Ossett Town F.C. - History

History

Ossett Town Football Club was formed in 1936 at a public meeting chaired by the Mayor of the Borough of Ossett and a former Yorkshire League referee called John Carter was given the task of bringing to Ossett the highest possible standard of football. The new club played in the Leeds League (later renamed the West Yorkshire League in 1939), played on a pitch behind the Fern House Working Mens Club on Wakefield Road and used various local pubs as headquarters.

During World War II, the team switched to the Heavy Woollen League and had to use a pitch on Back Lane when the army commandeered Fern House. After the war in 1945, Town joined the Yorkshire League. Town won the West Riding County Senior Cup in 1948, beating Salts 4–2 at Bradford City’s Valley Parade. In 1950, Town finished 3rd, our best position in the Yorkshire League, we also scored a record 120 goals that season.

Attendances at some games were well over 1,000, during the 1940s and 1950s, the Yorkshire League contained the 'A' teams of Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Doncaster and so on, many top players learned their trade in these teams, such as John Charles, Denis Law, Ray Wilson, Peter Swan, Tommy Taylor, Jackie Charlton and many others.

In January 1957, Derrick Blackburn was transferred from Ossett Town to Swansea Town for £1,350. This fee enabled Ossett Town to acquire the Stade France site in the centre of Ossett and the club moved to their new ground in 1959, just after being relegated from Division 1. Town bounced straight back at the first attempt, but were relegated again in 1962. By 1970, Town were members of the newly formed Division 3. About this time, the long serving player, Frank Lloyd, became manager and he signed up two former Newcastle & Huddersfield strikers, Len White and Jim Kerray. Frank eventually became secretary and was replaced as manager by John Riley. Town were promoted in 1973, but were relegated back to Division 3 in 1975. Again Town won promotion from Division 3 in 1976, but this time they stayed up and won promotion to Division 1 in 1978. However they were relegated again in 1980. In 1982 Town again won the County Cup beating Bradley Rangers 2–0 at Huddersfield Town’s Leeds Road ground in the final season of the Yorkshire League finishing runners up in Division 2.

Ossett Town joined the newly formed Northern Counties East League in 1982/83. Initially they played in Division 1 North to 1984, then Division 1 Central for a year before joining Division 2. 1987 saw the start of the rise in fortunes at Ossett Town, when Mickey Bullock was appointed manager, Town won the Division 2 Championship in 1988/89. The following season Town gained promotion to the Premier Division and won the League Cup beating Vase finalists Bridlington Town 1–0 at North Ferriby’s ground.

During this time floodlights were installed, the pitch re-laid, new dressing rooms built and the social club extended as Town prepared to move up the pyramid also the record attendance was set (2,600) when Town entertained Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in 1988.

The President of Ossett Town, John Carter, died in 1994 at the age of 88. He had performed every role within the club, including chairman, secretary and team manager.

After nine seasons in the Premier Division Ossett Town gained promotion to the Northern Premier League. In 1998–99, Town under manager Trevor Best, were unbeaten at Christmas and top of the table, however Best left the club and was replaced by Gary Brook, Town finishing runners up to Ossett Albion who were denied promotion due to ground grading issues.

Finishing eighth in the first two seasons in the higher league Town finished runners up in 2001–02 and thought they had gained promotion to the Premier Division, but this time the ground grading rules worked against them and promotion was denied as ground improvement work was twelve hours late. Ossett Town appealed this decision, but the decision was not overturned.

The following season a number of key players left the club and Town just avoided relegation finishing in 20th place, Gary Brook left the club. In 2003–04, Scott Cooper started the season as manager, but by October Town were bottom of the league and Steve Richards took over as manager, Town finished 14th, just missing out on promotion to the Premier Division, because the top 13 clubs were promoted to replace those clubs who had joined the newly created Conference North division; but the demise of Telford United created an extra place in the Premier Division, which went to Ossett Town. In Town's first season in the Premier Division, they finished 16th.

In 2005–06, Ossett Town achieved their best ever performance in the FA Cup, reaching the 4th qualifying round. Town lost 2–3 to Leamington (not 4–2 as incorrectly reported on the BBC and Sky Sports Soccer Saturday that day) Leamington were drawn away at Colchester United in the 1st Round, losing 9–0. At the time Town were in the relegation zone, a few weeks later the manager Steve Richards was replaced by his assistant, Steve Kittrick, results improved considerably and Town eventually finished 11th. In 2006–07, Town finished 10th.

In 2007–08, after a bright start, Town were surprised in November when manager Steve Kittrick resigned to become Guiseley manager. A number of players left the club and new manager Simon Collins had to endure a miserable run of results as he brought in a lot of new players, including former Huddersfield Town colleagues, Simon Baldry and Chris Billy. Town finished the season in 18th and avoided relegation on goal difference.

In 2008–09, Town started the season as favourites for relegation, the committee gave Simon Collins a vote of confidence after a poor start to the season, Collins brought in his old Macclesfield Town manager Peter Davenport as an advisor and the results and performances started to improve. In January, Ossett Town had to cut the wage bill, but only 1 player left and Ossett Town continued to rise up the league table, eventually finishing in 12th place. Sadly, the season was overshadowed by the death in April at the age of 80 of long serving player, manager and secretary Frank Lloyd.

In July 2009, Simon Collins resigned after a dispute with the committee over the size of next season's budget; he was replaced by a joint management team made up of reserve team manager Paul Lines and former Bradford Park Avenue reserve team manager, Mick Couzens. In October, Couzens resigned after an argument with Lines, who continued as first team manager until the club appointed former Hull City and Wolves player Peter Daniel as manager, Lines reverted back to reserve manager. In March, Peter Daniel resigned and Lines was again was re-instated as first team manager until the end of the season. The club finished second from bottom but avoided relegation due to the closure earlier in the season of Newcastle Blue Star and Kings Lynn.

Phil Sharpe was appointed manager in June 2010. He brought in former Ossett Town player Paul Sykes as assistant. Other former players to re-join the club included Mark Wilson, Neil Bennett and Dave Boardman. Sharpe used his contacts in local football around Leeds to bring in some youngsters. The season got off to a bright start; but budget cuts in November saw some players leave and results started to deteriorate, with the team losing 14 of 16 games since mid-October, leaving the team situated precariously close to the relegation zone. In January, Sykes left the club and Sharpe brought in some more youngsters, including some on loan from Rotherham United.

At the end of the 2010–11 season they were relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One North.