BRIGHOUSE TOWN are steadily increasing their squad and seeing players return after lengthy injury concerns with just sixteen days to the start of the season on Saturday, August 13.
In the past week they have put pen to paper with left-sided player Callum Charlton, 25, a former Town junior who has since gone on to play with Huddersfield Town academy, AFC Emley, Albion Sports and Yorkshire Amateur. He has shown up well in recent pre-season games along with fellow new recruit Mohammad Qasim, 22, who also comes from Yorkshire Amateur club.
Assistant manager Stacy Reed says he can play anywhere across the front three and possesses real pace as well as skill.
Another trialist, midfielder Sam Drake from the Farsley Celtic club, has yet to commit.
Experienced midfielder Cory Gregory, who suffered a serious ankle injury at Liversedge in the Easter Monday derby game, is back in training now, and, again according to Reed, is running and working back to fitness.
Centre half Aaron Walker, 22, who came to the club half way through last season after being on the books of Mansfield Town, only to suffer a knee injury when looking good, has had an operation in close season and is getting back to full fitness, Forward Myron Gibbons, Town’s first signing this close season from Rossington Main, Doncaster, is working back to fitness from an ankle injury.
Last Friday evening Town beat Guiseley 3-1 thanks to a seven minute first half-hat-trick from recently returned striker Jack Normanton. Town had been a goal down after just four minutes when the relegated National League North side had gone ahead through a trialist after a poor back pass was intercepted. Normanton equalised two minutes later and then bagged his brace on nine minutes and then in the 14th minute he lobbed the Guiseley goalkeeper for this third and a scoreline of 3-1.
That is how the score remained at full time despite Town’s Bradford City trialist Bobby Pointon having one in the net midwaty through the second half only for the flag to go up for a debateable offside.
Town entertain a Bradford City Select side on Friday night (7.30) in their penultimate pre-season friendly, Whitby Town pulling down the curtain on a raft of games on Saturday, August 6 (3.0).
The final of the Yorkshire Trophy pre-season competition took place on Saturday at Clayborn, home of Liversedge and Bradford club Campion, whose manager is Ainley Top-based ex-Town asisstant Lee Ashforth, took the impressive trophy with a 2-1 victory over Garforth Town.
Town held their AGM last Thursday and chairman James Howard informed members, volunteers and supporters present, that he had opted to carry on despite in June saying he would stand aside at the AGM.
Illness and pressure of work at his successful business, Yorkshire Payments, based on Bethel Street, Brighouse, had been two contributory factors. However he informed that he had realised after releasing a personal statement how much he would miss being involved and wanted to be a major force in the club’s progress.
For the first time in their non-league career Town will also have a co-chairman in Chris Lister, a long term executive committeeman and a former Town player who will work alongside Mr Howard. Charlie Tolley will continue in his role as vice-chairman and director of football.
