Agnew expects Bridlington to surprise the doubters

Season Preview 

NPL Division One East 

Bridlington Town 

Bridlington Town are back in the NPL after a long absence and Brett Agnew is determined to surprise a few on their return.

The Manager 

Brett Agnew

Bridlington Town manager Brett Agnew (right). Picture: Dom Taylor

The prolific striker still plays down and again but his career was shot down by a bad injury which led him to join Curtis Woodhouse’s Bridlington coaching staff in 2018. 

When Woodhouse resigned a few months later, Agnew won the job on a permanent basis after a successful stint as caretaker. 

His crowning achievement so far is leading Brid back to the Northern Premier League this year.

Opening Five Fixtures 

Yorkshire Amateur (a), Consett – FA Cup (a), Stockton Town (h), Sheffield FC (a), Cleethorpes Town (h). 

Notable Movement

Young Declan Parker has joined Bridlington Town

In: Lewis Dennison (Gainsborough Trinity), Declan Parker (Hemsworth Miners Welfare), Nathan Hotte, Charlie Dixon (Barton Town), Matty Dixon (Gainsborough Trinity). 

Out: Lewis Taylor (Pickering Town), Chris Adams.

One to Watch 

Billy Logan 

Bridlington’s Billy Logan. Picture: Dom Taylor

The experienced striker is always a handful for opposition defences.

Interview 

Bridlington Town manager Brett Agnew

Brett Agnew expects Bridlington Town to surprise a few people this season.

Agnew claims Brid have been written off as relegation fodder by some but he reckons his squad is good enough to have a good campaign.

Brid start their season with the trip to Yorkshire Amateur on Tuesday night.

“I think we’ll go under the radar which I’m happy with,” Agnew told Non League Yorkshire.

“A lot of people I’ve spoken to think we’ll finish in the bottom half of the table which is fine for them to think that.

“People have written us off.

“But I think we have enough in the side to really challenge around the play-offs area.

“I always believe in my players, myself and and my staff’s ability.

“I think we have a great team spirit, the togetherness is really good and we’re singing off the same hymn sheet.

“If we can keep a relatively fit squad I really think we’ll cause teams trouble this year.

“We’ve got some really quality players who will cause teams trouble.

“You look at the signing of Matty Dixon.

“He played for Whitby for years.

“He played for Hull City.

“He’s got quality.

“Danny Earl is a quality striker.

“Billy Logan is a quality striker and has played at this level.

“We have got quality all over.”

Just like all the other Yorkshire NPL managers, Agnew is excited about the make-up of the Division.

“It is class and it looks really good,” he said.

“There’s some quality teams and I think it is going to be one of those leagues where you can’t take your eye off the ball.

“The bottom could beat top any day of the week.

“I think there’ll be some really good games. 

“If you rest on your laurels then teams are there to take you down.

“Personally I think Marske will be the favourites.

“They have got some quality players and I’d probably say Hebburn after them after the FA Vase run.

“But then you have some of the Yorkshire sides.

“Liversedge are a quality side and Yorkshire Amateur are doing really well on-and-off-the-pitch.”

Prediction 

Mid-Table 

If you have enjoyed reading Non League Yorkshire over the past few months, please consider making a donation to the not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport which provides sport for children and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. CLICK HERE to visit the JustGiving page. There is a video at the bottom of the page showing our work.

NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams. 

Our work is playing an important role in reintroducing our players, who have disabilities and learning difficulties, back into society.

We have six teams, a mixture of Junior and Adult teams – Nostell MW DFC, Pontefract Pirates, Selby Disability Football Club and the South Yorkshire Superheroes (Barnsley) – across Yorkshire.

We have enjoyed great success over the past three years. Several of our players have represented Mencap GB in Geneva, including Billy Hobson from Selby and Greg Smith, whose story is quite inspiring.

You can learn more about the organisation HERE and on our Facebook page.

Watch the video below to see highlights from our three years as an organisation. The video was produced for our players at the end of March to remind them of good memories from the last three years.

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