Brighouse Town’s pre-season programme is underway with almost a completely new squad as two more players depart the scene.

While Town were drawing 1-1 last Saturday afternoon with National League North side Farsley Celtic at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium, wing-back Javelle Clarke was heading out the door to Gainsborough Trinity, while striker Jack Boyle was in talks with Pontefract Collieries.

Contracted Clarke, 21, was a target for Northern Premier League club Gainsborough towards the end of last season and they have followed up with an undisclosed firm offer for him which has been accepted. Clarke, stepson of Nat Brown the former Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town striker, has been with Town for three seasons since leaving Sheffield United’s academy.

Boyle asked to leave Town last week, as revealed in Echo Sport, and was wanting to play a step or two higher but appears, it is understood, to be happy to join Pontefract who play in the same division as Town.

Town played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Celtic from two divisions higher and after the game manager Vill Powell said he was happy with what he had seen from a squad full of trialists.

“After witnessing that performance we have signed on a good majority and are now really only looking for an extra centre back and a centre forward,” he said.

Only Mo Qasim, Sam Drake and goalkeeper Jamie Hassall were in the starting line up from last season-Josh Grant being on holiday- and to say this was the first game together for everyone after just two weeks of training the performance was good.

Town went behind after nine minutes when Celtic’s right winger Joao Silver cut in and then delivered a tremendous shot which beat Hassall to his left.

Six minutes later and Town were level when Drake was put clear and he comfortably beat Harry Allan.

It remained 1-1 on the break with both sides having chances and Town in the second period despite making changes from the bench did not look troubled by a side playing a full strength side.

With a strong second half performance on Tuesday night Town beat Eccleshill United 2-0.
In the first half Town were lacklustre and the Bradford club from the Northern Counties East Premier Division were the better on footballing side
A couple of changes at the break and a few words from manager Vill Powell and they were out of the traps very quickly
On 49 minutes Mohammed Qasim made it 1-0 with a super curling shot from 20 yards out.
Ten minutes later it was man of the match Qasim who laid on goal number two. He beat two defenders out on the left and cut in before laying the ball across the box to new signing Malachay Bailey who made no mistake
Town went looking for more and only last minute blocks and two fine saves from Qasim shots kept the score line down.

On Saturday Town entertain AFC Emley (3.0) and on the following Tuesday, July 11 (7.30) they host a Bradford City Select X1.

Tomorrow (Friday) the draws take place at Wembley for the 2023-24 season Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary and preliminary round ties and also for FA Trophy, FA Vase and the FA Youth Cup.

Town are exempt from the extra preliminary round on August 5 and will play their preliminary round tie on August 12 while commencing their Pitching In NPL Division One East programme on the following Saturday, August 19.

Please accept this notice as an invitation to all members of the Club to attend our AGM on Thursday 27th July in the Clubhouse.

Brighouse Town ahead of their first home pre-season friendly on Saturday with Farsley Celtic (3.0) look set to lose their Player of the Season and leading goalscorer Jack Boyle.

Contracted Boyle, formerly with Huddersfield Town, Clyde and Thackley, has requested a move and wants Step 3 and higher football on the form that has been circulated to clubs of that stature earlier this week. Boyle played 36 games last term, scoring 12 goals and making nine assists. In his three seasons with Town, the Leeds-based striker has made 76 starts, scored 21 goals and made 15 assists in total.

His impending move follows hot on the heels of co-striker Laurence Sorhaindo to Guiseley, skipper Tom Haigh to Emley, centre-back Matthew Nebard to Pontefract Collieries and fellow central defender Josh Dacre to Goole. .

From a squad of 20 that started last season, Town now only have five players in the eighteen that trained this week ahead of facing Celtic’s new National League North squad under new manager Clayton Donaldson.

Veteran striker Zeph Thomas, who was to be a coach this season, has also departed and signed for his hometown club in Doncaster, Rossington Main, so he can play for another season.

Cover goalkeeper Charlie English from the FC Halifax Town Academy is moving with his family based in Northowram to the midlands and has signed for United Counties League club Hucknall Town.

Others to have left are defender Sam Reed (Sheffield Wednesday), goalkeeper Brett Souter (club unknown, wing-back Mohammed Ibrahim to Ossett United along with midfielder Corey Gregory, central defender Aiden Lee Walker to Guiseley and wideman Alex King (club unknown).

