Brian Davey's Blog

A year on and we are ahead of schedule, we wanted a top seven finish and we finished strongly to come third in the division, as well as picking up the Whitworth Cup along the way.
On and off the pitch we have had a fantastic season new players have come in and helped the younger lads, they too have all played their part, effort, commitment, a willingness to learn and a superb attitude to match there ability on the park. A committee that works tirelessly, a match programme second to none at this standard and higher.
Everything is in place to take this club to a higher level. The new clubhouse will be up before Christmas, planning for floodlighting has been submitted and we now have something to work for.
We have now got an under eighteen side led by Pete Hazlett with some talented young lads. They will play on a Sunday with the aim of some pushing to play at senior level with the reserves, managed by Mark Pedel and Joe McGrory who has been another addition to the management team.
As usual with a club, Knaresborough revolves around the three main roles, Chairman (Terry Hewlett), Secretary (Ian Pickles) and Treasurer (Geoff Waite). Without these people the club would be rudderless. Of course these roles are supported by many others in an effort to prosper and be a club to be reckoned with. As long as the hard work is put in by all, that is playing and non-playing staff the club will continue to grow.
Knaresborough Town teams will no longer be underdogs. Opposition now know that we won’t be a pushover. We are now stronger, older and very fit, Duncan as seen to that!!
The players know the gap between us and last seasons league champions, Carlton, has been closed, lessons have been learnt, we will try to play good football but most of all we will win!!! Because the desire in this club will not be beaten.
Brian Davey (manager).

Christmas and the new year are fast coming upon us and all of us will be making new year resolutions and hoping to better ourselves in the future. Here at Knaresborough we have been doing that in a way. Our plans for the future are to improve the team so that we can do well at the level we are at and then to progress into a higher standard (North East Counties). To gain entry to the North East Counties there are many stipulations regarding ground improvement for example - ground security, floodlights, hard standing around the full pitch perimeter and external toilets. We are in the process of putting together plans to achieve these standards and committee members have already met with the North East Counties and other bodies to try and find the best solutions to getting there. Of course these things take time and a great deal of money but we believe that we have already started with the improvement of team results.
On team results it is so refreshing to be at the top end of the table at this time of year, as opposed to struggling at the bottom as we have been for the last few years. If we can stay in this pack until the end of the season and I see no reason why not! Then we are putting down the first foundations of building for higher standard at Knaresborough Town. Good results don’t just come on their own, it is down to hard work on and off the pitch. Brian, Duncan,Mark and the players should be proud of what they have achieved in such a short time. All we ask as a committee is - keep things going and don’t rest on your laurels.
I have said this on many occassions this club belongs to all who are involved, committee members and players it is up to us all, to make sure that we help to try and improve the standards here at Knaresborough Town.

Paul Howard.

Season 2007/08

The new season is now underway and we have got off to a fairly good start. With the introduction of Brian Davey and Duncan Falconer the club wanted a fresh start and it is believed that the pair who have had a lot of success at their previous club Sherwood FC will, given time do similar for Knaresborough Town.
Brian has not gone out and brought in a whole new team of players but has subtly brought new players who he thinks will be of benefit to the club and help the players from last season, thus enhancing the team. Liam Gray (pictured) being one of the new signings.
In the last three games he has given everyone a chance to prove what they have to offer and I think now both he and Duncan are forming a picture of what is required.
I have seen all three games so far and starting with the opener at Carlton first impressions were good. We did let ourselves down with our defending in that game but made up for it with a good attitude and the willingness to keep going to the end and not give up hence 4-4 after being 4-2 down, a score line which in the past would have shattered the confidence of our team.
The Bardsey game was totally different we weren’t at the races for most of the first half and that proved costly against last seasons champions and a team that look as though they are going to be there and there about this season.
It is the game following a defeat that is always going to show if a team has the ability to shake off a bad result and get on with things, and this is exactly what Brian and the team did at Howden Clough. Alright Howden have lost a few players from last year but Brian and Duncan were bold enough to change the team formation a move that made the team look strong in all departments and swept Howden away with ease.
I feel sorry for Mark Pedel and his players in the respect that they have been frustrated for two weeks running now by not being able to start their league campaign. Mark, in charge of the team this season (his second at the club) is raring to go and would be bitterly disappointed to hear at 11:00 am that the game was off. It is so annoying when teams (Tadcaster Magnet Sports and Altofts) can not field a team of players at this stage of the season. Knaresborough Town are professional in their running of the club and would never let a situation like that arise.
I have a good feeling for the future of our club under the new management, things will not happen overnight but I am sure that improvements will be seen in our results.
The club are working hard off the pitch, the erecting of the new clubhouse and an ambition to drive forward and improve facilities with a new stand and eventually floodlights will see Knaresborough maybe pushing for a higher standard of football.

