FA Vase / Toolstation NCEL Division One
Nostell Miners Welfare joint manager Simon Houghton managed Pontefract Collieries between June 2008 and March 2011
Nostell Miners Welfare joint manager Simon Houghton is delighted to see his former club Pontefract Collieries thriving, on the eve of their biggest game in their history.
The Colls are just a few games away from Wembley if they win their FA Vase tie at 1874 Northwich on Sunday.
Although Houghton did not taste the type of success that Nick Handley, Duncan Bray and most recently Craig Parry have since enjoyed, he and his then-assistant Darren Smith are still credited with resurrecting the club from the dead, from an on-the-field perspective.
Prior to their appointment in the summer of 2008, Pontefract had finished a campaign which had yielded literally just one league win.
On limited resources, they finished ninth in their first season and fifth in their second – the position they were in when they were controversially sacked in March 2011 during their third campaign.
And Houghton sees 2008 comparisons with the situation he and Jason Dodsworth have inherited at Nostell.
“Where Pontefract were in 2008 and to where Nostell were when we took over is very similar,” Houghton told Non League Yorkshire.
“Basically with Pontefract it couldn’t get any worse so we could go only go one way. So from a table perspective it is very similar.
“Pontefract was going down, down, but (secretary) Trevor Waddington picked it up (in 2008) and put in all the hard work off-the-pitch to keep it going and the club’s reaping the rewards now.
“From a team perspective, I’d like to think I started the foundations. I’m really proud of what we did, especially that first season. To finish where we did with absolutely no money was amazing.
“We had a group of great lads and I think if our main striker had not been banned for 14 games, we’d have probably finished higher up the table.
“To also get to the Wilkinson Sword final, when we unjustly lost after having four penalties given against us over two legs, was also a superb achievement. We played Staveley and they had (Millwall striker) Lee Gregory in the side.
“Pontefract is a totally different club to the one when I first went down. They have got it right and got it going behind the scenes, with the community work and other things.
“It is fantastic where they are in the league and in the FA Vase and I can see them getting promoted with the players they have got. Long may it continue for them.”
Glasshoughton Welfare talisman Gaz Hunter has enjoyed some of the best moments of his stellar career when managed by Simon Houghton
The Showman Ryan Poskitt returns to Glasshoughton for the first time since joining Nostell
Pontefract’s form is not of Houghton’s concern. His current focus is on leading Nostell to safety and his team’s next assignment is a battle with another of his old clubs.
The clash between Glasshoughton and Nostell is almost like a school reunion.
Houghton of course has had two stints at Glasshoughton. One as assistant manager in the promotion-winning season of 2012 and a second as joint manager with Craig Wilkinson in 2016.
Several Glasshoughton players used to play under Houghton either at Leeds Road or Pontefract Collieries – notably Connor Rollinson, Lewis Akeister and Gareth Hunter.
In the Nostell ranks are Liam Radford and the Showman Ryan Poskitt, both former Glasshoughton and Pontefract players.
But Houghton is putting the old friends routine aside for tomorrow, as three precious points is the aim.
“It is like some kind of reunion,” Houghton said.
“But it is going to be a tough, I’m under no-illusions. I feel Glasshoughton is going to be tougher than Eccleshill for different reasons.
“We also have a few players suspended (Billy Mole, Liam Owen, Liam Swift), but we do have a few players to come in.
“I like going down to Glasshoughton, they’re all great guys and they’ve had a great season.
“I had two great spells there, but there is no sentiment in football, we’re going for three points.”