37. Goals Galore!

 


So another season beckons and with all the pre-season formalities over with and the nights starting to draw in it can only mean one thing.. A brand new football season.. What will the 2026/27 bring for Morley Town FC?




The board expect us to reach the playoffs in the league, be competitive in the FA Vase and the First Division Cup. The league has to be the priority this season. 



Reminder of 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)

Welcome to the New Boys In The NW Counties Div 1 North 

Alwoodley- The surprise new boys. After Morley had contributed to their relegation to the Yorkshire Amateur Premier (level 12) back to back promotions have seen them escape from the amateur leagues and into the NW Counties North, turning semi-pro in the process. Another Leeds derby to look forward to.

Marine U23s

The former Division One Cup winners have somehow landed up in our league. Their first team have gone from strength to strength and are in the National League.

Prescot Cables Reserves

The Liverpool based outfit of the Northern Premier have put their reserves in our league. These are our first opponents.

Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves

Yet another reserve team have holed up in our league.

Silsden

Strangely Silsden Reserves have been replaced by their first team in the NW North. Another nice trip to this picturesque North Yorkshire town awaits.

Colne

This East Lancashire outfit were relegated from the NW Counties Premier.

 Season Ticket Sales

Morley Town have sold 31 season tickets which is exactly the same as last season.

 Match 1: Prescot Cables Reserves v Morley Town

The big Kick off!! Let the 2026/27 season commence! This is our third season now at this level and I have only one aim in mind – promotion to the NW Counties Premier. It starts here at Valerie Park, home of Prescot Cables, deep in the suburbs of Liverpool. Big Dave has warmed up the team coach and as we drive down the M62 west for our first trip over the Pennines of the season I wonder what thrills and spills await us in our bid to climb out of Level 10 football. I have a great squad with some experience and a batch of good youngsters who have the ability to make their mark at this level.

I have a full squad to pick from and go in with a 4-4-2. Robbie Christie and Olly Cresdee both make their debuts with my other new signing, Hugo Jewson on the bench.

Morley Town: Thompson, Cotterill, J.Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Cressdee, Gutzmore

Subs: Oldham, Bentley, Bett-Wildsmith, Jewson, Wood

Prescot Cables Reserves: Dick, Haythornwaite, Withe, McAuley, Cooper, Halford, Whitlow, Beirne, Lengyel, Carroll, Kelly

Match Action

We start brightly and look in control, but fail to create a chance of note. Then on 18 minutes we strike. Christie’s throw-in to Wright, back to the debutant, infield to Gutzmore in the area. He twists and turns before firing a fierce shot at the near post which the keeper can only palm into the top corner of the net. 1-0. Comfortable. Preston then dribbles down the right and his low cross is fired goalwards by Ellis, who brings the best out of Dick who gets a hand on it. 1-0 Half time.

Into the second half and it is the hosts who start the strongest. Beirne has a shot which is clawed away by Thompson, his first save of note. Beirne is then released by a good ball over the top in the right channel and he cuts the ball back for Lengyal to lash home an equaliser. 1-1 at half time. We have not got out the blocks in the second half, but Ellis releases Cressdee in the right channel. The loanee checks back but loses possession. Carroll clears the ball but it hits his own player and falls to Sam Wright, whose instant pass finds Gutzmore on the left edge of the area. His fizzing cross is turned into his own net by Haythornthwaite for a rather fortunate own goal. Sub Harry Wood nearly makes it three but his header is cleared off the line after more good work from Kevin Preston.  The same player fires just wide after beating the keeper to the ball from Sam Wright’s brilliant pass. On 80 minutes Ellis misses a point blank header that should have sealed the game. Prescot have always posed a threat and very nearly equalise twice when Thompson does well to deny Carroll at close range and then Kelly misses with a point blank header which could easily have gone in. We see it through and a brilliant three points on the road in what was on paper a tricky opening fixture.

                



 

 



Isuzu FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round Draw

Morley Town will host NW Division One South outfit, West Didsbury & Chorlton.

