By Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN supporters will see the return of striker Aaron Martin on Tuesday week, August 22 when Harrogate Town are the visitors to the Yorkshire Payments stadium in a pre-season friendly.

Sheffield-based Martin, who banged in over 60 league and cup goals in two seasons for Town, left last year for Guiseley and was soon hitting the target at Nethermoor, with 14 in 11 games. He picked up an injury which kept him out and then shortly after his comeback Harrogate’s manager Simon Weaver moved in ahead of York City and signed him as cover for former Huddersfield Town and Notts County striker Alex Stead.

Harrogate, who were promoted 12 days ago to League 2 after a 3-1 win at Wembley over Notts County in the Vanarama National League play-off final, was the previous home of Town’s manager Vill Powell who worked under Weaver, but when they went full time he had to resign his coaching post with having a good job in Sheffield. Town were the benefactors and are again as Weaver has continued his friendship with the former Sheffield Wednesday striker and handed his mate this prestigious game. Its only a pity that it looks like being played behind closed doors, but Powell, and the club’s media manager Damian Wales, are looking to stream games for fans currently locked out.

On Saturday, Town will entertain Matlock Town (3.0) and it will see a quick return of Halifax-based fullback Reece Kendall who transferred there last month. Then on Tuesday, Town are away at Maltby Main (7.30).

In the meantime, the manager has added to his squad with the signing of former Sheffield FC midfielder Jacob Mattock. The 18-year-old impressed in the 5-0 home win over his old side a week last Saturday. Wide player Shiraz Khan, the former FC Halifax Town and Ossett United player missed that game and a couple of training sessions after having an operation on his nose.

The club break new ground this evening (Thursday) (6.0) as they hold their AGM at the Cliffe Hall Club in Brighouse with the clubhouse currently out of commission owing to extensions and a huge refurbishment spearheaded by assistant manager Stacy Reed and aided by the club’s general manager Darren Laycock, academy coach Barry Thomas, members of the junior section and Kevin Beeden, father of centre half Harrison Beeden.

Next Tuesday the draws are being made at Wembley for the 20-21 Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round and the Preliminary round with the latter scheduled for Saturday, September 12 and worth £1,444 to the winner. The draw will also be made for the Buildbase FA Trophy Preliminary round and the date for that is Saturday September 26, with in between, the 19th, when the NPL hope to start their league programme

The North West Division will be a club light as Manchester club Droylsden have withdrawn owing to the club being in severe financial problems. The Bloods have long been members of the NPL and FC Halifax Town loaned their Butchers Arms ground several seasons ago when The Shay was unavailable.

Town made light work of beating a Huddersfield Town U19 side 3-0 at home on Tuesday night. They led at the break 1-0 from an Alhassane Keita header from a superb cross from the left by Eddie Church which gave visiting keeper Jacob Chapman no chance.

In the second half Town made it 2-0 midway through when James Hurtley headed home a well flighted corner from Josh Grant and in the last quarter of the game a trialist made the game safe with a 30-yarder that beat substitute keeper Giouse Bellagambi all ends up.

Town made light work of beating a Huddersfield Town U19 side 3-0 at home on Tuesday night. They led at the break 1-0 from an Alhassane Keita header from a superb cross from the left by Eddie Church which gave visiting keeper Jacob Chapman no chance.

In the second half Town made it 2-0 midway through when James Hurtley headed home a well flighted corner from Josh Grant and in the last quarter of the game a trialist made the game safe with a 30-yarder that beat substitute keeper Giouse Bellagambi all ends up.

By Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN’S pre-season programme got off to flying start last Saturday with a 5-0 home win over Sheffield FC, and manager Vill Powell could not have been more pleased.

“I thought we were tremendous and despite the lack of a crowd, the players played with all the intensity and professionalism as if it were the first league game of the season.”

The first half was scoreless and Powell acknowledged with steadier finishing Town could have had several more goals.

“The pleasing thing was that there were numerous chances, which is good, and the players hadn’t been in a competitive game since early March,” he added.

Javelle Clarke and Eddie Church had plenty of space down their flanks and got the ball in to the box, while Josh Grant was really on top of his game in midfield along with Tom Haigh and they also opened up the Sheffield defence. The normally reliable striker Joe Jagger could have had a hat-trick in his 45 minutes.

The manager changed things around for the second period and new striker Eli Hey was on the scoresheet after a minute and was a handful throughout the period. However, the player who stole the show was former Huddersfield Town and Clyde attacking midfielder Jack Boyle who showed superb finishing prowess in the 65th, 80th and 86th minutes to leave visiting keeper Jonathan Hedge, ex-FC Halifax Town, Cambridge United and Grimsby Town clutching fresh air.

A trialist added the third goal in the 71st minute and the committee allowed in were pleased to see Alhassane Keita showing more of the form he is capable of with some good runs and one particular fine ball through the Sheffield defence which brought a goal.

Defensively in both halves Town were sound with keepers Matt Smith and George Clarke having a relatively quiet time, apart from a tip over by Carke, as Kurt Harris, Harrison Beeden and trialists in both halves repelled most of what the South Yorkshire boys could throw at them.

Town’s next home game is scheduled for Tuesday night at home to Huddersfield Town’s U-19 side (7.45), which again, unfortunately, will be behind closed doors. This is followed on Saturday week, August 15 by a visit from Matlock Town (3.0) and Scarborough Athletic come the week after.

Town officials have sent their congratulations to Harrogate Town and their former player of only a season ago, Aaron Martin in winning the Vanarama National League play-off final at Wembley on Sunday. Vill Powell was particularly delighted for his cousin Aaron and his former boss at Harrogate, Simon Weaver.

Town have been informed they will be in the Preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup 2020-21 and that will be drawn on Monday week and the game scheduled for Saturday, September 12. They are also in the Buildbase FA Trophy and the first round for that is Saturday, September 26.