36. End of Season 4 Pre Season 5

 

The hangovers and dust have settled on season 4 of the Ultimate English Pyramid Game and with the First Division Cup now safely locked away in our trophy cabinet after just about surviving in tact being paraded down The Farriers Arms on the evening of our 4-2 win against Campion, as the pub became one big end of season party. Now its time to prepare for Season 5 as another year in the North West Counties Division 1 North beckons. 

2025/2026 Season Review

First Division Cup Winners!

End of Season Stats:

Fans Player of the Season: Gabriel Ellis

Young Player of the Season: Gabriel Ellis

Signing of the Season: Ben Henderson (16 goals, 14 assists)

Goal of The Season: Marlon Gutzmore’s strike vs South Liverpool

Top Goalscorer: Gabriel Ellis 25 goals in league & cup

Most Assists: Ben Henderson: 14

Highest Average Rating: Ben Henderson: 7.20

Average Pass Completion: Sam Wright 44 passes per 90 minutes

North West Counties Division One North League Position: 4^th

Isuzu FA Vase: Second Qualifying Round

First Division Cup: WINNERS

U18s Season Round Up

Our Under 18s finished bottom of the National North East U18s League by just one point from Corby's youth team. A valiant effort once again from our youngsters to try and compete against teams from far larger set ups than our own. Landmark wins came against Spennymoor, Corby and Matlock Town.

Newcastle Benfield win Isuzu FA Vase

Congratulations to Newcastle Benfield who beat Pickering Town 2-0 in the final.

Players Out

Jack Greenwood Leaves Morley

Back up striker, Jack Greenwood has joined Wythenshawe Amateurs on a free transfer. I have had to offload him to reduce the wage bill.

Luke Clery’s loan finishes

Young utility defender Luke Clery has gone back to his parent club, Burscough having enjoyed a successful loan spell at Morley Town, making 28 appearances, providing two assists and with an average rating of 6.85.

Lewis Kemp on loan at Carribbean Sports

Unfortunately for Lewis this is not quite as exotic as it sounds, as Carribean Sports play in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior Premier and are based in the South Yorkshire town of Ecclesfield, where it rains most days and is about 100 miles from the sea..

Michael Francis on loan at Hemingbrough United

My young right back joins York League Division 1 outfit, Hemingbrough United.

Ben Henderson - released

My star player from last season has been released after refusing to sign a new contract and we simply couldn’t afford to keep him. He made 29 appearances, scoring 15 goals and making 9 assists. He will be hard to replace.

Nathan Morley released

My first choice left back and highest paid player has also left the club for the same reasons as Henderson. He made 30 appearances, scoring one goal and making 7 assists.

Denny Marra Joins Woodthorpe Park Rangers

My young Aussie goalie didn’t quite make the team and has joined Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier outfit, Woodthorpe Park Rangers.

Dempsey Paley joins Littlehampton United

My 4^th choice keeper has moved on to Oxford Senior League outfit, Littlehampton United. He did make one appearance for Town.

Transfers In

Joseph Oldham joins Morley Town

We have signed rivals Chadderton’s goalkeeper, Joseph Oldham.

Leeds United Friendly Proposal

We asked the question... but this was sadly their reply...

 New Scout – Neil Hargreaves

We have signed a new scout although he doesn’t look 61 years old in the picture..

 

Board Confidence

Supporters Confidence

Our success in the Division One Cup seems to have improved the mood down the Farriers Arms as they are pleased with my performance as manager. They have even given me a C grade...

Morley Town Up For Sale

Chairman Bryan Wilkins has decided to put the club up for sale as new investors are being sought to take over the club.

Season Expectations

Despite putting the club up for sale, the current board still want the playoffs, reach the second round in our defence of The Division One Cup and turn up for our 1^st Qualifying Round tie in the FA Vase..

Rudd offered New Contract

I’m staying at Morley Town, having been offered a new contract. No prospect of a wage yet but hey ho.

