Everyone at Brighouse Town is looking forward to the start of the competitive season, none more so than Assistant Manager Stacy Reed.

” I can’t wait for Saturday really. It’s been a long time coming and to be honest, at one stage I thought we wouldn’t play again this year as I thought fans wouldn’t be allowed back. Football needs fans as they are the life blood of non league football and it’s so good to have them at the game on Saturday against Runcorn Town.

This has been our most prepared pre-season we’ve had since we’ve been at the club and up to now everything has gone well. We’ve left no stone unturned to try and get the best out of these lads and that’s all we can do.”

Pre season has gone really well for the club with five wins and two draws, scoring 15 and conceding just 3 but Stacy won’t be looking at that heading into the season.

“We will be competitive, that’s all we can say. The league is going to be different this year with teams having to cut budgets. Until the season is around 10 games in, I don’t think you can really say where we are going to be. What we will be wanting to do though is improve on last season’s standings and I think we have enough in the squad to do that.

This will be the first season that Stacy’s son Sam Reed gets a full season with the first team but not only that, he has a very good technical assistant manager in John Francis, someone he is already enjoying working with.

“I’m very proud to have Sam in the squad. He’s still only 17 you’ve got to remember and he’s still got a lot to learn but he’s certainly capable of holding his own. Vill spoke to me before pre season and asked if Sam would be interested in being a part of the squad. We have a few young lads now and it’s something Vill is not afraid to do is to give them a chance so it’s credit to him really.

John Francis is a fantastic assistant manager to work with. He has so much knowledge and brings something different to the staff. He’s calm and quiet which is quite different to the rest of the coaching team!”

“Saturday’s game against Runcorn Town will be a tough game. They will be well organised and hard working for sure. We have been knocked out before to lower league opposition and it proves that if you’re not at it 100% then you’ll get beat. We have got to be at our best to get a result there and the lads know that.”

The first competitive game of the season for Vill Powell’s men is just around the corner when we take on Runcorn Town in the FA Cup. Seven pre season friendlies played and the players are looking fitter than ever heading into the game, something which midfielder Josh Grant feels is key heading into the season.

“The lads are looking sharp and I’m feeling quite fit myself. I’ve had a good amount of game time in the friendlies so I’m ready for the competitive games now to start as it’s been a while. The MP Fit sessions have benefited the lads big time, I only managed to get to a couple due to work commitments but I can see the difference it’s had on the squad. The squad atmosphere is good, there’s a lot of healthy competition around the dressing room which keeps every player on their toes. Saturday will be a good test because Runcorn will be decent so it will see where we are at as a squad.”

In the last three seasons, the club have exited the FA Cup at the Preliminary stage and that’s something Granty wants to change this weekend.

” We can’t do it again, we need a good cup run. My aim is to try get us into the first round proper or at least until we start seeing the conference teams as I believe we should be competing with teams in and around our leagues.”

“My personal targets in terms of this season is to start as many games as I possibly can. I’m hoping for another injury free season and to be a consistent performer on the pitch. We have quite a few players who have played at this level a long time and have a lot of games under their belt so there’s about 7 or 8 of us who need to set standards this year and not let them drop if we are going to compete.”

Saturday’s trip to Runcorn Town is the first time we have played there in the FA Cup since the 4-1 defeat to the side in the same round in 2011. Granty states that we have to take our pre season form into this game for a chance of success this weekend.

” It’s massive that we take the form from pre-season into this game but we also have to remember that pre-season is done. The lads will be and should be confident heading into this game but we have to forget pre-season and concentrate on trying to be successful in the league, FA Cup and FA Trophy. We have to go to Runcorn Town and be competitive. They’re going to be aggressive, it’s something you expect from a typical scouse side but it’s something I enjoy playing against so it’s down to me to ensure the new lads are ready and prepared for what they are going to be up against as we haven’t faced a side like Runcorn in pre-season.”

Brighouse Town and Vill Powell are delighted to announce the extension of Vill’s current contract with the Club to the summer of 2023.

As a club we are delighted with what Vill has achieved and the commitment he has shown to the club both on and off the field. His vision as to what he wants to achieve and where he aspires to take the club are fully aligned with the owners and operators of the club and this new agreement provides both parties with the certainty and comfort to ensure that these goals and aspiration can be achieved.

Brighouse Town’s Director of Football, Charlie Tolley, confirming the new deal said ” The new agreement with Vill is fantastic and provides the whole club – players, fans and committee – with confidence that we have the right man in place to continue to push the club forward. His contribution and impact on the field of play speaks for itself but he also contributes massively off the pitch to the development work we are undertaking at Brighouse. I am delighted that we are able to make this announcement prior to the start of what will be another exciting season.’

Vill added: “‘I’m delighted to extend my stay at Brighouse as it’s a place I feel at home and as a club, has so much untapped potential. Hopefully, I can help realise that potential and bring more success and progress on and off the field and give Brighouse a football club to be proud of” 

The club will be releasing a full interview with Vill Powell later on today! #OneTownOneTeam