4. Welcome t'Yorkshire Amateur Premier League

  

              Our Home Ground, Glen Road, Morley

The Yorkshire Amateur Premier Division is Level 12 on the English pyramid. There are 13 teams, of which the top two win promotion to Level 11, named the Yorkshire Amateur Supreme Division (cue Diana Ross jokes). The bottom two sides are relegated to Level 13 which is the Yorkshire Amateur League Championship.

List of Teams in the Yorkshire Amateur Premier Division 2022/23 and their locations.

Beeston Juniors (Beeston, Leeds)

Collegians (Linley, Huddersfield)

Ealandians (Elland)

Gildersome Spurs Old Boys (Gildersome, Leeds)

Golcar United Reserves (Huddersfield)

Greetland (near Halifax)

Leeds City Reserves (Adel, Leeds)

Lepton Highlanders (Lepton, Huddersfield)

Nostell Miners Welfare Reserves (Nostell nr Wakefield)

Route One Reserves (Keighley)

Shire Academics (Headingley, Leeds)

Woodkirk Valley (Tingley, Leeds)

So here goes nothing then.... My first game in the  is away to the Collegians in Huddersfield

Match 1 – Collegians v Morley Town 03/09/22

The day has finally arrived, the big kick off in the Yorkshire Amateur Premier Division and a big away trip down the M62 Westbound to Linley, Huddersfield to take on the Collegians. This is a tricky away trip, especially if there is a queue at Chain Bar, Bradford and the bus driver remembers to avoid the lane which takes you to Cleckheaton. Anyway I digress, I’m excited to finally get the season under way with at the very least, a decent First XI to compete at this level and hopefully win promotion to the Supreme League. The long road starts here...

Morley Town: 4-3-3 Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Lamplough, Azbogo, Davies, Payne, Rowe, De Martin

Collegians: 3-4-3 Holiday, Taylor, Reilly, Emson, Bangura, Gelsthorpe, Dunn, Jacko, Lopez, Drewery, Massamba

They kick off. Not much happens in the opening few minutes. We get a random free kick. Davies puts in a peach of a ball and John Cyrus rises at the far post with a looping header into the top corner. What a start! Then it ticks until they get another free kick. This one is played near post and young Brook Emson powers a header past Reay for 1-1. Sanchez Payne misses a gilt edge chance to restore the lead after a good breakaway. Then, another free kick and Bigger Massamba strikes it home Roberto Carlos style to give the home side the lead. Majed Alasttal shows great tenacity on the left before putting in a good cross, which flicks off the defender, into the path of Sanchez Payne on the volley.. He nearly bursts the back of the net! What a strike from the former Leeds man.. But.. Collegians go down the other end. Jacko plays a great crossfield pass to Bangoura on the left. He then plays the ball through to Taron Drewery who half volleys the ball fiercely into the top corner. They seem to score with every attack. 3-2 to them at the break. We start the second half brightly and Cowgill heads just over. Arron Davies just skims the bar with a free kick. Then in a moment of madness, Payne is elbowed in the face and the culprit, Taylor is shown a straight red. Then just sheer stupidity. A long goal kick out is missed by my defender and Drewery sprints clear to score his second. We can’t defend to save our lives.. Miraculously we score again. Another pinpoint Davies free kick and Cyrus is there to nod home his second at the far post. 4-3. Suddenly we have Collegians on the ropes. Payne runs down the right and crosses in Handball! Penalty! Up steps the 42 year old sub Jeff Smith.... experienced ex pro.. confidence personified........ Keeper saves. Disappointment! Then from a goal kick, Smith feeds De Martin, into the area.. hits the foot of the post.. No way! We could and should have won this... Instead we start our Yorkshire Amateur Premier League campaign with an annoying defeat..

Final Score Collegians 4-3 Morley Town

Emson 19                            Cyrus 9,68

Massamba 29                     Payne 41

Drewery 45,64                                 

Players Out

I have decided to get rid of a couple of players who are never going to make it (even at Morley Town)

Evan O’Donnell (AML/ST) – transferred to Chipping (West Lancs Div 2)

Dobrin Biserov – (DLC) released

New Performance Analyst

I thought I may as well have one, not that I normally go in for these namby pamby roles. I put out an advert and six people applied, all as equally rubbish at Performance Analysing as eachother, so I chose the one with the best name.. Welcome to Morley, John Paul Lines. Perhaps he can join a few dots as to why we are conceding so many goals.. His cupboard has been built in the vaults of Morley Town Hall.

 

New Goalkeeping Coach

At the request of my goalkeepers, who were sick of me trying to coach them, I have appointed John Parker to take their training sessions.

 Match 2 Morley Town v Beeston Juniors

Our first home game of the season! Glen Road looks a picture in the early autumn glow as Beeston make the short trip across the A6110, past The White Rose Centre and into Morley for the Ring road derby. They won their first game, we should have but didn’t. I go in with a 4-2-3-1 and hope for the best.

