There will be a 9:30am pitch inspection tomorrow ahead of the game against Sheffield Football Club

Ensure to follow all social media handles for news on tomorrows game. We will provide an update as soon as we are able to.

#OneTownOneTeam

Calling all old Blakeboroughs FC and Brighouse Town FC players – and partners –  to come along and enjoy a drink or tow and watch this game alongside many others and share memories and celebrate the life of Pete ‘Gilly’ Gill.

Bar open from 12 noon in readiness for the 12.30 kick off of Liverpool v Chelsea, Brighouse Town V  Sheffield FC ( The worlds oldest football club) at 3.00 and then afterwards in the bar and into the evening – all to celebrate the footballing legend that was Gilly

Brighouse Town thanks to the inclement weather have just endured a frustrating 72 hours of postponements with the NPL East Division League game called off at Shildon just after they had got there last Saturday and then having to call off Tuesday’s home third round Senior Cup West Riding County FA tie with Campion owing to a frostbound ground.

For the game in Durham, Town were assured to travel after a 10 o’clock inspection by Level 3 referee Sam Parnaby and arrived around one o’clock after a battering by crosswinds on the A1(M). Both sets of players got ready for their warm ups but around 2pm the Sunderland referee Kieran Downey, appointed on the Friday when the previously appointed official was replaced, went on to the well grassed pitch and then said minutes later he had problems with several areas of it.

He was approached by the two managers, then by the Shildon chairman David Dent and secretary Martyn Tweddle and then the Brighouse secretary David Parker but would not change his mind.

Parker left the pitch with the players of both sides working out and telephoned the chairman of the NPL Mark Harris in the presence of messrs Dent and Tweddle and was asked questions and also advised on what the two clubs should do.

Mr Downey refused to change his mind, despite Town manager Vill Powell asking him to make a start and if he had to abandon it, so be it.

Parker stressed to him it had cost the club £650 for the coach and wages despite not playing and he still did not budge.

Both Shildon and Brighouse have since filed a joint report to the head of appointments and MOAS based at Wembley and also to Mark Harris and the secretary of the NPL, Angie Firth.

Shildon had to reimburse spectators already in the ground who stayed to watch Brighouse have 45 minutes training on the pitch without injuries and Shildon over 70 minutes without injuries, a possibility for the players that concerned Mr Downey who was jointly reported for not even rolling a ball or bouncing one, part of the rules for deciding on whether to call a game off.

Town’s manager was desperate for the game to be played as he is looking for game time now for his players with only goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo still on the injured list and having a full squad to choose from.

That is why he was so upset that game was off and then Tuesday night as he looks towards Saturday’s home game with Sheffield FC (3.00). The game is being sponsored by former teammates and friends of the late Peter Gill, who passed away in November after a short illness. His former teammates have been targeting ex-players of Brighouse Town or even the original Blakeboroughs, better known as Blakes team founded in 1963, but also open to anyone else who knew Gilly.

Life vice-president Ray McLaughlin said: ” There are a couple of options: first just turn up, pay at the turnstile, have a beer with other friends and ex-team mates of Gilly and remember a top bloke.
Option 2: “Join in the sponsorship of the game. £20 gets you entrance to the game, a free pint and free pie and pies or burger and chips and helps support the club, and a donation to the British Heart Foundation.
If you’d like to do the sponsorship, please let Josh Wood know today (Thursday) on 07799381499 to help with numbers. Please feel free to pass this on to any friends you feel might also be interested once you have read it in Echo Sport.”

Returning to the squad and possibly set for a place on Saturday is Bradford-based strong and pacey wideman Mohammad Qasim who has returned to the club after three months with Guiseley. New manager at Nethermoor, Paul Phillips informed Powell that the former Silsden and Campion player did not fit into his NPL Premier Division plans. Powell didn’t need asking twice if he wanted him back and was given the go-ahead by joint chairmen Chris Lister and James Howard to sign him back on.

Silsden have also made a move to try and re-sign Halifax-based striker Jack Normanton who also rejoined Town back in July after playing well in pre-season matches and scoring goals. Normanton has asked his manager for time to think over the move as it would mean dropping a level.