Friendly 1: Morley Town v Bradford City

I have had to go early for our now annual friendly against local bigger club, Bradford City due to our opponents other commitments, so we are literally throwing the players in at the deep end and hoping for the best. Once again it is the hottest ticket in town and Glen Road is expected once again to be a sellout as the League 2 Club visit us again. New signing Joseph Oldham starts in goal, while the rest of my squad will be looking to impress. Nathan Morley and Ben Henderson make their final appearances for the club before their contracts run out in the next few days. The only problem is that it is raining and is forecast to be set in for the day, so could make conditions interesting for the match..

Team: Oldham, Cotteril, Morley, J.Wilkinson, Bentley, Wright, Henderson, Bett-Wildsmith, Ellis, Wood, Preston

Bradford City: Donaghy, Smith, Stubbs, Cousin-Dawson, Roberts, Chapman, Finnigan, Hammond, Young, Omotosho, Udoh

Match Action

As the rain continues to pour, with the only brightness the number of umbrellas surrounding the pitch, it doesn’t take them long to score. A slick move from a Cousin-Dawson throw in, to Chapman who crosses for Young to nod home at the far post. Kevin Preston responds by sprinting down the left flank and picking out a cross for Bett- Wildsmith to head goalwards but is well saved by Ashley Westwood. But.. we give the ball away cheaply in midfield and are punished as Udoh is sent through on goal and he lashes it past Oldham. 2-0 after 6 minutes. This could get messy... Five minutes later it does. Chapman skins Morley and his pinpoint cross is met by Udoh for his second goal. 3-0 down in 11 minutes... Think of the money,, Think of the money.. We do put together a good move which results in a Henderson shot comfortably saved. That is just brief respite though as Preston’s loose pass gets stuck in the mud and is seized upon and worked left to Young who runs at Cotteril before picking out Udoh with a peach of a cross for him to complete a hat-trick within 25 minutes. Oh dear! On the stroke of half time Jimmy Knowles finds the top corner from the edge of the area. We are 5-0 down at half time and are wet and miserable as the rain continues to lash down from above. I need us to stop this from getting embarrassing.

We trudge out for the second half and for a while we manage to stem the tide, with just a Hammond effort smacking the upright. Then on 61 minutes a lovely moment. Haylock throws the ball in to Gutzmore who finds a far post cross for Worsnop to nod the ball back for young 16 year old Alfie Priestly who half volleys the ball into the bottom corner. A huge applause goes around the ground, even from the travelling Bradford fans as the 16-year old whoops with delight and runs towards the crowd, forgetting to pick the ball out the back of the net and run to the centre circle as is customary when the team is behind.. A little bit of inexperience is excused in the moment. 5-1.. we are winning the second half! Not for long. Bradford win a free-kick and Jake Young thumps it into the top corner for his second and Bradford’s 6^th... To be fair to the football league side they were ruthless and took the game seriously. As for us, much work needed, but it is difficult to be harsh on my players when most are only part time against a team of professionals and many of them are just kids. Whatsmore two of our better players, Henderson and Morley are leaving the club tomorrow because their contracts have run out, so their heart probably was not in it. While last year’s pre-season friendly was exciting as the sun shone and the crowds gathered as they saw us give Bradford a real game, this year turned out to be a bit of a damp squib as the heavy rain swept in relentlessly from the Pennines all day on a strong westerly wind. By the end of the game most of the soaking wet supporters had headed home or gone to the pub.

Perhaps we should not play Bradford as our first friendly another year...

Friendly 2: Morley Town v Morley Town U18s

Team: Thompson, Cotteril, Bentley, G.Wilkinson, Haylock, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Wood, Gutzmore

 

Morley U18s: Mohan, Suntner, Goulding, Page,  Carew-Longbottom, Evans, Gregson, Salami, Stockton, Caffrey, Hirogyen

It’s an even game as the youngsters take the game to the first team. Smith’s pass to George Wilkinson is too short and Caffrey latches onto it and is through one goal,.. He finds the corner. 1-0 to the U18s. Three minutes later and they are at it again. From a corner it is cleared to Longbottom who finds James Goulding on the edge of the area. The young defender places a clever shot thorugh the eye of a needle into the corner. 2-0. I demand more and sort a few things out tactically and we start to dominate, but the U18s stand firm. Austin Mohan in goal makes a string of fine saves to deny Smith twice, Preston and Ellis. 2-0 half time. Into the second half and we dominate again but cannot score. Then sub Lee James comes on and he gets the ball after a super pass from Brooksby with the outside of his foot. He dribbles forward before findin the corner with a fierce low drive. 2-1. Then when an U18s move breaks down, James sends O’Connor down the left channel. He squares the ball for Gabriel Ellis who taps home a simple equaliser. With our reputation restored we attack again, with James down the right who forces yet another good save from the impressive Mohan. Honours even. The result against the U18s is often a good barometer as to where we are as a club and its fair to say the future is bright.