Team: Reay, Busfield, Cowgill, Cyrus, Alasttal, Lamplough, Azbogo, Davies, Payne, Rowe, Smith

Beeston Juniors: Porter, Coyle, Foulkes, Richardson, Thompson, Barwick, Steele, Cannonier, Holland, Ablett, Fernandes

We have the better of the opening exchanges and Davies heads a Smith cross just over. But.. the 42-year old mis controls the ball and allow Beeston to break. The lively Jenson Abblett is slipped in behind our defence and coolly finishes under the advancing Reay. We respond well. Azbogo grits his teeth and runs through the middle. He finds Lamplough. The veteran sprays it left to the overlapping Alasstal. His perfect cross is met by the head of Louis Rowe.. Yes 1-1! We look stronger and start to knock the ball around confidently. Agbozo has a shot over the bar after good work from Payne and then Rowe misses a great chance. We look favourites to take the lead. Then OUT OF BLOODY NOWHERE., Fernandes has a free kick just outside the box. Yes guess what he finds his inner Beckham to blast it into the top corner.... Completely out the blue.. No justice in this game.. none! Second half. Alattsal gets down the left and crosses.. Penalty! There’s pushing in the box.. Up steps Busfield confidently.. and hits the penalty straight at the keeper.. Two games two missed penalties and two-one down.. We dominate the half. Substitute Tidsell has several efforts and Sanchez Payne goes close, but the game peters out to an undeserved 2-1 defeat.

Final Score Morley Town 1-2 Beeston Juniors

Rowe 26                                               Ablett 19

                                                              Fernandes 45

More New Signings!

Gabriel Ellis (ST)

I have snapped up this promising young striker, who is taking a huge fall down the pyramid to Level 12 from being released by League 1 Accrington Stanley no less.. He should take the Yorkshire Amateur Premier League by storm and may be just what we need to improve our fortunes in front of goal.

Sam Wright (DMC/MC)

I’ve found a ball winner! The former Bradford City and Scarborough Athletic man joins Morley Town to add some much needed steel to the midfield.

Kieran Graham (MRC/AMRC)

This versatile non-league journeyman joins the ranks at Glen Road and adds depth to the attacking midfield and right wing roles.

Match 3 – Route One Reserves v Morley Town

A must win game. The board and supporters are demanding a big victory in this one against the wonderfully named Route One Rovers Reserves, who are based on the dark side of Bradford in Keighley. I expect John Beck or Tony Pulis to pop out of the woodwork for this one.. All three new signings, Ellis, Wright and Graham make their debuts in a new look midfield and attack.

Team: 4-3-2-1 Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Lamplough, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Smith

Route One Reserves: Avery, Haylock. Holt, Tracey, Landricombe, Reape, Carson, Debarro, Ring, Dunkersley, Kamara

Match Action

We start brightly. Ellis plays in Jeff Smith who fires just wide. Graham plays a sweeping crossfield pass for Smith. The veteran checks inside before delivering a pinpoint cross for Gabriel Ellis to nod home at the far post. A brilliant move and goal. We look in control.. Agbozo intercepts and finds Wright, who knocks it right for Graham, who plays a beautiful slide rule pass for Ellis to run onto. He coolly slots home for number two! Then, young Ellis bullies the Route One Defence and bundles his way past two defenders before slamming a fierce shot against the bar. Unlucky! The impressive Graham turns provider once again as he plays in Ellis who rifles home number three into the top corner from the angle. We looked a different team today and the three new signings have made all the difference. A much needed win which finally gives our Yorkshire Amateur League campaign lift off!

Final Score: Route 1 Reserves 0-3 Morley Town

                                                          Ellis 10,43,67

Match 4 – Morley Town v Lepton Highlanders

There are some cool names in amateur football and the Lepton Highlanders must rank quite highly in these stakes. The sports and social club from Huddersfield visit Glen Road in 11^th place, while we are in a middling 8^th. I aim to carry on the good work with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Sanchez Payne returns to the right wing and Graham moves inside to the number 10 role behind Ellis.

Morley Town: Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttall, Wright, Azbogo, Graham, Payne, Ellis, Smith

Lepton Highlanders: Mouman, Thompson, Douglas, Tyson, Koman, Francis, Richards, Haynes, Scott, Butler, Friar

Match Action

The visitors start brightly, but we create the first chance when Cyrus releases Ellis in behind, but the keeper blocks his shot. Then a lovely move sees Payne release Graham, but once again the keeper is equal to it. Smith wins a free kick and floats it to the back post where Cyrus rises highest and his looping header cannons off the crossbar What do we have to do to score?  Into the second half and it we assert dominance again, but it looks like it is going to be one of those days. Payne and Smith have chances, but blaze the ball over the bar on each occasion. Lepton offer little at the other end, except for set pieces which they seem to be winning to frequently for my liking. We huff and puff, but cannot blow the Lepton Highlander’s house down. Graham gets down the right and crosses into substitute Rowe, but his scuffed effort is easily saved. 0-0 a frustrating result. On the plus side we looked a more coherent, well-organised team, who just couldn’t put the ball in the onion bag when it mattered. The team were booed off by the Morley Ultras as they left the pitch and trudged home.

Final Score Morley Town 0-0 Lepton Highlanders

A mixed set of results has left Morley Town languishing in the bottom half of the Yorshire Amateur Premier League. Will the new team start to gel and move up the table, or will Rudd's tenure at Morley Town be over before it has even started? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game! 

Read Part 5 Getting to know you here!