Match 2: Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves  v Morley Town

Reserve teams are like a box of chocolates, you never quite know what you are going to get.. a bunch of annoyed players who have been demoted from the first team, or a bunch of youngsters eager to impress. Another away game, meaning the 31 faithful ultras will have to wait another week before they see a home game.

Anyways I stick with the same XI which saw off Prescot Cables in the opening game. In fact, the same match squad will make the trip across the Pennines to East Manchester and Jamie Vardy’s old stomping ground.

Morley Town: Thompson, Cotterill, J.Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Cressdee, Gutzmore

Subs: Oldham, Bentley, Bett-Wildsmith, Jewson, Wood

Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves: Spurdens, Coker, Foulstone, Kane, Colclough, Rickards, Joyce, Pritchard, Lightowler, Warwick, Bell

Match Action

It’s a death by a thousand free kicks in the opening 5 but we survive them and then get one of our own. Robbie Christie floats it into the box towards Ellis.. but he falls to the ground. Penalty! Up steps The Angel.. 1-0 Morley.. In off the post. The hosts respond and a Warwick header forces a fine save from Thompson. We then have a good spell. Gutzmore does well on the left before picking out a cross for Ellis to force the keeper to claw the ball away from his heder. Aaron Smith also forces a fine save from Spurdens direct from a free kick. At the other end, Bell’s fierce drive from the edge of the box is tipped over by Thompson. On 28 minutes Marlon Gutzmore picks up the ball and drives at the Stocksbridge defence. He twists and turns like a mid-90s Giggs before reaching the byeline and digging out a cross onto Ellis’ head. This is blocked by the defender, but the rebound falls to Olly Cresdee who sweeps home from 6 yards to open his Morley account. 2-0 Morley. We are playing with confidence and Sam Wright bursts forward from defensive midfield before playing in the dangerous Gutzmore inside the penalty area. The defender comes across and clatters him. Penalty! and a red card for their right wing back, Fraser Colclough. Gabriel Ellis steps up once again.. and drills the ball low into the bottom left corner... 3-0. After just 34 minutes we are playing “Ole” football. Aaron Smith wins a free kick. He gets up and blasts the ball goalwards straight into the top corner. Great to see him back on the scoresheet. 4-0 and it’s not yet half time.

Into the second half and Ellis who is in one of those moods, latches onto a misplaced pass and races clear with just the keeper to beat... Never in doubt he finished with a low drive straight into the bottom corner from 20 yards.. Harry Kane would have been proud of that! Stocksbridge don’t give up and Mohammed Catton gets down the right and his low cross is turned in by the sliding Warwick for 5-1. No matter. Moments later a sweeping Morley move with the brilliant Gutzmore down the left. He cuts the ball back to Sam Wright who touches the ball forward for Aaron Smith who swivels and curls the ball into the top corner for his second and Morley’s 6th. 6-1. The final whistle blows. We march to the top of the table after 2 games.

Final Score: Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserve 1-6 Morley Town

Warwick 71                                                                                      Ellis 7 (pen),32 (pen) 48

                                                                                                             Cresdee 29

                                                                                                             Smith 42,74



 

Brooksby on loan at Thorpe United

Versatile youngster, Fletch Brooksby has joined York Division 2 Outfit, Thorpe United on a season long loan.

Match 4: Morley Town v West Didsbury & Chorlton – Isuzu FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round

Our first cup game of the season and unlike last year we don’t have a 300 mile journey ahead of us. Instead we host Manchester side, West Didsbury & Chorlton of the NW Division One South. They have had a mixed start to the season and lie in 12th in their league while we top ours after three games. They have the brilliantly named Myles La Bastide up front. Lets hope he doesn’t live up to it.

I bring in Harry Wood in place of Cresdee up front, but otherwise its the same settled XI. Seven subs enable us to include two more members of the squad.

