Nightingale brothers aim to break records in Rawdon charity match

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Three Rawdon brothers are aiming to raise more money than ever before when they hold their annual charity football match in July in memory of their grandfather.

The Nightingale brothers, Lewis, 23, and twins James and Oliver, both 20, have held the match at Rawdon Old Boys since 2011 after their grandfather Malcolm Green passed away from Cancer in September 2010.

The match, which was originally intended as a one-off, sees Lewis field a side against a side picked by his two brothers.

All proceeds go to Cancer Research UK and the trio hope to surpass the previous two years’ total.

Lewis said: “We thought it would be for only one year, but since it was been a massive success, we have done it every year.

“In the first year we raised £1,500 and in the second year we passed that by £60 or £70 so this year we are looking to raise about £2,000.

“We are pushing to raise as much as we can and also double the number of supporters here for the game.

“We hit 150-200 people coming down last year and we’re looking at more this year.”

Lewis is a former Huddersfield Town first year professional who currently plays for Mossley in the Evo Stik Division One North has used his football contacts book to bring ex-professionals to Rawdon for the game.

Ex Blackpool man Simon Wiles will play and FC United of Manchester striker Tom Greaves is likely to feature.

Scarborough Athletic and former Bradford City forward David Brown appeared in last year’s game.

But, the main concern for Lewis is raising money and the effect the match has on the village and his family.

He added: “It gets really competitive and it’s a good day for the village.

“A lot of our family come up, but it unites the whole community.

“A lot of people come down and help out like helping to get the pitch ready.

“Our mum and day support us as much as they can as they think it is a really good idea.”

The match takes place at Rawdon Old Boys Football Club on Sunday 21^st July at 1.00pm.

People can donate at http://www.justgiving.com/Lewis-Nightingale



Winterton Rangers boss Leigh Herrick wants new assistant

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Winterton Rangers boss Leigh Herrick is searching for an assistant manager ahead of the new NCEL Premier Division season.

Herrick, along with Mark McDonagh, successfully steered Winterton away from the Premier Division relegation zone after being appointed Rangers’ third manager of the season in January.

Herrick wants an assistant who at least UEFA B qualified or studying towards the qualification.

Applicants are asked to contact Herrick via email at leigh.herrick@live.co.uk, enclosing a covering letter and football CV.

Chink of light on crucial week for Garforth Town

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

The future of Garforth Town could become clearer this week.

The Northern Counties East League AGM takes place on Saturday and it should see the confirmation of football at Wheatley Park next season.

The Miners’ future is still shrouded in mystery as the club continue to maintain a silence that began when the Evo Stik Division One North campaign closed.

A small chink of light indicating hope has been found after Carlisle United confirmed they would be playing a pre-season friendly at Garforth in July.

It also can be revealed that the club could be participating in the FA Cup and FA Vase next season as the club did apply to enter.

Town will play in the Vase as the FA Trophy is not a competition for NCEL clubs.

Scarborough Athletic manager Rudy Funk ups the stakes in the Evo Stik Division One South

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Photo courtesy of Ryan Clark from ClarkHirstPhotography

Scarborough Athletic manager Rudy Funk has upped the stakes in the Evo Stik Division One South with five masterstroke signings.

And the influence of new assistant John Reed is starting to show.

Funk has captured four key players from North Ferriby United’s Evo Stik Premier Division title-winning squad.

Paul Foot, Steve Ridley, Chris Bolder and Ferriby’s all-time top scorer Gary Bradshaw make the move to Queensgate. The signings of Bradshaw is the standout one.

Bradshaw might be aging, but he is still a class act and his incredible goal in the recent Doodson Sport Cup final in April, shows the quality is still there. He will be an integral part of Funk’s side for next season.

He’s going to get 20 to 30 goals for Scarborough next season.

Foot was the captain of Ferriby’s championship-winning side and is an out and out defender who will make Funk’s defence solid – a key factor if Scarborough want more success.

Reed’s influence is in the signing of Ridley. Reed is the man who knows Ridley inside out from their days together at Stalybridge Celtic

Bolder is a solid midfielder with bags of higher league experience so another great signing for Scarborough.

Gainsborough goalkeeper Jason White is the fifth to commit to Scarborough, while Ferriby stopper Antoni Pecora, Ben Chapman and Danny Frost (Retford United) will have trials in pre-season.

Funk has now fired the official starting pistol. And it’s going to take something special from other clubs to match the calibre of players Funk has brought to Scarborough.

Three agree deals to join Farsley AFC

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Neil Parsley has named three players that have agreed deals to join Farsley AFC.

Paddy Miller is arriving from Scarborough Athletic, while Matty Young and Anthony Lloyd return to Throstle Nest following spells with the old club Farsley Celtic.

Lloyd featured for Farsley in the opening stages of the 2007/08 Conference Premier season before leaving for York City.

He has since played for Guiseley, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Glasshoughton Welfare and last season Ossett Town and Parsley said: “Anthony comes with vast experience and fills a problem area that we have had Aaron Hardy left to join Guiseley.

“He’s a good fit in the jigsaw that we are trying to assemble.”

Popular midfielder Matty Young makes his comeback from Worksop Town having been a major part of the 2009/10 minus-ten squad that defied the odds.

Parsley said: “It is really pleasing that we have signed Matty and it is not even a gamble in my book.

“To get a player with his calibre and experience is a massive coup for the club.”

On Milller, who arrival was revealed last week on social networking sites, Parsley said: “Paddy played at Farsley as a young boy before he went to Yorkshire Amateur and then Scarborough.

“He was looking for a base closer to home and we had watched him in the second half of last season.

“He will give us competition on the left-side of the pitch.”

All three deals will be officially confirmed on July 1^st when the Evo Stik Division One North registration window opens.

On the departures front, only Chris Walton has left so far.

Young West Yorkshire footballers have chance of winning professional deal with FC Halifax Town

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Conference Premier new boys FC Halifax Town are giving young aspiring footballers the chance to win a professional contract with Neil Aspin’s Shaymen.

The unique opportunity is perfect for those living in the West Yorkshire area and also across the Pennines.

Entrants need to be over the age of 17 and able to attend trials at the Stockport Sports Village on 22^nd and 23^rd June.

Trials are subject to a one-off fee of £60 and entrants need to fill an online form in or contact Halifax’s club secretary on 01422 341222.

More details can be found here.

Premier League Hull City to visit Winterton Rangers for pre-season friendly

Premier League new boys Hull City are sending a team to face NCEL Premier Division outfit Winterton Rangers in pre-season.

Steve Bruce is sending a side, a mixture of first and second team players, to West Street on the 15^th July (kick off 7.30pm).

The fixture is the fourth of Winterton’s planned pre-season schedule which begins at Market Rasen on the 2^nd.

Winterton will then move onto Beverley (6^th) and Westella (11^th) before a home game with Conference Premier team Grimsby Town on the 13^th July.

After Hull, Leigh Herrick and Mark McDonagh’s side will host League Two Scunthorpe United on the 22^nd.

A trip to Bottesford Town follows on the 27^th before the friendlies finish with Evo Stik Division One South side Lincoln United visiting on the 3^rd August.