Former Brighouse Town goalkeeper Lee Ashforth believes Paul Quinn’s side will adapt to Evo Stik Division One North football next season
Former Brighouse Town goalkeeper Lee Ashforth believes his former club will easily adapt to Evo Stik Division One North football next season.
Ashforth, now the assistant manager of Harrogate Railway, played for Brighouse for six months under previous Town boss Mark Brier before breaking his cheekbone in October 2010 during an FA Vase match with Eccleshill United.
Ashforth lives only two miles away from Brighouse’s ground and he expects them to acclimatise from Toolstation NCEL Premier Division football to Evo Stik football with ease.
“It is a big step-up, but they’ve certainly got the capabilities there,” he said.
“I don’t want to speak on his (manager Paul Quinn) behalf, but I don’t think he will want to change his team massively. I’ve watched them a few times and you look at a player like Tom Matthews, he’s scored a load of goals.
“There’s Leon Henry, one of his players who has played at Evo Stik level already.
“The one thing they will enjoy for me is that there is less travelling. You are straight on the M62 whereas in the NCEL you’re going down to Nottingham all the time.
“I think they’ll be prefer it travel-wise. I think they will do really well.”
Brighouse wrapped up the title last Saturday after winning their seventh consecutive league match by beating Retford United.
AshforthT texted Paul Quinn to congratulate him and the former added: “I was delighted for them.
“I’ve kept in touch with Quinny and Chris Lister, who is the CEO, throughout the season. They deserve it.
“I think they were a little disappointed not to go up last season, but they’ve done it this year and at quite a canter.
“He got all the good players who were playing in the West Riding County Amateur League and got them playing together and he has done a fantastic job.”