Morley: Thompson, Cotteril, J. Wilkinson, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Wood, Gutzmore

Subs: Oldham, Bentley, Bett-Wildsmith, Cresdee, Jewson, Benza, James

West Didsbury & Chorlton: Griek, Winter, Garrity, Williams, Hornsby, Jones, Sandhu, Hodgson, Oglesby, La Bastide, Miller

One minute on the clock and Jonathan Oglesby thinks he’s flipping Mo Salah. He cuts inside from the left, skips past two half-heaarted Morley tackles and blasts the ball into the top corner. Not the start we had planned.. We respond. Wood is unlucky to be caught offside when his wonderful improvised finish is ruled out. Aaron Smith has a long range effort tipped round the post. The visitors attack with La Bastide on the right side of the box.. Good challenge George Wilkinson perfectly timed... but the referee blows his whistle.. What the actual?? Penalty He won the ball are you blind ref?... Unbelievable decision! Hodgson steps up and plants the ball firmly in the corner. It gets worse. That man Oglesby again finds a far post cross where Lewis Jones nods home.. Three chances three goals.. Joke. We respond. Smith gets forward and is tackled but Preston picks up the loose ball and his near post cross is turned home by Ellis, who looked suspiciously offside but hey ho I’ll take it. 3-1 down in a match we have completely dominated. Strange is football. Wright bursts forward and his shot is well saved by Griek. Gutzmore gets to the byeline but his low cross evades everyone.. Inexplicably 3-1 down at half time.

The second half begins and we attack with gusto. Gutzmore now on the right plays a lovely reverse ball to the underlapping Aaron Smith, He runs forward and squares to Ellis! He thumps the ball into the top corner. 3-2! Game on! We are irresistible now. Preston cuts inside from the left and floats a sumptuous crossfield pass to Gutzmore in space on the right. His simple cut back is tapped home by that man Gabriel Ellis for his third hat-trick in three games..A hat-trick of hat-tricks.. 3-3. Disdbury have other ideas though and Jayden Sandhu fires goalwards  after a sweeping move 4-3. We huff and puff but cannot blow the house down. Bentley hits the post with a header. Some good defending denies Ellis when he was about to pull the trigger. Our opponents have a habit of scoring just when you don’t want them to. Jones crossfield to Oglesby who touches inside to Sykes-Newton who lays off to Miller inside the box who fires past Thompson to seal our fate. Joe Wilkinson was sent off for two bookables late on. Unfortunately it just wasn’t our day. A cup run would have been nice, but my focus this season is firmly on the league. We received the princely sum of £160 for taking part which we used to drown our sorrows with down Morley Bottoms afterwards.

 


Danny Benza joins Wallington on loan

My promising AMLC Danny Benza has joined Northern Alliance Second Division side, Wallington on a season long loan.

Freddy Coubillaay joins Rothbury on loan

My promising midfielder, Freddy Coubillay has joined Northern Alliance Third Division side, Rothbury on a season long loan.

Match 5: Alwoodley v Morley Town

Rich meets poor as we make the short trip to the leafy suburbs of North Leeds, just off the A1620 ring road in this NW Division One North clash. It’s a bit of a throwback to our Yorkshire amateur league days when of course we enjoyed aa 9-0 victory on this ground, which has the must un-Alwoodley name possible, the Alwoodley Community Association Ground, which sounds far too working class for the richest suburb in Leeds where some of the wealthiest people in the city live. Anyway to the football. We line up in the trusted 4-4-2 but with a few changes, mindful of our showdown with Chadderton in just a few days time.

Struggling Alwoodley are down in 17th after gaining one point so far this season.