Morley Town 2-2 Morley U18s

James                          Caffrey

Ellis                           Goulding

Friendly 3- Morley Town v Garforth Town

Our first “serious” friendly sees us host local NE Counties Premier side, Garforth Town.

Morley Town: Thompson, Odanuston (trial) J.Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Perry (trial) Wright, Smith, Bett-Wildsmith, Ellis, O’Connor, Preston

Garforth Town: Paget, Murray, Maphosa, Walters, Wallace, Petrie, Al-Akkad, Barrigan, McAughtrie, McKinlay, Clifton,

Match Action

We are all over the visitors in the first ten minutes and are rewarded when the already impressive trialist, Odanuston picks up the loose ball after Preston’s teasing cross is cleared and flights in a delightful ball for Ellis to volley home from close range. But from a long goal kick we make a hash of clearing and McKinley latches onto it leaving him one on one with Thompson. He fires confidently home 1-1 against the run of play. We attack some more. Ellis has a fierce shot well saved and Preston nearly sneaks an angled shot in at the near post after another fine move.

Into the second half and we dominate again. Sub Marley Haylock waltzes through the Garforth defence but smacks the post. The rebound falls to Lee James who thwacks the other post.. We create chance after chance, this time Gutzmore’s fierce effort is clawed away by Paget. Then the moment comes, Kain Worsnop’s cross is volleyed in first time by Harry Wood. 2-1 and absolutely deserved. Garforth rally. An innocuous looking cross is cleared by Worsnop.. but the whistle blows.. Penalty.. What?? Worsnop apparently pushed the Garforth player in the back..... Barrigan finds the top corner with the spot kick. 2-2 undeserved. Never mind its only a friendly.

Final Score Morley Town 2-2 Garforth Town

Ellis 11                                        McKinlay 25

Wood 73                                      Barrigan 87 (pen)

 

Friendly 4: Brighouse Town v Morley Town

We make the short trip down the M62 Westbound to take on Northern League Division 1 East outfit, Brighouse Town.

Morley Town: Oldham, Brooksby, Bentley, J.Wilkinson, Perry, Haylock, Priestly, Worsnop, Smith, O’Connor, Gutzmore

Brighouse Town: Malia, Magloire, Bayliss, Krakue, Reed, Grewal, Blevins, Ross, O’Shea, McBride, McPherson

Match Action

We have the better of the opening exchanges and a fluid move sees Alfie Priestly’s effort smack the crossbar with the keeper beaten. But Brighouse attack and a long diagonal ball to O’Shea on the left and his low cross is neatly controlled by McBride who spins expertly away from Bentley before slotting the ball into the corner of the net from close range. 1-0 Brighouse. The hosts are emboldened and several shots are unleashed on our goal but are over the bar. Young Martin O’Connor then fires a fierce downwards headed just wide from a Perry centre. Then McBride picks up the ball for Brighouse and runs at our defence. He twists and turns and goes down. Penalty! Given... Haylock looks like he won the ball. Up steps Rosss.. who finds the top corner. 2-0 Brighouse. Then moments later McPherson this time runs into the area, but George Wilkinson tackles the ball cleanly... The whistle goes.. Penalty.. What the actual? He won the ball you clown.. Ross.. 3-0 Brighouse. Completely undeserved... Stupid refereeing.. Good job its only a friendly.