Still on the register for the season ahead are goalkeeper Jamie Hassell, wideman Javelle Clarke, utility player Sam Drake, midfielder Josh Grant and frontman Mohammed Qasim.

Town had, as has been reported two weeks ago, wanted to resume pre-season friendlies with FC Halifax Town, but their secretary Tony Allen informed them that manager Chris Millington has filled his diary and then they disappointingly heard over the weekend the Shaymen will be fitting in another game with Farsley!

On Tuesday night, July 4, Town will entertain Bradford club Eccleshill United (7.30).

Pictured are from L to R. Joe Gill with baby Lennie Gill, Aaron Barkham, Dave Parker, Luke Heffernan and Ray McLaughlin.
Brighouse Town manager Vill Powell has a mammoth squad rebuilding programme ahead of him following the departure of eight players and a loanee.

As revealed in last week’s edition striker Laurence Sorhaindo has left the club for NPL Premier Division club Guiseley for what is described as an undisclosed financial package. No doubt the transfer fee for the contracted player includes add-ons if Sorhaindo, who was 26 last Tuesday, moves on to another club and possible appearances for his new club.

Also joining him at Nethermoor is 25-year-old Aiden Lee Walker, the former Mansfield Town and FC Halifax Town Academy centre-back who only lives at Bailiff Bridge a mile from Town’s ground. Town have no fee from his move up a divisions as he was non-contracted.

Two of the biggest shocks leaving Town’s squad are experienced midfielder Corey Gregory,30, and long serving wing-back Mohammed Ibrahim,27, who are both off down the road to Ossett United. Along with a lengthy list of clubs Gregory has played with the old Ossett Town club before their merger with Ossett Albion to form the United club three seasons ago.

Fullback Sam Reed will sign for Sheffield Wednesday on July 1 and contracted goalkeeper Brett Souter left the club towards the end of the season for a dual-registration loan spell at Selby Town.

It is understood that loanee midfielder Sam Drake has left and that wing-back Callum Charlton will not be retained.

There could be another shock on the cards as club captain Tom Haigh is in talks with his manager about stepping down a level to concentrate on his hairdressing work. Powell is hoping he can fix up a dual registration deal for the 27-year-old who has made 249 first team appearances for the club since signing on as a junior. Its the long distance games, particularly at night, that are the problem for Holmfirth-based Haigh.

Director of football Charlie Tolley says his manager is working flat out to build up the squad again that will commence its pre-season fixtures on July 1 with a home game against National League North club Farsley Celtic (3.0).

Town have lost their July 22 home friendly with Stalybridge Celtic following a takeover of the Greater Manchester club and a new manager coming in. They have also been informed by FC Halifax Town and Mansfield Town in the past few days, despite notice to them before the end of the season, that they have full pre-season fixture lists and cannot fit the Step 4 club in.

Former Halifax-based Brighouse Town, Spennymoor, Scarborough Athletic, Yorkshire Amateur and Liversedge striker Nathan Cartman has signed for Step 5 club Knaresborough Town.

As from this week the Town stadium at Hove Edge will see a change of name, co-chairman James Howard is standing aside with his Yorkshire Payments Company and coming in in his place is Luke Heffernan with his company LJ Heffernan Utilities.

Town have signed experience centre midfielder Luke Dean following his release from Liversedge who he joined last season from Guiseley.

The 32-year-old, who commenced his career at Bradford City and had a short loan spell at FC Halifax Town, has been on Vill Powell’s radar for the past two seasons.

Before joining Bradford Park Avenue, where he made 79 appearances, Dean was with Harrogate Town where Powell was coach. He is the club’s second signing in just over a week, fullback Brandon Webster having joined previously from Ossett United.

In the first eleven days of July Town will play four home pre-season friendlies Farsley Celtic the first on July 1, then Eccleshill United on July 4, Emley on the 8th and Bradford City on the 11th.

Defender Sam Reed, who leaves Town at the end of the month for a professional contract with Sheffield Wednesday, has been selected by managers in the NPL
East division for the side of the year
He will collect his accolade at he annual dinner and presentation in Blackpool on Saturday evening