BRIGHOUSE TOWN’S 2021-22 season in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League East Division kicks off on Saturday with a home game against Gateshead club Dunston UTS (3.0).
Town manager Vill Powell says he can’t wait and everyone at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium is raring to go, especially after their tremendous performance last Tuesday against National League North side Farsley Celtic.
They are locking horns with a club that they drew 3-3 with in their last meeting at the same venue last October before the season was curtailed for the first time later that month.
Former Morpeth Town manager Chris Swailes and his assistant with The Highwaymen, Jon McDonald, have brought in midfielder Ursene Mouanda from South Shields whose previous clubs were Rangers and Kilmarnock. They also have a face familiar to Town followers in Luke Porritt, a midfielder or forward who has payed with Scarborough Athletic, Hyde Utd and Guiseley.
Powell has just one major doubt in forward Zeph Thomas who has missed the last two pre-season games with ankle ligament problems. He has also allowed wide player Leighton Sawyer to go out to Worsbrough Bridge FC on a dual registration to get more game time.
On the following Tuesday Town are away at Frickley Colliery (7.45) where the much travelled and experienced Martyn Woolford will be pulling the strings for The Blues in midfield. Pontefract-born Woolford, 36, whose father Neil and grandfather Cyril both starred for Featherstone Rovers RLFC, commenced his professional round ball career with Scunthorpe Utd and then went on to play with Bristol City, Millwall, Sheffield Utd, Fleetwood Town and Grimsby Town.
Former professional Dave Frecklington is the manager at Westfield Lane and he has put together a strong squad for this term.
Town officials and supporters found out last Saturday who they will be playing away in the preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday week, August 21 when Durham club Shildon defeated Garforth Town 1-0 via a second half goal.
This season there will be replays as against last term’s extra time and penalties and the date for a replay will be Monday, August 23 at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium (7.45). If that should happen Town would have to postpone their home game with Sheffield FC scheduled for that night.
The Shells were promoted into the NPL East Division in June from the EBAC Northern League Division One and are under the managership of Daniel Moore.
Town have fixed their home FA Youth Cup game with Farsley Celtic for Wednesday, September 1 (7.30). The game will be played to a finish on the night with extra time and then penalties if the sides are still level.
Town’s match sponsor on Saturday is Mr Andy Pearson and his Brookfoot-based company Borehole Solutions Limited North and the match ball sponsor is Heffernan Utilities.
