Brighouse Echo Sport – All the latest news from the Heffernan Utilities Stadium by Dave Parker
Preparations for the 2024-25 NPL East Division League and FA Cup/FA Trophy season are well and truly up and running for Brighouse Town after they kicked off on Tuesday night at Athersley Recreation FC in south Yorkshire for their first pre-season friendly and also heard they would be taking part in the Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round tie on Saturday, August 3.
Town’s strong squad of some 22 players, many of whom manager Grant Black and director of football Charlie registered on Monday-the first day they were allowed to do so for contract and non-contract players- are also in action tomorrow night (Friday), July 5 (7.00pm) at Tadcaster Albion.
Black and his assistant Mick Norbury also held a 11v11 game on Town’s reserve pitch last Saturday morning and the management team were delighted with what they saw.
“I am very pleased with the way things are coming together and the bonding of the players,” added Black, who also was pleased with how all the players stayed behind after training last Tuesday to watch the Euro 24 Group game between England and Denmark.
Town will also be away next Tuesday to Worsborough (7pm) as their pitch edges closer by the day and week now to being a playing surface for good football to be played on it.
Groundsman Wally Hemingway says he is delighted with the way it is coming along aided by the unsettled weather encouraging grass growth.
“I have rolled several times the newly laid turf at the quarry end and also the re-turfed goalmouths and Saturday I gave the whole pitch a good spiking to let air in and also the fertiliser to work along side added grass seed,” further informed Hemingway.
This season will see 745 hopefuls in non-league football take part in the Emirates FA Cup, with 123 taking part on August 3. Town will be one of them including NPL newcomers Emley and Garforth Town and established East Division clubs Bridlington Town, Cleethorpes Town, Grimsby Borough, Grantham Town, Liversedge, Ossett Town, Sheffield FC and Stocksbridge Park Steels.
It is understood that Town could well hear who their opponents are next Monday lunchtime.
Their season commences Saturday, August 10 and the preliminary round should they progress will be on Saturday, August 17.
One player who will not be taking part in the first three games will be Halifax-based striker Jack Normanton who collected a three-match ban from the last league game of the season against Carlton Town.
Emley kicked off their pre-season friendly programme last Saturday with a home game against Huddersfield Town in front of a very healthy crowd. New Terriers boss Michael Duff gave virtually all his squad a run out in 5-0 win against a newish-looking Emley squad from the one that got them promoted last term from the NCEL Prermier Division. Refereeing the game was Premier League match official Bobby Madley.