Wakefield-based midfielder James Tetley, who also joined the club in the close season but has seen his outings limited, has been training with Nigel Clough’s Mansfield Town and is also wanted by the Chesterfield FC Community programme who also had former centre half Harrison Beeden, now at Whitby Town, with them.

The Campion tie will now be played weather permitting at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium on Tuesday, January 24 (7.45).

Please see details below to let people know about this game who might want to come along and support it and remember a great friend and team mate. Especially targeting ex-players of Brighouse Town or even the original Blakeborough, better known as Blakes team founded in 1963, but also open to anyone else who knew Gilly.
Couple of options: 1st just turn up, pay at the turnstile, have a beer with other friends and ex-team mates of Gilly and remember a top bloke.
Option 2: Join in the sponsorship of the game. £20 gets you entrance to the game, a free pint and free pie and pies or burger and chips and helps support the club, and a donation to the British Heart Foundation.
If you’d like to do the sponsorship, please let Josh know on 07799381499 to help with numbers. Please feel free to pass this on to any friends you feel might also be interested.
Thank you.

It could be said without doubt that Brighouse Town gifted a strong and talented Stocksbridge Park Steels all three points last Saturday at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium in a 3-2 reverse.

Town were off and running quickly as early as the eighth minute when Myron Gibbons blasted home for a parried Javelle Clarke shot.

However, five minutes later the visitors were level as Tomas Poole came in from the left and placed his shot to inside the near post of Brett Souter.

This gave the south Yorkshire side confidence to come and attack the Town goal with Ify Ofoegbu, Ross Godwin and Lewis Macaskill creating plenty and making sure the Town defence worked hard to keep them out.

That was until the 35th minute when a mix up between centre-back Aiden Walker and Souter saw Macaskill brought down in the penalty box and from the spot Ofoegbu made no mistake to put his side 2-1 up.

Walker was booked as the away support called for a red card!

The second half was also end to end and Town were really growing into the game and taking charge and a goal looked imminent. Gibbons was close with a tremendous hook shot and Jack Wilson, Jack Boyle and Tom Haigh all went close.

In the 80th minute Town did level when substitute Corey Gregory sent in a powerful shot from 25 yards out to beat Ben Townsend all ends up.

Town pressed for the winner against a shocked Stocksbridge side but it was the side placed third in the table who came out winners in the fourth minute of added time. Town gave away a free kick out on the left and Kurtis Turner sent in his shot on goal and it went right across the defensive team and Souter and into the far corner of the net for the winner.

A point against a good side would have been a good outcome but the supporters left ruing the end result and a chance to advance further up the table and also saying in the end their side had really gifted them the win.

Second half subs for Stocksbridge were former Town striker Luke Rawson and Bradford City loanee Dylan Youmbi.

Town go again on Saturday away to Durham side Shildon (3.0) who are second from bottom and not having the best of seasons and now under their third manager.

Striker Laurence Sorhaindo, who missed Saturday’s game with Stocksbridge after a knee injury sustained at Tadcaster Albion on Bank Holiday Monday, is not looking at a scan but rest for the jarred knee. He said it was feeling much easier ahead of the game and would see how things went this week before putting his hand up or not.

Reserve goalkeeper Jamie Hassall who had taken over from an injured Souter against Ossett United and then played well against Tadcaster Albion was out with illness for the Stocksbridge game.

On the night before the game utility player Elliot Harrison left the club and joined Huddersfield club AFC Emley.

Town manager Vill Powell has in the meantime awarded a contract to left back or centre-back Sam Reed. The 19-year-old son of assistant manager Stacy Reed has put in some very consistent performances this season and has also shown his utility value. His contract runs until the end of the 2023-24 season and also includes an option to stay with the club beyond that.

Derby County were represented at last Saturday’s game and Bradford City also came to watch both their players Jack Wilson and Dylan Youmbi.

Town are at home on Tuesday night against Campion (7.45) in the third round of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup. Admission will be £5, £3 for concessions and £2 for Juniors 12-16yrs, and free for Under 12’s accompanied by an adult.

There is a coach going to Shildon which will leave the Dusty Miller on Halifax Road at 11am.