Match Information
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Horbury Town 3-2 Beverley Town
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When: Saturday 26th November 2022
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: Slazenger Sports and Social Club, Southfields, Horbury, West Yorkshire WF4 5BH
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Competition: Northern Counties East League Division One
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Attendance: 220
I always like calling in on clubs who are newly promoted to the National League System. Just to briefly explain, this consists of the six tiers of our Non-League Pyramid structure below the Football League.
So by moving up to the NLS, teams are progressing from local county standard competitions that are mainly focused on player participation.
In effect, they are joining spectator football so facilities must improve dramatically to include floodlights, covered accommodation, hard standing, plus fully railed and enclosed pitches.
In years gone by, I would have called this “senior football” although the term is probably obsolete now.
Anyway it is really interesting for me to see how these essential amenity advancements are shaping up in view of strict ground grading requirements. One such club currently making the leap of faith are Horbury Town FC.
They are newcomers in the Northern Counties East League Division One courtesy of promotion via the West Yorkshire Association Football League Premier Division as runners-up in 2021/22.
Taking a break from watching the World Cup group stages on television, I decided to pay them a visit and set off on a 350 mile round trip.
Horbury is a West Yorkshire town containing 15,000 residents within the City of Wakefield local government district.
Ground Description
This is part of the overall Slazenger Sports and Social Club complex incorporating sections for tennis, hockey, archery and bowls.
My first impression of the football arena was that it is perched on top of a steep hill so I was able to savour stunning views of surrounding countryside stretching far into the distance.
There is a 50-seater grandstand alongside the sloping pitch and some concrete foundations had been laid for the imminent provision of more shelter to cater for a further 100 spectators.
I was particularly captivated by how bright the new floodlights are following their installation in September.
Programme Details
A 12 page production on sale at the entrance hut for £1.
The content was good value for money containing the line-ups, manager’s notes, match reports, stats, action photos, the away team history and a player profile.
The Match
This occasion was overshadowed by the sad passing of Horbury Town’s under-13’s coach and club vice chairman David Ford a couple of days beforehand. I noticed fitting floral tributes had been laid on the adjacent junior pitch.
And prior to kick-off, players from both sides solemnly observed a minute’s silence. What then unfolded after that was a truly pulsating game, ebbing one way and flowing the other.
Matchday opponents Beverley Town are also new recruits for the Northern Counties East League having ascended from the Humber Premier League.
Beverley led 2-1 at half-time by virtue of Harry Griffin (24 mins) and Matthew Plumber (42 mins).
But in the end, Horbury shaded a five goal thriller where Gibril Bojang (32 mins), Samuel Kyeremeh (58 mins) and Benjamin Agu (75 mins) etched their names on the scoresheet.
I loved the absolute worldie equalising strike by Kyeremeh! He picked up possession in the centre circle and then strode forward majestically to unleash a ferocious 25 yard thunderbolt into the top left hand corner.
If Lionel Messi had produced something similar over at the World Cup, we would still be witnessing hundreds of TV replays.
🤩 goal of the season contender from our very own, Samuel Kyeremeh?! @TonyIncenzo @NonLeagueNorth pic.twitter.com/NsIzA6jHPy
— Horbury Town FC (@Horbury_TownFC) November 27, 2022
The People
Horbury Town are fortunate to possess an extremely enthusiastic media team. Indeed, it was unusual at this level of football to hear goal celebration music being played over the public address system which enhanced my matchday entertainment.
In addition, I enjoyed chatting to referee’s assistant John Hislop during the 90 minutes whilst he carefully explained certain key decisions being made.
At one point though, a very loud spectator inexplicably starting shouting that the match officials should learn the laws of the game properly by watching the World Cup.
And I had to laugh when John immediately turned to me and wryly said: “But we’re not sunning ourselves out in Qatar are we? We’re here in Wakefield on a freezing cold Saturday afternoon!”
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th December 2022
