Chairman’s Blog – A Week of Change and Triumph

What a week it’s been for the club, both on and off the field. A full house of action across all of our teams, and I’m proud to say it was a resounding success from start to finish.

We kicked things off with our U18 girls putting in a fantastic performance on Saturday morning, winning 3-0 at home on the Station Pitch. They dominated from start to finish, and it was a great way to start the weekend.

The main event, of course, was Greg Young’s first game in charge as interim manager for the first team. Saturday afternoon saw the lads turn our fortunes around with a brilliant 4-1 win. The team played with passion, intensity, and determination, and Greg’s leadership was clear from the off. It was a result we desperately needed, and it certainly lifted all our spirits around the club.

Then, on Sunday, our open-aged ladies took center stage in what can only be described as an absolute thriller. In pouring rain, they delivered an emphatic 10-0 win, making it two wins from two in the league. It was a 10-goal spectacle and a great way to cap off an incredible weekend of football for the club.

But while things went well on the field, off the field, it was a week of significant change. On Tuesday, we said goodbye to our first-team manager, Ben Hunter, after five fantastic years in charge. Ben’s tenure has been nothing short of remarkable. Taking charge in 2019, he led us to a Northern Counties East League Division One play-off semi-final in 2022, and then a historic promotion to Non-League step 5 in 2023, after a memorable play-off final win over Horbury Town in front of 1,164 fans at Oxford Street.

He also set the attendance record with 1,697 fans during a pre-season match against Doncaster Rovers, and despite a narrow penalty shootout loss in the NCEL Premier semi-final last season, Ben has left a lasting legacy. Under his leadership, we reached two domestic cup semi-finals, and he brought us back into the Emirates FA Cup after an 11-year absence.

Ben leaves us in a much stronger position than when he arrived, and I’m truly thankful for everything he’s done. He has offered his support during this transition, and I’ll continue to speak with him as we move forward.

With Ben’s departure, I had a big decision to make, and after careful consideration, I turned to Greg Young, our club captain and a UEFA B licensed coach. I asked Greg to step up as interim manager, and after a call on Tuesday evening, he agreed to take the reins. He immediately got to work, contacting the lads and organising training.

By Wednesday, I had also spoken with a few of the senior players to explain the situation, and on Thursday, I met with our Director of Football and the squad at the training center to officially hand over the reins to Greg.

Friday was spent getting everything ready for the weekend’s matches, from making sure we had enough stock to preparing for a big crowd at Oxford Street for Greg’s first game in charge. By Saturday, the nerves had kicked in, knowing how important those three points were. I called Greg in the morning to wish him the best, then made my way to the ground to help the volunteers with the match day setup and to meet the players as they arrived. The lads did us proud, and we all enjoyed a few well-deserved beers in the clubhouse after the game.

Sunday, I was back at the ground to watch the ladies in action. The atmosphere was fantastic, despite the rain, and I helped the volunteers where I could to ensure everything ran smoothly. It was a great way to end a very busy, but successful weekend.

Looking ahead, this week will be focused on sifting through CVs and meeting potential candidates for the permanent manager position. Greg has my full support in the interim, and I’m excited to see where he can take us. We’re also preparing for this weekend’s games, with a particular focus on the ladies’ FA Cup tie on Sunday, where we’re expecting a big crowd.

Thanks again to all our supporters, volunteers, and players for making this week so special. Let’s keep this momentum going!