Sunday 1st September was the day… a moment of history for Brighouse Town AFC… the 1st ever league game for the new Brighouse Town Women’s Development Team!

Going into the game we didn’t know what to expect, the whistle went and what a start. A cross from Isla deflected off a Crossley’s defender and straight into the back of the net! 3 mins in and 1-0 up.

From the restart we showed just how much talent there was on the pitch. With some great passing from Grace & Olivia they found Lauren in space & down the wing, a fantastic cross into the box found Isla at the back post and bang it was 0-2, after 5 mins.

It was all Brighouse and the inevitable came. A great free kick from Daniella found Lillia who’s shot was deflected but landed at the feet of Rihannon who made it 0-3 and there was still only 11 mins played.

The hosts managed to get a couple back. It was now 2-3 but then Lauren found space and a superb pass from Kacie found her heading for the goal again, the cross went in and, after a scramble landed at Daniella’s feet, she wasn’t messing around and the Belles keeper was picking the ball out of the back of net one more 2-4.

Half time loomed but there was no stopping this team. some excellent passing from the midfield once again found Lauren. She was putting crosses in like a dream, then one deflected off a Crossley’s defender straight to Grace and, with a superb long – range volley, it was 2-5 by half time.

The second half started, and our defence was called into action, after a 1 on 1 with Gracie, who just couldn’t get a hand to it, it was 3-5.

Some more fantastic saves from Gracie came, we settled again and were back in control of the game.

Some fantastic passing from our strike partnership of Lillia & Daniella and it was 3-6.

Minutes later, the ball finds Isla out on the wing and she set off past the Belles Defence and went for goal 3-7 and we weren’t backing off.

An absolute boss of the midfield, Grace played in Lillia who took no time in making it 3-8, Belles were tiring and getting frustrated now, but that didn’t stop us.

10 mins to go and this team was on fire!

Lillia played in Daniella the Crossley’s defence was nowhere and the ball was once again being picked out of the back of the net. 3-9 and a hat trick for Daniella!

We could have sat back and seen the game out, but no these girls wanted more, keeping the ball moving, fast passing, Crossley’s didn’t have an answer. Daniella once again with a fantastic long – range shot 3-10, and that was the game as a moment later the referee blew the final whistle on our historic game and our first three points.

Final Score: Crossley Belles Whites 3-10 Brighouse Town AFC Women’s Development

Next game 15th September, away to Ryburn Utd – if you would like to join our community, maybe to train and try out for Brighouse Town AFC Women ? please email phil@brighousetown@gmail.com we would love to hear from you.

Photos credit Hollie Lockwood Photography

This afternoon we not only entertain our good friends from the Steel City of Sheffield but the family and many friends of our late Ellis Aked, committeeman, 200 Club paymaster general and volunteer skilled joiner on the Heffernan Utilities Stadium.

We have named today’s game: The Ellis Aked Celebration Day when we will pay tribute to him following his sterling service to this club and to sport across the town and district. (more of that inside today’s edition).     

Ellis passed away in July aged 75 and everyone who knew him was extremely saddened by the news.

Ellis was a very friendly person and that is why he made so many friends. I was delighted when he said he would join the club’s committee and straight away he rolled up his sleeves. He gave us around nine years of his valuable time and we thank his late wife Ann for allowing him to be with us despite all his years as a footballer and snooker player and she an understanding `Sporting Widow’! 

His support for the club home and away was unstinting apart from when Ann was poorly and when he himself had health issues.

Please put your hands together on the referee’s whistle and think of the passing of this Orange Army warrior and how he will be looking down today to cheer us on and put his views across, which he was renowned for having been such a good footballer himself.
I, Dave Parker, really got to know Ellis through the snooker as I was from around 1988 working on the Brighouse Echo until 2016 when they closed operations in Brighouse. I had a seven day operation with the national press and so my two daughters, Charlotte and Emily assisted and they put in quite a bit of sports copy and all the snooker results sponsored by Mac Financial at Bridge End. So, I knew him and his reliability for 28 years and that is why I wanted him up at Brighouse Town when I knew he was retiring from work. Two good friends of Ellis, Alan Kenyon and Dave Rowland have become, like him great supporters of the club.