Into the second half and I make a few changes. Sam Wright intercepts and drives forward to Harry Wood who checks and then plays in Ellis whose powerful drive finds the top corner. Brilliant! Moments later Haylock throws in to Preston whose far post cross is met by the head of Lee James! 3-2! He buries it in the bottom corner. On 56 minutes Haylock twists and turns on the left. His cross evades everyone including the keeper, but James arrives again to sidefoot into an emply net. In just ten minutes we’ve equalised! Strangely we look like scoring with every attack. Brooksby this time plays Ellis in on the right channel. His low cross is sidefootd home by harry Wood, In 15 minutes we’ve turned the match on its head! Never in doubt! We have further chances to increase our lead with Lee James going close twice and Hirogyen shooting just over. Brighouse nearly equalise at the death but Oldham denied them on the line. A fantastic comeback against higher ranked opposition.

Final Score Brighouse Town 3-4 Morley Town

McBride  17                                          Ellis 48

Ross  40,42 (pens)                             James 51,57

                                                         Wood 61

Friendly 5 Pool v Morley Town

This one is purely for the kids, who travel to the picturesque village of Pool in Wharfedale on a sunny Tuesday evening in late July like a school trip.

Team: Mohan, Worsnop, Brooksby, Gooulding, Bentham, Hirogoyen, Haggett, Salami, Caffrey, O’Connor, Woolerton-Smithies

Pool: Wright, Fallowfield, Perkins, Dopson, Heinsoo, Riordan, Gomersall, Mason, Davies, Summerfield, Savage

Match Action

Not much apart from the distant baaing of sheep coming from the surrounding hills... Then we win a free kick which Caffrey heads goalwards and it clips the crossbar. At the other end Summerfield bustles his way past Brooksby and forces a fine save from Mohan. On 32 minutes though Woolerton-Smithies flights in a free kick which is met by Fletch Brooksby’s head and the ball loops past the outstretched arms of Wright and into the corner of the Pool net. 1-0 Morley. Six minutes later Callum Haggett lines up a free kick and it fizzes into the top corner. 2-0 Morley at half time. Into the second half and a flowing move down the right starting with Worsnop to sub Lee James to Haggett who threads the ball through to Oscar Caffrey, who coolly slots the ball past the keeper for 3-0. Moments later and the same three combine on the right and Worsnop’s low cross is turned home by Caffrey for his second. Pool hit back though and Simon Summerfield fires home from close range. On 80 minutes they score again through a George Wilkinson own goal after he deflected in fierce Gomersall effort. No matter we break away down the right again and James crosses low for Caffrey to fire home his hat trick. 5-2 Morley. On the stroke of full time a Mike Gregson corner is cleared back to him. He floats the ball back in and Aaron Smith leaps highest to nod home number 6 and to end his goal drought.

Final Score: Pool 2-6 Morley Town

Summerfield  53               Brooksby 33

Wilkinson o.g 81                Haggett 39

                                        Caffrey 47,49,89

                                       Smith 90

Morley Town in Takeover TalksFriendly 6: Morley Town v Harrogate Town

Morley Town are the subject of a takeover after the club was put up for sale. The favourite to take over is Tyler Palmer who is a current director. Watch this space. It seems more than just pub talk this time around...

Friendly 6: Morley Town v Harrogate Town

So we host now National League outfit, Harrogate Town in another potential moneyspinner. I’ll try and keep the score down and hope it turns out better than the Bradford City game.

Morley Town: Thompson, Cotteril, J.Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie (trial) Bentley, Wright, Preston, Gutzmore, Smith, Ellis

Harrogate Town: Wright, Ramsay, Smith, Andiyapa, Berkoe, Starbuck, Iwumene, Cesay, Taylor-Hart, Duffus, Hugill

Match Action

It doesn’t take them long, just four minutes in fact. We fail to clear a corner and Joe Starbuck fires home with the aid of a huge deflection. Harrogate maintain a measure of control but fail to create another clear cut chance. We can’t get the ball though until.. On 38 minutes Sam Wright picks up the loose ball after Taylor-Hart’s poor header. He finds Aaron Smith in the number 10 position. He swivels look up and spots the run of Gutzmore.. He plays him in perfectly and they young winger controls the ball beautifully inside the area before cooly slotting the ball past Wright in the Harrogate goal. 1-1!

