OSSETT T and OSSETT A

For those of you not in the know, Ossett is a suburb of Leeds and I had cause to be in the area yesterday afternoon, mainly so that Mrs Bailey could shop in Leeds, a much improved city centre, and partially for an FA Trophy 1st Qualifying tie at Ossett town FC v Goole AFC. By the way we also went to watch Rich Hall, the American comedian, at the WYPlayhouse. Very funny, but he made so many unfair remarks about his president....shame!

En route I watched Hepworth United Junior Under 9s get thumped by Shelley in two matches,  then dropped Mrs B off at the conveniently placed Ossett bus station so she could spend an hour or so on a double decker bus taking her to Leed's retail paradise. I sauntered off to the Ingfield, the home of Ossett Town FC. The Ingfielders (ing-referring to people who belong to the field) have just recovered from a midweek 6-5 penalty win over 1874 Northwich in the FA Cup, after a 0-0 aet. 
Town were founded as late as 1936 and like the BUS have travelled through all points of the local leagues; Leeds League, West Yorkshire, Heavy Woollen (formed during the war, presumably for those producing uniforms), Yorkshire League, Northern Counties East, Northern Evostick 1st where they now sit in in 12th place.
The ground is mish-mash of buildings, with a seated stand behind the town end stand, media pylons carry floodlights and starlings, there are many portacabins and Kelly's Bar which is being expanded. Ossett beat Goole 3-0 in this Trophy match, relying heavily on a tall centre forward and second ball. It was route one much of the time.
Goole AFC are bottom of the same division and were reincarnated in 1999 after the demise of Goole Town. Who knows where Goole is? They came second in this match.

Just across the road is Ossett Albion. They too are in the NP Evostick 1st but lounging in 21st place. They won midweek beating Colne 2-1 (their second win this season with 1 draw) and on Saturday in the Trophy, they were held 1-1 by Droylsden, another club from their division (9th place). 

Not so entertaining? 

The Unicorns are in the Dimplewells area of Leeds and formed in 1944 starting in the West Riding League. Next came the West Yorkshire League, the Yorkshire League in 1957, and then the Northern Counties East when in 1999 they were denied promotion to the Northern Premier League because one of their dressing rooms was not big enough! 

In 2001 they were promoted. Since then they have been up and down a bit but now reside in the same division as their neighbours.
So its been a busy weekend for me; the Hepworth Juniors U14s lost 4-7 but the good news is they played well and scored goals! There is light at the end of a tunnel somewhere.....