Non League Yorkshire is continuing its look at unpaid volunteers in the region with profiles of people involved at clubs. First up is the man who is the second person to greet those visiting Brighouse Town.
Brighouse Town gateman Will Armitage with the NCEL Premier Division title in 2014
Name: Will Armitage
Age: 22
Club: Brighouse Town
Role: Gateman/Steward/Kitman/Videographer and done just about any other job you can think of.
How Long have you been doing it: I’ve always been going to games intermittently for as long as I can remember, but this will be my seventh season being heavily involved with what I would call my first competitive game, Brighouse’s first one in the NCEL Prem, the 3-0 win at home to Pickering.
Why did you start: “Uncle” John Crowther is President of the club, I was looking for something to do on a Saturday and it just went from there.
What do you enjoy most about the role and being involved in the club: The thing I enjoy most, to reiterate what Quinny said last week, everybody at the club is in together, whether it be myself on the gate on a cold Monday night or whether it’s the striker banging in all the goals. Everyone on the playing side respects the work from committee and volunteers and I feel that creates a family atmosphere at the club.
Will inside his turnstile
Will remains with Brighouse, despite meeting the Class of ’92
Favourite moment being involved at the club: I have had so many barring the obvious one of winning the NCEL Title. From meeting the Class of 92 (and beating Salford) to the narrow defeat at Stockport County in the FA Cup
Lowest moment (as a volunteer): Shaw Lane at home the other week, the night Dan Wilkinson collapsed. Times like that football becomes irrelevant although to see the football community was something special, I hope Dan can look down with pride.
Lowest Moment (as a fan): Scarborough at home the season (2013) we finished second. Had we won that we would of probably gone up, they’re a good club but after that it’s always nice to beat them.
Do you get much aggro as a volunteer?: Funny you should ask this. On Monday, while I was doing the gate for the development team, I got a bit of stick on a couple of occasions due to the price of entry. Pre season is generally the worst as people don’t want to pay to watch a friendly.
How many hours a week do you spend at the club?: It varies depending on how many games there are. Last week was a particularly busy week with the first team, development team and women’s team all having games so from Saturday to Saturday. Including travel to the away games it was about 27 hours.
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