Tim Hotte at Bridlington until the latter stepped down in May 2009.

Hull City coach Allanson, whose sons Ashley and Aaron have been regular fixtures at Bridlington as players, stayed away from the NCEL coaching scene until Winterton boss Leigh Herrick advertised for an assistant this week.

A Winterton statement said: “Gary is keen to work with and develop our first team which finished the season in such good form. With the addition of Gary and a number of other players we are all confident that the team will continue to progress.

“Manager Leigh Herrick spoke of his excitement of Gary joining the first team management team and the impact that he can make on the players.”

Glasshoughton Welfare boss Rob Hunter set for reunion with old mate Paul Marshall in NCEL League Cup

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Glasshoughton Welfare boss Rob Hunter will cross swords with old mate and Tadcaster Albion manager Paul Marshall in the NCEL League Cup second round.

Hunter (pictured right) was assistant to Marshall at Tadcaster for four years and the pair, along with Mark Smitheringale (pictured left), orchestrated Albion’s rise from the bottom of Division One to Premier Division title contenders.

Hunter and Smitheringale left Ings Lane last summer and became the bosses at Glasshoughton in December and steered them to safety.

The pair remain in charge at Leeds Road and they have a reunion with Marshall to look forward to.

Other draws include Premier Division new-boys Athersley Recreation being drawn away at big-guns Bridlington Town.

The full draw is here:

Preliminary Round

Appleby Frodingham v Hemsworth Miners Welfare

Cleethorpes Town v Hallam

Pontefract Collieries v Shirebrook Town

Rossington Main v Louth Town

Selby Town v Clipstone

Teversal v Dinnington Town

First Round

AFC Emley v Teversal/Dinnington Town

Appleby Frodingham/Hemsworth Miners Welfare v Grimsby Borough

Bottesford Town v Hall Road Rangers

Dronfield Town v Shaw Lane Aquaforce/Penistone Church

Eccleshill United v Cleethorpes Town/Hallam

Rossington Main/Louth Town v Knaresborough Town

Pontefract Collieries/Shirebrook Town v Worsborough Bridge Athletic

Yorkshire Amateur v Selby Town/Clipstone

Second Round

AFC Emley/Teversal/Dinnington Town v Retford United

Albion Sports v Eccleshill United/Cleethorpes Town/Hallam

Appleby Frodingham/Hemsworth Miners Welfare/Grimsby Borough v Rossington Main/Louth Town/Knaresborough Town

Armthorpe Welfare v Thackley

Basford United v Brighouse Town

Bridlington Town v Athersley Recreation

Garforth Town v Bottesford Town/Hall Road Rangers

Glasshoughton Welfare v Tadcaster Albion

Hucknall Town v Long Eaton United

Liversedge v Dronfield Town/Shaw Lane Aquaforce/Penistone Church

Lincoln Moorlands Railway v Winterton Rangers

Nostell Miners Welfare v Staveley Miners Welfare

Parkgate v Heanor Town

Pickering Town v Pontefract Collieries/Shirebrook Town/Worsbrough Bridge Athletic

Worksop Parramore v Barton Town Old Boys

Yorkshire Amateur/Selby Town/Clipstone v Maltby Main

Garforth Town accepted into the Northern Counties East League

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Garforth Town have been officially accepted into the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

Garforth’s placement was ratified at today’s NCEL AGM in Scarborough.

The news brings some relief to the club’s supporters who remain in the dark over the club’s future.

Garforth, who were relegated from the Evo Stik Division One North, return to the NCEL structure for the first time since 2006 and join Basford United, Athersley Recreation, Albion Sports and Hucknall Town as the Division’s newcomers.

Garforth were also handed a home draw in the NCEL League Cup and will play either Bottesford Town or Hall Road Rangers in the second round.

Michael Burns returns to Guiseley

By James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson)

Midfielder Michael Burns is returning to Guiseley after a season away at Vauxhall Motors.

The expected news was confirmed along with the announcement that Andy Holdsworth has signed a two-year contract to stay at Nethermoor.

He joins Mark Bower, Macauley Parkinson and Rhys Meynell in agreeing to stay.