Dave informs me Ellis was a very good player and he was one of three who formed the Brighouse Sunday League side, Thornhill Briggs around 1975. He was also playing for Lane Head in the Saturday League and was a midfielder with an eye for goal.

Brighouse Snooker League saw him as both secretary and fixture plus results secretary and that was an enormous job week in and week out from September to the end of April.

The snooker players loved him to bits as they all did at Thornhill Briggs where he played for one of their teams.

He was known for his joinery work with Iredale Brothers of Brighouse and with other companies later in his working life.

Both he and Ann were well travelled and they loved also places nearer home like Scarborough and Jersey. They went to places like Borneo, Greenland, Greece and South Africa and on safari. They saw the Big Five, Tigers, Lions, Elephants. Hippos and Giraffes.

All we need now is for the players to come good this afternoon and register a victory for Ellis and his family watching on who we are delighted could join us this afternoon.

Our chairman Chris Lister will present to the family ahead of kick-off a Town shirt with Ellis Aked on and the No10 on the back.

Finally, could I just thank sister Pam for her support of brother Ellis and getting him to games over the past year and more after he had suffered his first setback.

God Bless  Dave Parker       .  

A second drawn home game last Saturday with Ossett United following on from the 1-1 draw with Bridlington Town last Wednesday but there were no goals on this occasion.

Town were robbed of a victory in the Bridlington game when assistant referee Majid Ali waved no goal into the second half when the ball had clearly crossed the line only to be scooped out by the Seasiders’ keeper Seb Malkowski. Town fans and neutrals in the area of the goal all said it had gone over by at least a foot from a Jack Normanton corner.

Town had taken the lead in the 45th minute through Danny Edwards, only for it to be cancelled out in the 62nd minute by experienced striker Michael Coulson.

Play was end-to-end and another goal always looked on the cards from either side but it was stalemate on 97 minutes when referee Matthew Moss called time.

On Saturday it was a game of few chances and when strikers did get through both Town’s Kyle Trenerry and United’s Ally Hughes dealt with what was aimed on goal.

Hughes denied Town’s Niah Payne when he tipped over in the first half  and Town’s former player Eddie Church went close into the second half. As the game drew to a close Town’s Spencer Harris had a great chance but headed over and was annoyed with himself.

Town go again on Saturday at home to Sheffield FC (3pm) following on from their midweek 1-1 draw on Tuesday night away to Bradford Park Avenue who lost their home Emirates FA Cup preliminary round tie last Saturday at home to Stocksbridge PS, 3-2. Town officials had been watching the tie unfurl as a draw would have ruled out Tuesday’s game with a replay down in south Yorkshire.

Town officials were also on Tuesday night watching the outcome of the Ashington v Bishop Auckland replay as the first round proper takes place on August 31 when Bishop Auckland are the visitors to the Heffernan Utilities Stadium.

Town are expecting their average gate to swell on Saturday with the visit of Sheffield and the game being entitled the Ellis Aked Day in celebration of their former committeeman and ground maintenance worker who passed away at the end of July. The club will also be well represented at his funeral tomorrow (Friday) at Park Wood Crematorium (12 noon).

There will be a minute’s applause ahead of kick-off.

In the meantime Town’s midfielder Sam Drake has left the club and joined Liversedge, while defender Jake Hemingway has joined Town from Frickley Athletic.

On Bank Holiday Monday Town make another short journey this time to the Welfare Ground (3pm), home to Emley who were promoted from the NCEL Premier Division last year, with former Town midfield and captain Tom Haigh a vital cog for them. He has since left and now joined Golcar United as with his hairdressing business in Holmfirth he doesn’t want a lot of travelling.

Brighouse Town have not got off to the start they wanted after two defeats in the past week in the FA Cup extra preliminary round tie and the East Division of the NPL.

They lost on penalties after extra time at home to Barnoldswick Town last Wednesday and then 5-1 away to Cleethorpes Town in their first league game last Saturday on the Lincolnshire coast.