Into the second half and we carve out a good chance. Aaron Smith’s diagonal ball finds Kevin Preston whose looping header is clawed over the bar by the keeper. At the other end Starbuck’s fierce effort hits the bar after good work from Taylor-Hart. We have grown in confidence and start to knock the ball about. One move ends up with Jayden Cotterill up from right back firing just over and sub Lee James seeing a dipping effort fly just the wrong side of the post. Gutzmore then dances down the left before picking out a far post cross for Lee James to volley just over. The Ultras sense blood and roar on Morley. Harrogate know they are in a game and we are asking far too many questions for their liking. Harrogate respond though. A deep cross from the left causes panic in the Morley defence. Thompson flaps at it to Ramsay who dinks the ball back in for Hugill to tap into an empty net from 5 yards out with the keeper nowhere. A bizarre goal really. We attack. Why not.. Gutzmore to Priestly back to Gutzmore! Tipped round the post. A fizzing low drive that was heading into the corner like a tracer bullet. Harrogate see it through, but I am proud of that performance despite losing 2-1, it was game where we more than matched our opponents from a much higher league than ours.

Final Score: Morley Town 1-2 Harrogate Town

Gutzmore 38                                   Starbuck 4

                                                          Hugill 79

Friendly 7: Ilkley Town v Morley Town

Under the shadow of the famous moor at Ben Rhydding Sports Club we take on Ilkley Town in our final friendly.

Team: Oldham, Worsnop, Goulding, Bentley, Bentham, Haylock, Smith, Bett-Wildsmith, Caffrey, O’Connor, Christie

Ilkley: Pointon, Ford, Sarmiento, Leite, Davies, MacNamee, Panagiotu, Millington, Kendall, Smith, Clare

 Things don’t get off to great start. Firstly Ilkley do most of the attacking, secondly Oscar Caffrey gets carried away and nearly breaks the Ilkley player in two with a two footed lunge, earning him a very early bath after just 7 minutes. Great! It’s a surprisingly even game. Millington on theirs has been the best player on the pitch and he tests Oldham with a curling effort. O’Connor forces a good save when sent through by Bett-Wildsmith. 0-0 at the break.

Into the second half and it is the home side who are better, despite me throwing on some first teamers such as Wood and Ellis. Oldham is forced into a point blank save from Kendall. I revert to three at the back for the first time ever with Christie and Worsnop as wingbacks.. Suddenly we click into gear and a sweeping move involving Smith and Wood ends up with the former seeing his shot tipped over the bar. Then Bett-Wildsmith is denied after his looping header from a corner. Then Ellis smacks the post after good work from Harry Wood. On 82 minutes finally we unlock the door. Wood picks up the loose ball after Smith is tackled and slips in Ellis who gleefully thumps the ball into the roof of the net. We have several chances to increase our lead, with Wood and Priestly both hitting the woodwork.. but we found a way and looked quite good with three at the back. Food for thought?

Final Score: Ilkley Town 0-1 Morley Town

                                                     Ellis 83

Morley Town sign Olly Cresdee on loan

Morley Town have taken striker, Olly Cressdee on loan from Farsley Celtic in an exciting deal for both player and club.

Morley Town sign Jewson

Versatile defender, Hugo Jewson signs on free. He can play anywhere in the back four and adds depth to our defensive unit. 

Morley Town First Team Squad for the 2026/27 Season

Goalkeepers

Tony Thompson

Joseph Oldham

Defenders

Jayden Cotterill (DRC)

Sam Bentley (DC/DMC)

George Wilkinson (DLC)

Joe Wilkinson (DRC)

Fletch Brooksby (DRC/DMC/MC/ST)

Robbie Christie (DL/ML)

Marley Haylock (DL/WBL/DMC)

Hugo Jewson (DRLC)

Midfielders

Sam Wright (DMC/MC)

Karlos Bett-Wildsmith (MRLC)

Lee James (MR/AMR)

Marlon Gutzmore (MRL/AMRL)

Kevin Preston (MRL/AMR)

Alfie Priestley MC/AMLC)

Forwards

Gabriel Ellis (ST)

Harry Wood (ST)

Aaron Smith (AMC/ST)

Olly Cresdee (ST) (on loan from Farsley Celtic)

Martin O'Connor (ST)

After the pre-season formalities we are ready to go for another season in the North West  Division One North (hopefully our last) See how we get on next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!