Guiseley have also signed young defender Jameel Ible, who recently spent time at League 2 club York City. 

Over at Harrogate Town, Simon Weaver has added another impressive name to his summer signings.

Striker Chris Hall has moved to Wetherby Road from Stalybridge Celtic.

Hall, who used to be a member of the cast of Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, has plenty of experience having played for Oldham Athletic in the Football League.

Hall is a powerful forward and is the perfect replacement for Chib Chilaka who was released last month.

Hall fits the bill of Weaver’s desire to have a striker with more movement.

Conference North new-boys North Ferriby United have also moved swiftly to bring bodies to Church Lane.

Billy Heath has signed three players from Gainsborough Trinity – Danny Hone, Jamie Yates and Jonathan D’Laryea.

Matt Wilson, who confirmed his exit from Guiseley two weeks ago, has now been confirmed as a Ferriby player.

Russell Eagle appointed Worksop Parramore boss after leaving Parkgate

Russell Eagle is the new Worksop Parramore manager after leaving NCEL Premier Division rivals Parkgate.

Former Handsworth boss Eagle replaces Darren Bland and chairman Pete Whitehead said: “'I'm looking forward to working with Russ and to continue the clubs ambitions of climbing the football pyramid.”

Eagle won the NCEL Division One title with Handsworth before the club were booted out of the league for failing to meet ground grading requirements.

Eagle leaves Parkgate to join a club that has ambitions of reaching the Conference North.

Parkgate are now searching for a new manager and

applications must be in writing with CV to secretary Bruce Bickerdike by email brucebickerdike@hotmail.co.uk or by fax on (01709) 528583.

Lewis Nightingale praises Mossley manager Steve Halford

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Lewis Nightingale has praised his manager Steve Halford and admits Mossley want to rest the demons from their devastating Evo Stik Division One North play-offs exit.

The former Huddersfield Town first year professional joined Mossley in December and featured nine times, but struggled heavily with injuries after suffering ankle ligaments damage twice during the season.

But, despite his problems, Nightingale, 23, wants to remain at Seel Park having enjoyed his time at the club and he admits that he has also been impressed with Halford, who led Mossley to play-offs in his first full season as a manager.

Halford has told him that he is in his plans for next season

“Steve Halford is a good manager and considering was his first year in management, he did a really good job last year,” he said.

“It’s a shame we didn’t go up.

“I didn’t realise at the time when I signed that the expectation weren’t to get in the play-offs and they were top when I signed.

“He has many different styles of management.

“He can motivate people when he needs to and he can also put his arm round players and tell them what he thinks of them to give them confidence.

“I like working under him and he gives you the confidence to go and play which is ideal for me.”

Mossley lost to Cammell Laird in the semi-finals of the play-offs after a last minute goal and midfielder Nightingale says the defeat will make the team more determined next season.

He said: “It was pretty heart-breaking to lose in the 93rd minute, but I don’t either team did enough to win the game so it just came down to one moment.

“Because of losing the game, I think we have a point to prove and I think if he (Halford) brings in one-or-two more faces then I think we will be there-or-there abouts again.”

Since being released from Huddersfield in the summer of 2010, Nightingale has struggled to settle in non-league football.

Bradford Park Avenue was the first port of call under Simon Collins, who was sacked after just three months in charge at Horsfall Stadium.

A brief stay at Frickley Athletic followed before he moved to Farsley AFC, helping the reformed club win the NCEL Premier Division title and NCEL League Cup.

Nightingale was released by Farsley boss Neil Parsley at the end of the season so he joined Harrogate Railway and played at Station View until Curzon Ashton came calling.

He was there for Curzon’s play-offs final defeat to Witton Albion.

Nightingale played for Goole at the beginning of last season before his move to Mossley and he admits that there is a huge difference between academy football and non-league football.

“Since leaving Huddersfield it has been difficult to adapt to the style of football,” he said.

“In the youth and reserves team winning isn’t the main aim as it is about developing players, whereas in non-league football, its win at all costs basically.

“It means managers can’t stick with players if they are not doing it.

“I feel I am getting there and getting used to it.”