Paul Howard.

Proud of Knaresborough Town Players.

It is some time now since my last blog but that is only because of time available to sit down and write. I felt that I had to let my feelings be known about just how proud I was with the players on Wednesday night in the Whitworth Cup Final. Knaresborough Town may not have won the Whitworth Cup on Wednesday night but they certainly won respect. 'Respect' not only from within the club but from people not involved with the club. It was a privilege for me to be involved, and it may seem a strange thing to say but I was so proud that I did not feel too disappointed for too long. The players didn't lose the game they had it taken away from them. They did themselves and the club credit, well done to all. We have come on a long way in 2 months and the lads are playing with some self belief now. They have a lot of strong character to go along with their individual abilities and when you have these two elements and the willingness to play as a team member and respect your other team members you are on your way to success. We have created a high standard for ourselves and we must make sure that we maintain this standard from now on.

Paul Howard.

Tough week for Knaresborough Town

This week has been pretty eventful for the club. The club has had to come to the decision of parting company with the first team manager. It was a decision not taken lightly for we all know how difficult a job it is but it was felt that it was in the best interests of the club if we did do it now and then who ever took over would have some time to try and turn things around. That someone happens to be Michael West and myself. Both of us have had previous experience of managing in the West Yorkshire League and believe that we will be able to help get the team out of this situation. It must be stressed though that neither of us have any ambitions for football management, other than to see the end of the season out for our club and keep it in the Premier Division of the West Yorkshire League. It is merely a case of club members offering their services and experience, whilst the club seek out an alternative.
We still have thirteen games to play, all which will be tough but we believe that we can turn it round with a lot of hard work and determination. The squad of players must believe that they can turn things around and above all unite. It is easy to do this when things are going well, it is now that we have our backs to the wall that we must be as one in our commitment to get out of the relegation zone.
Paul Howard.

Knaresborough's destiny is in their own hands.

With no games being played this weekend things at the club have been very quiet. There was only 1 game played in the Premier Division that was between Ossett Common Rovers and Aberford Albion the best result for Knaresborough was an Aberford victory and as luck would have it, that is what happened, with Aberford beating Ossett 2-0. Of course this encouragement is only psychological and there is still a lot of hard work to be done. Still bottom of the Premier Division we may be but the picture looks better and destiny is in our own hands. Chances of staying in the division may now be better than those of a number of the teams immediately above us. Ossett and Pontefract are both due to visit Manse Lane over the next 2 weeks it is up to us to take the points of them and lift ourselves up out of the situation.
These games will be difficult because they too are fighting for survival we have to show our commitment to the cause. We have to be committed to achieving and we must be best prepared.
The reserves too have a big match coming up. Their semi-final in the Hulme Cup against Kirkby Malzeard. It would be excellent for the club if both teams were to get through to a Cup final this season. So the commitment from those players must be equal to that of the first team squad. I wish all our players the very best of luck in the forthcoming games.

Paul Howard.

Knaresborough Town Match day preparation.

Usually most of us know what goes on regarding the pre-match preparation for the players, I wanted to highlight what else goes on to get ready for the game on a Saturday.
What goes on to prepare for match days?
Take a normal Saturday First team game, early in the season when the grass is still growing and when the weather permits, the pitch is prepared on a Friday afternoon by either Nigel Ellerker or Barry Dodds. Don't forget that sometimes after a particularly wet match day the pitch may be badly damaged, as it was a couple of weeks ago this has to be put right for the following week. It is not a five minute job and takes a lot of effort and time to put things right.
Early on the Saturday morning (usually at first light) Phil Hudson and Steve Bradley will go down and put the goal nets in place. Kevin Heaton will follow up at about 8:30 to mark out the pitch, this can take up to 2 hours.
Away from the pitch Paul Howard is preparing the match day programmes, these have been made ready for printing through the week by Colette Hewlet and himself, and go to the printers on a Friday, ready for collection on the Saturday morning. On the Saturday they are collated then pinned together.
Chairman, Terry Hewlett and his Wife Anne are busy make the refreshments for the teams after the game.
Kevin returns about 12:30 to get ready to sell the programmes, bear in mind he has already been here 2 hours. He stands on the gate for another forty five minutes to an hour selling programmes.
Treasurer Geoff Waite comes down at 12:30 to get the bar ready and brings the playing kits down for both teams.
That is just the Saturday morning events but a lot of work goes in prior to this, weekly Monday night meetings where the club affairs are discussed and decisions made. Decisions made to try and improve the standards and facilities of Knaresborough Town Football Club. I have mentioned a few names there but all the committee members do other work in addition to this (there is too much to mention in this article).
Obviously this is not a unique situation, hundreds of clubs around the country are doing the same but I thought it was worth a mention. The work is done voluntarily and it is pride in their club that makes people do this sort of work.