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.”