Brighouse Town manager Vill Powell has made a double swoop on two players with Bradford City connections and both are expected to play in the opening game on Saturday away to Ashington (3pm).

Coming back to the club is 19-year-old wide player Jack Wilson who has been given a free transfer by the Bantams and also coming on board for a Youth Loan spell from Valley Parade until October 1 is centre forward Sam Bentley.

Wilson impressed in his loan spell last season until he was injured in the West Riding Cup tie with Campion and taken to Pinderfields Hospital with an ankle injury. He recovered after some two months and went back to Bradford’s academy squad.

Powell has been on Bentley’s case for the past three weeks and finally nailed him down on Monday of this week. He had impressed in the first half of the pre-season friendly against Town back in early July before being substituted.

Town have also signed Manchester-based central midfielder Aderemi Efunnuga, 21, who has played for Stoke City and more recently Matlock Town. He showed up well last Saturday in the 2-0 home defeat to Guiseley in Town’s last pre-season friendly along with a trialist frontman Shohaib Mazir.

Town’s management and their fans were pleased with the workout against the strong NPL side who included for the first half former FC Halifax Town and Chesterfield striker Tom Denton and in the second half former Brighouse striker Laurence Sorhaindo.

Guiseley took the lead after 11 minutes through Jameel Ible who struck home in a crowded goalmouth to beat Harry Garman.

It wasn’t until the 86th minute that Guiseley got their second, this time through Leigh Whelan.

Town’s players showed pace and skill and certainly worried the visitors on many occasions but just couldn’t find the back of the net.

EBAC Northern Division One Champions Ashington prepared for Town’s visit with a 4-0 home win in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary round over relegated NPL East Division side North Shields.

Town also found out last Saturday from that round of the cup who they will now play in the Preliminary round on Saturday week, August 19 and its a trip to the Holt House Stadium, Colne, famous for its sloping pitch and former home of Colne Dynamoes. A coach will leave the Dusty Miller at 11.30 on that day.

Colne, now in the North West Counties League Premier Division, beat another former NPL side in Glossop North End with a 90th minute goal for a 2-1 victory.

North Ferriby, visitors to The Heffernan Utilities Stadium on Monday (7.45), defeated Crook Town 2-1 in their Extra Preliminary round tie. That game will be sponsored by Town’s major sponsors and the town’s largest employers Quickslide Windows and Doors Ltd who are on a major recruitment drive.

There will be a minutes applause ahead of the game for Town’s former long serving secretary, Malcolm Taylor who passed away on July 18.

His funeral will take place the day after at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland at 11.45.

Brighouse Town left back Sam Reed’s move to Sheffield Wednesday finally went through last Thursday when he signed his maiden professional contract with the Championship club.

Reed, 20, son of Town’s assistant manager Stacy Reed, will initially bed in at Hillsborough in the club’s Under-21 squad. He was brought to the Yorkshire Payments Stadium three seasons ago by his father who was also coaching the U-18s at Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire. Over those seasons he has grown in stature, confidence and heaps of skill and was being noticed earlier this past season by Derby County, Sheffield United and Wednesday. The Owls opted to invite him to train full time with them from January onwards while he was still playing with Town and saw enough, aided by some games for the U-21s, to see he would be an asset to them.

“Sam came to us through his dad, but his success has been down to him and the hard work he has put in,” said manager Vill Powell, who began his own playing career at Wednesday.

“He came to us never having played men’s football before, he listened and showed the right attitude.

“He wasn’t too precious when we dipped him and out the team and from there he has built up. We have had him for three years and he’s developed into a fantastic young man and person as well as a fantastic player.

“To get a contract with Sheffield Wednesday is a massive achievement and we are really proud of him.”

His dad said the whole family were still pinching themselves that Sam had earned himself the chance to become a fulltime professional and with Sheffield Wednesday and would be right behind him all the way in the weeks and months ahead.

In the meantime Town played a pre-season friendly at Campion in the Manningham district of Bradford last Friday night and lost to a second half goal by their prolific scorer Marcus Day.

Town had their own chances to score but failed to find the net and picked up a couple of injuries, and with holiday calls they had to call off this past Tuesday evening’s away friendly at Worksop Town.

The squad enjoyed their Footgolf on Saturday lunchtime at Bradley Park Golf Club, followed by lunch at Rastrick Cricket Club and then went over to Leeds for a bonding session in the evening.

At this moment in time before their first Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division league game at Ashington on Saturday, August 12, they now just have Guiseley at home on Saturday week to prepare in match conditions.

In the meantime co-chairman Chris Lister has completed a sponsorship deal for the club’s away kit with National Build Ltd.

The club is mourning the death last week of their former long serving secretary Malcolm Taylor at the age of 84. He gave over 11 seasons to the club until 2016 and prior to that was working with the West Riding County Amatuers, the NCEL and was also a great worker in the girls and women’s football as it grew season upon season.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 15 at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland, at 11.15, followed by a celebration of his life back at the Town clubhouse.

There will be an obituary next week on this tremendous work for the club and grassroots football as a whole.

We can officially announce that Sam Reed has joined Sky Bet Championship side Sheffield
Wednesday on a permanent basis.

Sam has been at the club since he was 16 years old and over the past 3 seasons has developed and
paved his way into the first team and become the club’s most consistent performer. Throughout his
time at the club, Sam has had plenty of competition for the left back position from experienced non-
league footballers but his desire and mental belief as well as his undeniable ability has seen him lock
down the left back position over the last 2 seasons and game by game, Sam improved his
performances and is fully deserving of this change of environment.

This move shows that the pathway from non-league to full-time football can be achieved with the
right attitude and mentality. The move also highlights the development that Brighouse Town has on
its players to help them achieve their individual goals through the environment created at the club
by the management team and the board.

Manager Vill Powell commented “Sam has been a joy to work with over the last 3 years and fully
deserves the opportunity to play professionally. He’s got all the attributes and the mentality to go
far in the game and becomes our 7th player to move onto a higher level or professionally after
making their debut at step 4 with us. We wish Sam all the best of success with Sheffield
Wednesday.”

Assistant Manager and Dad to Sam, Stacy Reed couldn’t be happier for his lad as he achieves his
dream of playing in a full-time dressing room. “I’m delighted that Sam has been able to take the step
up to full time football and I’m sure he’ll kick on from here and have a successful career, but none of
it would have been possible without the help of Brighouse Town and giving him the chance to play
and improve. I took Sam with me when he was 16 to train with the first team when I first joined as
Assistant Manager and the difference and improvement, he has made has been exceptional. I’d like
to thank firstly Vill Powell for believing in Sam and giving him the guidance and game time to help
him improve, Secondly the Club and committee for making the place a great environment for young
players to develop and finally the fans for the support of Sam as I know from speaking to them week
in week, they have taken to him as one of their own. I know he will miss everyone there and I’m sure
he’ll return to watch a few games in the near future.”

We’d like to thank Sheffield Wednesday for their cooperation in the transfer.

Brighouse Town wishes Sam Reed all the best for the future. We couldn’t be prouder of Sam and
what he has achieved so far, and we are looking forward to seeing Sam’s development over the
coming years.