Defender Nodder re-signs for Welfare

Toolstation NCEL Division One

• Jack Nodder played for Glasshoughton Welfare between 2010 and 2013 under Craig Elliott, Graham Hodder and finally Rob Hunter.
• Current joint manager Simon Houghton was Elliott’s assistant during the 2011-12 season.
• Striker Jack Owen, who was Athersley’s top goal-scorer with six goals, and midfielder Ricky Popplewelll have also signed for the Leeds Road club.
• Glasshoughton host Grimsby Borough tomorrow, seven days on from when Houghton and Craig Wilkinson got their first win since taking over.

Jack Nodder, pictured playing for Glasshoughton in the last game of the 2011-12 season

Jack Nodder has re-signed for Glasshoughton Welfare, nearly three years after leaving to go travelling in Australia.

The centre-half was a mainstay during Craig Elliott’s magical two seasons in charge at Leeds Road which saw Glasshoughton win the Wilkinson Sword and promotion from Division One. Nodder was still a teenage when he made his debut and alongside travelling, he has been playing for a team out there.

He remained with the club under Graham Hodder and then Rob Hunter before heading down under. Nodder is one of three players that Glasshoughton have signed this week, the other two being Athersley Rec striker Jack Owen and former Ossett Albion and Eccleshill midfielder Ricky Popplewell.

“Jack was fantastic for us a few years ago and the thing with centre-halves is that they get better with age,” said Welfare joint manager Simon Houghton. “He’s had two years in Australia, playing at a very good level so that will have done him the world of good. He also gives us good balance because there are not many left-footed centre-halves around.”

Nodder and Owen join a Glasshoughton team which has been revitalised under the stewardship of Houghton and Craig Wilkinson. The pair, appointed in early December, claimed their first win last week – the deserved 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Rossington Main. Welfare then gave Premier Division side Pickering Town a tough test in the 2-0 League Cup defeat on Tuesday night.

“We are moving in the right direction,” Houghton added. “I was saying to Craig (Wilkinson) that the most pleasing aspect is that the players are taking on board everything we say.

“They are all working really hard and the work-rate that every single player is putting in is fantastic. We took how we played against Rossington into the Pickering game. We had make six changes because some of the lads weren’t eligible, but apart from two sloppy mistakes for the goals, I thought we were the better side.

“It shows the the strides we have made by being disappointed to lose to Pickering at home. We’ve got some tough games coming up. Grimsby Saturday, then Hallam, Hall Road Rangers, Hemsworth, Hull so the next five games are hard as they come, but all five games will be a good benchmark for us.”