Day: 2 August 2023

Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News by Dave Parker

Ahead of this Saturday’s last pre-season fixture at home to Guiseley (3.0), and a week on Saturday’s first away league game at Ashington, manager Vill Powell has been on a signing spree.

In comes to the Heffernan Utilities Stadium a new goalkeeper in Harry Garman, 22, who has impressed in trials and previously was with Manchester Metropolitan University and Yorkshire Amateur. Centre-back Jayden Major has joined from Welsh League club Flint Town, while centre midfielder Ashley Butterworth, 22 from Heanor Town and he has also played for Nottingham club West Bridgeford.

Jamie Allsop, 21, a centre-back, has signed from Nostell MW where his father is chairman and Alexander Phillipson, 21 has played for Lija Athletic in Malta, Chesterfield and Matlock Town. Also on board are Jack Crook, 22, a midfielder previously with Harrogate Town U23s and Tadcaster Albion, forward Curtis Peters, 24, from Albion Sports after previously being on Bradford City’s books, Shohaib Nazir, 27, a left back who has come north after playing with Billericay U23s and Ilford Town, Matthew Ingham, 23 a defender from Farsley Celtic, Mach Warne, 20 a centre midfielder from Rotherham Utd, utility player Luca Grant, 19, from Albion Sports and two teenage local players in fullback Joshua Smith and centre midfield Harry Stone.

Captaining the side this season will be experienced defender or midfielder Josh Grant who is in his third spell with the club and will be sponsored by Bernard Moroney, mine host of the Old Pond near to the ground.

Town will know approaching 5pm on Saturday who they will travel to on Saturday, August 19 in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary round as Glossop North End entertain Colne in the Extra Preliminary round. Glossop made history last Saturday when they visited Gigg Lane, Bury for a North West Counties Premier League fixture which was played in front of a 5,451 attendance, a record for that division. The Derbyshire side, relegated last season from the Pitching In National League West Division One were beaten 5-1. Colne were beat 3-0 away to West Didsbury.

Town will be running a coach to Ashington on August, 12, leaving the Dusty Miller at 10.30am on their new Mercedes Executive coach in conjunction with Brighouse Travel.

Malcolm Taylor Obituary by Dave Parker

Ahead of the Brighouse Town v North Ferriby NPL East Division One game on Monday, August 14 (7.45) there will be a round of applause for former secretary and well known local manager Malcolm Taylor who passed away on July 18, aged 84.

Malcolm, who in his early sporting career was a cyclist and runner with his good friend Dean Clarke, only got into football via Elland Wanderers where he coached Brighouse Town’s chairman Chris Lister and committee member Mark Wood. He then had a spell at Clifton Rangers Youth before moving into open age football with Thornhill Briggs WMC in the Brighouse Sunday League, Lane Head in the Huddersfield Saturday League and across a long career terms with Kosset Carpets, The Crown and The Grove.

In the beginning of this long journey across the weeks and years he had been introduced to football by Geoff Clayton, a former mine host of the White Swan,

Malcolm also introduced women’s football into the area and was the Yorkshire area representative on the FA and had to attend meetings in London.

Around 2005 he joined Brighouse Town as secretary and, as his daughter Linda Andre, says, lived, breathed and ate all to do with the club.

He stood down in 2016 to devote his time with Linda looking after his wife Margaret, who also helped the club by looking after hospitality while her husband devoted his time to the smooth running of the club. He also served on the West Riding County FA committee.

In his working life he was a manager at KWG Cornish in the late 60s and then moved to work at West Vale Engineering under director Ian Booth and in his career was involved with supplies to the Channel Tunnel and worked alongside former Town groundsman Brian Rangeley, who remained a very good friend.

Malcolm also leaves another daughter, Jean, and two treasured grandchildren in Lindsay and Louis who plays in the back four with Huddersfield club Shelley.

His funeral will take place on Tuesday, August 15 at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland at 11.15am and a celebration of his life will be held afterwards in the clubhouse at Town’s newly named stadium, The Heffernan Utilities Stadium.