Against Barnoldswick they came back from losing 2-0 at the break to level matters early in the second half thanks to a brace from Myron Gibbons. And they then nearly had a winning goal with five minutes to spare as of all people, Barnoldswick-based wide player Ezio de Santis whipped in a great shot from 18 yards out which visiting keeper Callum Jakouleus just parried wide of his right hand post.

Barnoldswick looked to be out on their feet but they then saw off 30 minutes of added time before the penalty shoot-out which with won 5-3 to progress to see them on Saturday entertaining Northwich Victoria.

On Saturday Town, still missing experienced players Jack Normanton, serving his last match of a three-match suspension held over from last season, centre-back Matt Nebard (holiday) and Curtis Peters (back) plus skipper Josh Grant (holiday), were 2-0 down at half-time to Cleethorpes who have seen a huge financial injection over the closed season to aid recruitment.

Town came back in the 59th minute thanks to a powerful header from Danny Edwards but Cleethorpes then sealed the game with three more goals.

Town manager Grant Black post- match bemoaned cover from his central defence and would have been hoping to put that right against Bridlington Town last night.

Wakefield have come in for experienced defender Jamie Allsop. And, in the meantime, reserve keeper Jamie Hassall has gone out on dual registration to Doncaster club Rossington.

Town have re-arranged a game for this Saturday at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium when they will entertain Ossett United (3.00) who they were due to play on Wednesday, October 9. Ossett were delighted to agree to save playing midweek as autumn draws in.

Next Tuesday, August 20, Town are away to Bradford Park Avenue (7.45) at the Horsfall Stadium, before entertaining Sheffield FC on the Saturday (3.0).

Town’s late signing from Campion, Jack McGahan, was having a scan this week for a possible medial ligament injury received at Barnoldswick just seconds after coming on to the pitch.  

   

Brighouse Town were last night replaying their Extra Preliminary round tie in the Emirates FA Cup with Barnoldswick after drawing with them on Saturday 0-0 at the Silent Night Stadium.

It was a game of few chances and good defensive work by both teams, although Town had one great chance in the first half when Danny Edwards was one-on-one with the home keeper, Callum Jakouleus and his flicked-shot went a yard wide of the post.

In the second half towards the end Niah Payne beat his man at the by-line and his shot-cum-cross was only just saved by a backward falling Jakouleus.

Town manager Grant Black was pleased with his defence and midfield but not too happy with his attack and was wanting more effort from them last night in the replay.

Town’s experienced midfielder Curtis Peters missed the tie with a back injury and the guile and skill of the ex-Bradford City player was badly missed.

Town on Saturday for their first league game travel to Cleethorpes Town who have invested heavily in the closed season and last Saturday in their tie they won 7-0 at Kimberley Miners Welfare in the East Midlands.

A coach will leave the Dusty Miller at 11.15am on Saturday.

In the meantime Town have signed midfielder Jack McGahan from Campion and allowed left sided midfielder Rhys Plater to go on loan to Sheffield club Parkgate. Defender Jamie Allsopp can also be free to fix himself up with a dual registration. 

Next Wednesday Town will entertain Bridlington Town (7.45) as the season gathers pace and they play three games a week. If they have seen off Barnoldswick last night then they will entertain Northwich Victoria on Saturday, August 17 (3pm) in the preliminary round of the Emirates FA C up after the Cheshire club saw off Blackpool club Squires Gate 3-2 last Saturday.

Town have lost a most valuable member of their supporters club and a former committeeman who also worked tirelessly on the stadium and running the 200 Club and on match days the club shop. Ellis Aked passed away at the end of July in Calderdale Hospital at the age of 75.

Ellis was also a former secretary, fixture secretary and player in the Mac Financial Brighouse and District Snooker League, one of the strongest in the country. He was also a former local soccer player of note and he also liked playing table tennis with his late wife Ann at Waring Green Community Centre in Brighouse.

Town are devoting the Saturday home game with Sheffield FC on August 24 to celebrating Ellis’s life and his family will be in attendance when the players, match officials and spectators hold a minute’s applause.           

His funeral will have taken place the day before at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland (12 noon) and followed by a wake at his former club Thornhill Briggs WMC.