Sports Performer looks back the key moments in the last 12 months for our Yorkshire Non-League clubs.
January – Garforth Town start a revival in their fortunes when Simon Clifford leads his side to victory at fellow strugglers Harrogate Railway. However, the win proves to a false dawn as Garforth soon collapse again a few weeks later. The defeat in turn gives Harrogate a huge shot in the arm as Billy Miller’s side go on a great run to secure Evo Stik Division One North survival. Garforth would be relegated in April.
February – AFC Emley and Brighouse Town bowed out of the FA Vase at the fourth round. Emley were knocked out by Hadleigh United in a delayed game, while Brighouse lost to Newport.
March – Lloyd Fellows and Paul Watson were relieved of their duties as joint managers of Ossett Albion. Richard Tracey takes over initially as caretaker boss and leads them to safety which secures him the job permanently.
Snow causes chaos towards the end of the month and the start of the NCEL annual ground-hop over Easter is delayed 24 hours as AFC Emley’s game is postponed. Glasshoughton eventually kick the weekend off with a vital 2-0 win over Nostell which sets them on their way to Premier Division survival. The NCEL and Evo Stik seasons are also extended.
Scarborough boss Rudy Funk’s side celebrated winning the NCEL Premier title in April
April – 1059 turn out at Brighouse for the crucial title-deciding clash with Scarborough. On a nerve-jangling afternoon, second half goals from Ryan Blott and Jimmy Beadle secure a 2-0 win over their title rivals and the it puts the Seadogs’ destiny in their own hands.
Seven days later and Scarborough were champions with one game to spare. Their 2-0 success at the expense of holders Retford United was enough to win promotion as Brighouse had dropped points at Barton Town Old Boys.
Albion Sports won the NCEL Division One title, while Athersley Recreation secured the second promotion slot.
Antoni Pecora celebrates with the North Ferriby fans after their Doodson Sport Cup triumph
North Ferriby United also celebrated promotion to their highest position in their history. In midweek, Antoni Pecora’s saves in a penalty shootout against Curzon Ashton earned them the Doodson Sport Cup. Days later Billy Heath’s side won the NPL Premier Division title on the last day to win promotion to the Conference North.
Mark Wilson (centre) celebrates his 900th game in semi-professional football
May – Non League legend Mark ‘Willy’ Wilson celebrated his 900th game in the semi-professional game by coming on as substitute for AFC Emley in the 8-0 demolition of Bottesford Town. Wilson played for the old Emley and his most famous game was the FA Cup third round tie at Premier League West Ham United.
Steve Kittrick’s position as Guiseley manager was unclear after the Blue Square Bet North play-offs defeat to FC Halifax Town, who later gained promotion by beating Brackley Town. Kittrick openly admitted being at odds with the club’s board of directors, but eleventh hour talks saved his job.
June – Garforth Town’s future looked bleak until the end of the month when RIASA announced their rescue package which they had agreed with owner Rupert Lowe. Simon Clifford’s departure was announced which paved the way for a new committee made up of local people. Graham Nicholas was appointed as the new head coach.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce were turned by the NCEL at the AGM, only for the FA to intervene and accept their application on appeal in July.
Phil Harding and Lincoln Richards are confirmed as the new managers of struggling Yorkshire Amateur.
July – Well known Football League striker Jason Price signed for Ossett Town which attracted a lot of headlines. Price played all pre-season for Ossett before choosing to move on and he eventually signed for Selby Town.
Graham Nicholas got his first win as Garforth boss in August
August – Rob Northfield walked out as chairman of Tadcaster Albion days before the start of the NCEL, citing family commitments. His exit left Tadcaster’s future looking bleak before the arrival of the Gore family whose impact has been fantastic and Paul Marshall’s men topped the table for most of the season so far.
Garforth get their first win under Graham Nicholas at the expense of Bridlington Town. Garforth celebrated a 5-2 victory over Bridlington Town.
Darlington 1883 were given the shock of their lives at Farsley AFC when Neil Parsley’s men gave them a 4-2 roasting. AFC Emley looked set to bow out of the FA Cup until late intevention. Emley were losing 2-1 to Wigan Robin Park in stoppage when Anthony Haigh equalised to secure a replay. However, there was still time for a winner as Paul Sykes struck home a 97th minute penalty for Emley to cue fantastic scenes.
Alan Colquhoun was also given the chop after over 15 years as Nostell manager – former Ossett Albion reserve team manager Darren Holmes was his replacement.
Darren Hepworth was sacked and then reinstated as AFC Emley
September – Steve Kittrick was sacked by Guiseley just six games into the Skrill North campaign. Mark Bower was installed as caretaker manager before becoming his permanent successor after two games.
Darren Hepworth was axed as AFC Emley manager at the end of the month by chairman John Whitehead, without committee approval. Players and committee officials looked set to walk out after the 4-0 win at Appleby Frodingham, but Whitehead chose to resign the following morning which set a series of events in motion that ended with Hepworth being reinstated.
Harrogate Railway incredibly drew at big-spending Darlington with a threadbare side during this month.
October – Wayne Benn chose to resign as manager of Goole and within days he was back in charge at his previous club Hemsworth Miners Welfare. Goole appoint David Holdsworth as their new manager on the same day property developer Baron Bloom is announced as their chairman.
Ossett Town’s FA Cup dream came to an end at the Third Qualifying Round stage as Ossett lost at Colwyn Bay.
Eric Gilchrist quits as Liversedge boss and the club leave James Riordan in charge for the foreseeable future.
A Venezuelan, Hilliard Serrao, makes his debut for Glasshoughton during October.
Paul Lines makes the headlines after being handed a six-match stadium ban for violent conduct against a referee. Farsley were also involved in an incident at Northwich which led to a complaint against the referee over a fracas at half-time. Farsley went onto draw 3-3 and had three players sent off in the last ten minutes.
Adam Priestley made his debut for Gibraltar during November
November – Rudy Funk was rocked by the exits of his coaching staff at Scarborough. Darren France and John Reed chose to walk away when the Seadogs were enjoying a good run. Their exits are days before an historic FA Trophy game at AFC Telford.
Farsley AFC striker Adam Priestley makes his International debut for Gibraltar in their historic friendly with Slovakia and sets his sights on drawing England in the Euro Qualifiers next year.
Terry Higgins is also confirmed as the new AFC Emley chairman at their EGM.
December – With striker Chris Wood in goal for the entire game, Ossett Town somehow beat Darlington 1883 3-1 in the Doodson Sport Cup. Craig Elliott’s side then go and beat previously unbeaten Curzon Ashton six days later at Ingfield. The win is the second of five straight league victoris which earns them the team of the month award.
Peter Crook saves two penalties for Harrogate Railway in the Boxing Day draw with Farsley AFC. Crook then saves another two days later in the 3-1 success over Kendal Town.
Ian Dring became the last managerial casualty of the year by leaving Selby on the 30th of the month, while Jason Price leaves Selby for promotion-chasing Shaw Lane.