BRIGHOUSE TOWN held their annual Presentation Evening at the Midland Hotel, Bradford, last Saturday evening and for the first time shared the occasion with the Brighouse Town Women’s team.

One hundred and ten players, management, committeemen, supporters and sponsors enjoyed the occasion which was in the more than capable hands of Pault Ramsden, the Huddersfield Town PA announcer and also the former Old Brodleians player and Lightcliffe CC captain, who is now also a sponsor of BrighouseTown with his company Tog 24.

He welcomed Town’s chairman and stadium sponsor James Howard, MD of Yorklshire Payments, and vice chairman and director of football Charlie Tolley before the speeches and presentations began by Mr Howard and then town manager Vill Powell and the Women’s successful team manager Rob Mitchell who brought along the West Riding County Cup his team won back in April when they beat Leeds United Women on penalties after the sides were locked at 1-1.

The Clubman of the Year award for the 2021-22 season went to Andy Eccles for his work throughout Covid 19 in safeguarding the club with colleague Ray McLaughlin and his extensive work since with an architect and Calderdale Council in ensuring the club has all its plans and licenses for various things in order.

He has also addressed the car parking issues that have been laid at the club’s door by some of the near neighbours of the club with West Yorkshire Police and the council and done a splendid job.

On the playing front, Laurence Sorhaindo came later from his auntie’s wedding to receive the Players’ Player of the Year’ and also the Golden Boot as leading goalscorer. Players’ Player for the Women’s team went to Shauna Legge and lthe leading goalscorer was Leah Embley.

Jack Boyle was the Supporters Player of the Year and Shauna Legge also took the Women’s Supporters award.

The Women’s Manager of the Year award went to Sophie John and for the men Harrison Beeden.

Most promising teenage full-back Sam Reed, son of assistant manager Stacy, picked up £50 from Mr Brian Marsden who, along with his colleagues on the match day fundraising team, was delighted with the Sheffield lad’s progress.

Long serving players Tom Haigh (captain) and James Hurtley, handed out gifts to the kitmen Darrell Hadala and Will Armitage and physio therapist Emily Harnden who is also now working for the Womens team.

Town have agreed another pre-season friendly, this time at home with Guiseley on Friday, July 22 at 7.30, to add to the Huddersfield Town game on July 2..

Details will be released next week of the competition that Town are also running in the pre-season like last July and early August.

ALL ROADS led to Hove Edge on Friday evening as Brighouse Town hosted near neighbours Liversedge in the West Riding County FA Senior Cup Final (7.45).

For the past three weeks director of football and vice chairman Charlie Tolley and his colleagues have been planning for what will be a truly momentous game to go into the history books of both clubs.

Town have also been keeping their fingers crossed over the weather as they are hoping to park the majority of the cars on the adjoining pitches to the main pitch and want the firm surface to remain. When Liversedge came for the December 27 festive derby there was a crowd inside the Yorkshire Payments Stadium of 827 and it was a game Town lost 2-1 in added time.

On Friday, officials are planning for a crowd in the region of 1400 following the visitors taking the Pitching-In East Division championship title and when they entertained Town on Easter Monday the attendance was 1,235 in their Clayborn ground to see the 1-1 draw.

In the end with the rain on Friday night the attendance was 1,087 but still excellent.

Town, who have finished seventh in the table, have been training intensively over the past ten days since their 3-1 setback to Stockton Town who themselves lost out in the East Division play-off final 2-1 to Marske last Saturday.

Town had three experienced players missing that day through injury after their nine match unbeaten run, but skipper and midfielder Tom Haigh was back in contention.

Town’s frontline gave Liversedge plenty to think about in both games, more so than their manager Jon Rimmington has experienced all season, apart from their only league defeat to Yorkshire Amateur in mid-season.

On their day the likes of Jack Boyle, Javelle Clarke, leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo, Zeph Thomas and Elliot Harrison are a real handful. Town’s defence has been well led once again by former Rotherham Town youngster Harrison Beedan, and its the rich blend of youth and experience in that department that has shone through in the nine match run. Teenager Harry Wilkinson has come in and done a fine job for the injured Hurtley, while fellow teenager Sam Reed improves with each game. Experienced utility player Mohammed Ibrahim has been a revelation at right back, both defending, and then in a wing back role setting up fine moves and scoring goals in great style, just as he did at Yorkshire Amateur and then Sheffield FC.

Utility player Elliot Harrison, fullback Sam Reed and former Leeds United academy goalkeeper Charlie English have all committed themselves to Town for next season in the past week.

Wide player Shiraz Khan has left the club for pastures new.

On the night, Town lost 3-1 despite taking the lead in the 18th minute through leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo.

Liversedge came back just two minutes later to equalise through Benjamin Atkinson and that is how it remaned until half-time.

In the 66th minute Liversedge took the lead through Nick Walker and added a third eight minutes later.

That is how it stayed until the final whistle.

The Liversedge club were highly delighted that the Brighouse Town team and management gave them a guard of honour as they entered the pitch to congratulate them on winning the East Division title.

BRIGHOUSE TOWN completed their 2021-22 Pitching-In NPL East Division season with a home 3-1 defeat to fourth-placed Stockton Town, thus ending their nine match unbeaten run.

They had gone into the game minus three of their most experienced players in skipper Tom Haigh, Corey Gregory and James Hurtley who were all carrying injuries.

Stockton, supported by over 100 dressed in St George fancy dress in the 505 crowd, had plenty to play for if Cleethorpes Town had slipped up at Hebburn Town, but they won 4-0 and, as a result, Stockton went to the Lincolnshire coast on Tuesday night for their play-off tie.

Town have finished in seventh place, two positions off the play-offs and tied on 54 points-goal tallys the difference- with sixth-placed Dunston and eighth-placed Worksop Town.

A Nathan Mulligan penalty for a foul committed in the box by Sam Reed set the Teesiders on their way after 30 minutes. Two minutes into the second half, Stockton increased their lead when Kevin Hayes put Mikey Roberts through and his sliced shot fell into the path of Nathan Steel to make it 2-0.

Victory was virtually assured for the visitors after 64 minutes when Mulligan put a ball over the top of the Town defence for Hayes to finish past Brett Souter.

Moments later Brighouse’s leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo pulled a goal back after the ball was handled in the box and despite substitutions the home side just could not get another goal to set up a grandstand finish. Stockton’s Roberts hit the crossbar minutes from time.

Vill Powell’s charges are now in training for the West Riding County Senior Cup final with East Division champions Liversedge on Friday week, May 6 (7.45) when a 1,000 plus crowd is expected at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium.

Haigh and Hurtley are expected to be fit, but Gregory, injured at Liversedge on East Monday, is doubtful following his badly sprained ankle.

Leeds-based Yorkshire Amateur, who have Halifax-based and former Town player Nathan Cartman as their assistant player-manager-coach, have been relegated owing to their ground not meeting grading standards. At the moment they join Pickering Town and Frickley Athletic.

Town have already agreed a home pre-season friendly with Huddersfield Town for Saturday, July 2 (3.0)

Stockton Town will now play Marske on Saturday in the East Division play-off final following Tuesday night’s semi-finals.

Stockton beat Cleethorpes 2-1 and Marske defeat Shildon in extra time 2-1.

Brighouse Town FC ask that vehicle drivers who visit the Yorkshire Payments Stadium, park in a considerate manner towards other road users, pedestrians and occupants of local housing.
There have been complaints about irresponsible parking and the police will issue fixed penalty notices to any drivers who park illegally or cause an unnecessary obstruction on the road or adjacent footpaths.