 

Morley Town: Thompson, Jewson, Bentley, G.Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Cresdee, Gutzmore

Subs: Oldham, Cotteril, James, Wood, Hayloc

Alwoodley: Scott, Hutchings, McGrth, Newell, Burrows, Riley, Chambers, Phillips. James, West, Lister

Match Action

We dominate the opening proceedings and are rewarded after seven minutes when Christie throws to Smith back to Christie, back to Smith who dribbles into the area and unleashes a fierce shot which sails into the top corner from the angle. It’s great to see Aaron Smith returning to his best form. 1-0 Morley. Alwoodley respond and create a couple of half chances but don’t trouble Thompson. Then Preston gets down the right hand side. His low cross is cut out at the near post to Burrows who was tracking Preston. Instead of hoofing the ball into Row Z he tries to play it back to the keeper. Big mistake as he presents it straight to Gabriel Ellis who turns and smashes the ball into the empty net. Three minutes later and a training ground move from a Smith free kick results in Kevin Preston cushion volleying home number three. Could another 9-0 be on the cards? Alwoodley though are made of sterner stuff these days and enjoy a good spell of possession and create some chances, forcing two good saves from Thompson. 3-0 at half time. The second half is a bit of anti-climax and I take off Ellis, Christie and Preston to rest them for the game in three days time. We see out a comfortable 3-0 win and maintain top spot with four wins out of four and 12 points.

Final Score: Alwoodley 0-3 Morley Town

                                                   Smith 8

                                                   Ellis 13

                                                   Preston 16



Nathan Evans on loan at Liver Academy

My young Kiwi forward, Nathan Evans has joined the Liver Academy on loan and will play in the Liverpool Premier League First Division.

Match 6: Morley Town v Chadderton

First plays second in this crunch early season fixture which sees us entertain Chadderton. I make a few changes from the win at Alwoodley with Cotterill, Wood and Joe Wilkinson returning.

Morley Town: Thompson, Cotteril, J. Wilkinson, G. Wilkinson, Christie, Wright, Smith, Preston, Ellis, Wood, Gutzmore

Subs: Oldham, Jewson, Bentley, Cresdee, Bett-Wildsmith

Chadderton: O’Neill, McLeish, Gillan, Colbear, Williams, Agyemaan, Whinsper, Kyriakou, Winfarrah, Read, Johnson

Match Action

We dominate the opening proceedings. Harry Wood has the ball in the net but he was offside. Ellis has a header well saved from a Preston cross. We look dangerous and carve out some chances, but cannot put the ball in the onion bag. Slowly, Chadderton weather the storm and grow in confidence. As half time approaches they win a free kick on the right edge of the area. The ball is floated in back post where Sam Colbear rushes in and guides a downwards header into the corner. Completely against the run of play. We finish the half the stronger with Sam Wright stinging the palms of O’Neill in the Chadderton goal. 1-0 down at the break, despite complete dominance.

We make a poor start to the second half as Chadderton attack and look more likely to increase their lead.. But.. on 53 minutes Cotteril plays in Ellis down the right channel. He half volleys a cross first time onto the head of the diving Harry Wood for a brilliant equaliser. Chadderton attack through Shazad but Sam Wright wins the ball back with a superb sliding tackle and Kevin Preston runs up the left wing. He plays it inside to Aaron Smith who plays a crossfield ball to sub Bett-Wildsmith who heads the ball inside. Gillan miscontrols and the ball is volleyed handsomely into the corner for 2-1 by The Angel. Morley’s captain then tests the keeper again with a superb 30-yard daisy cutter but its clawed round the post. We are storming forward again. Wood holds it up and feeds the overlapping Preston on the left who cuts it back to Sam Wright on the edge of the area who touches it onto Aaron Smith who slams home number three from close range. We are all over poor old Chadderton now. They have a throw-in deep in their own half. Harry Wood nips in and steals the ball before crossing for Ellis to fire home from close range to make it 4-1. Chadderton pulled a late goal back but we hang on for a win.. Five out of 5 now as our 100% record continues.

Final Score: Morley Town 4-2 Chadderton

Wood 54                                          Colbear 38

Ellis 67,73                                         Reed 82

Smith 68



Morley Town have started the new season on fire, winning five out of five games in the league and scoring 21 goals in the process. Can Morley Town sustain their blistering start to the new season or is it just a flash in the pan? Find out next time on the Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

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