Evo Stik Division One North
A 16th place finish doesn’t tell the whole story of last season for Ossett Town. The Ingfielders were in serious relegation danger in February after a terrible run of form. The run of results which pulled them out of danger was their best in a few years.
Manager
Grant Black
Ossett Town manager Grant Black
The young and enthusiastic young manager pulled Ossett back from the brink of disaster last season. Ossett were sailing towards the NCEL when the former Buxton left-back arrived in February to steer them back to safety shores. It is his first manager’s post and he is assisted by Mick Norbury and Steve Ridley.
Opening Five Fixtures
Prescot Cables (A), Brighouse Town (H), Goole AFC (H) – Emirates FA Cup, Trafford (A), Ossett Albion (A).
Player Movement
Jack Wakefield is the new captain of Ossett Town. Picture: Mark Gledhill
In: Jack Wakefield (Frickley Athletic), Brad Dockerty (on loan from Frickley Athletic), Leon Henry (Brighouse Town), Liam Gaughan (Matlock Town), Brad Riley, Ashley Jackson (Leek Town), Leigh Overton (Armthorpe Welfare).
Out: Danny Frost (Shaw Lane AFC), David Brown (Scarborough Athletic), Simon Rogers, Sanchez Payne (Bradford Park Avenue), Liam Schofield (AFC Emley), Thomas Beaurepaire (Hyde United).
One to Watch
Josh Schofield (striker)
Josh Schofield in action for Ossett Town. Picture: Mark Gledhill
Prediction
Mid-Table
Interview
Grant Black
Simon Rogers runs into the arms of jubilant Ossett Town manager Grant Black after scoring the winner against Harrogate Railway in April. Picture: Mark Gledhill
Grant Black believes how Ossett Town ended last season has changed people’s opinions of the club.
He says the manner of how the club avoided the drop with a run of six wins in eight games has given everyone at Ingfield real belief of a far better season.
“As a group we have our own targets which we will give in-house, but we will look to progress and have a better season than the club had last season,” Black told Non League Yorkshire.
“As far as the club is concerned, anything above 16th is showing progression. As a group, we don’t think a top ten finish is out of our zone.
“The club has been in the doldrums for the last couple of years and it is about getting out of that mentality.
“The finish we had to last season changed a lot of people’s views on Ossett. The club realised they could look to kick on and we feel we can attract better players to Ossett.
“It is about saying to players who come Ossett, ‘look you’re not going to be in a relegation battle because we won’t accept that, you’re going to be playing for a team looking up rather than down’.”
Black admitted in April that team spirit had played a major part in their escape from relegation and he says it is still key for Ossett.
“Team spirit is a massive for any team and you need a good one,” he added.
“A lot of teams will be using Leicester as an example this year. They weren’t the greatest team in the Premier League last year, but they had a team spirit and they knew their jobs.
“I think that saw them over-the-line so that’s what we’re do here. That’s why we are careful as to the kind of players we bring in.
“We don’t want players that are just trying to make a quick buck or just here for a couple of months to get some games before moving on. We want players who are in it for the long haul.”
Ossett start the new campaign at Prescot Cables with Black having to sit in the stands. The Ossett boss has to serve a one-match touchline ban because of his dismissal at Witton Albion late last season.