Ossett United was created on 1 June 2018 following the merger of Ossett Town AFC (est. 1936) and Ossett Albion AFC (est. 1944). Both Ossett Town and Ossett Albion had managed to gain Northern Premier League status and maintain that level of football for a remarkable period of time.
The two clubs merged under the leadership of a new board brought together from the two previous clubs. The Club made its new home Ingfield, the previous home of Ossett Town, and used Dimple Wells, the previous home of Ossett Albion, as its Ladies and Academy Team base.
Despite a successful first season on the pitch, off field things were not as successful with a number of board resignations and some challenging financial issues to deal with following the merger. By the end of the 2018/19 season, Phil Smith had taken on the mantle of club chairman with Stuart Garside, Steve Hanks, Paul Billing, Neil Spofforth and Joe Hanks joining the board.
There were more troubles for Ossett United in November 2019 as a significant and unprecedented court case, dating back to a tackle in 2015 when Ossett Town were playing Radcliffe Borough, was lost with United facing legal and damages costs amounting to £135,000. Fortunately, the club received a generous loan from two of its closest supporters to avoid the club going into liquidation (at worst) or selling the Ingfield ground (at best).
James Rogers and Phil Smith swapped roles due to Smith's work commitments with Rogers taking on the role as Chairman, a role he had previously held at Ossett Town. 2020 also saw the club declare Dimple Wells as surplus to requirements and made arrangements to surrender the lease making Ingfield the single home of the united club.
With the off-field rollercoaster settling down the Board progressed numerous ground improvements at Ingfield with the replacement of the pitch side barrier and installation of LED floodlights being completed in 2021 before attention turned to improving the changing room facilities which took shape in the summer of 2023 thanks to further grants from the Football Foundation.
The extension includes an additional match official room, two offices and a medical room as well as a larger, modern changing room that will become fully operational by the summer of 2024. The Boardroom has also been strengthened in the summer of 2023 with Dawn Rogers and Kate Hennighan taking their place alongside the eight members already in place.
On the pitch, the first year (2018/19) was a remarkable success with attendances significantly increased from what either club had experienced previously, coupled with success on the pitch reaching the play-off semi-final and winning the County Cup, under the guidance of manager Andy Welsh.
Following the departure of Andy Welsh a couple of months in to the 2019/20 season Wayne Benn, assisted by Chick Hayward, oversaw two covid hit seasons. Hopes were high after a positive pre-season in 2021/22 with Benn reshaping the squad. The season started well with Ossett United in the top half of the table but a run of only one win in three months saw a change in the dugout at Christmas with Jas Collvier and Mark Ward taking a joint managerial role.
The season ended well with the pair unbeaten at Ingfield with seven wins and two draws but away from home inconsistent performances and results saw a ninth placed finish in only the clubs second completed season.
Colliver and Ward strengthened the squad throughout pre-season, and despite on paper the squad looking as strong as it ever had, results did not match expectations. Mark Ward resigned in September with Colliver taking sole charge before leaving the club by mutual consent the following month.
October 2022 saw much excitement as Grant Black was asked to take the club forward and started with an excellent debut victory away to the eventual play-off champions Long Eaton United and only tasting defeat twice in his first 16 games.
Results tailed off as the season ended with the club finishing in 15th place and only avoiding a relegation play-off place on the last day of the season.
The management team oversaw a major overhaul of the first team squad ahead of the 23/24 season and despite glimpses of positivity an inconsistency in results saw United sitting in 15th place when Black and Ossett United went their separate ways on 24 December.
Assistant Manager David Brown was asked to become interim manager supported by Ryan Pugh and senior players Paddy Miller and Tom Claisse. The quartet saw the club overcome an rocky patch ensuring Step 4 survival on the penultimate game day thanks to a historic 1-0 victory away to Hebburn Town who were looking to seal the title on the day.
Following the conclusion of the 23/24 season, David Brown and his interim management team left the club having achived safety, something that was not looking likely at the turn of the year.
A new direction was decided on for 2024/25, and the appointment of David Wild who had experience in the NPL West and ultimatley struggled at Ossett United, leaving the club adrift at the bottom of the league at the end of October with just 5 points from 12 games.
A non-league and Ossett legend in James Walshaw became the sixth permanent manager at Ossett United and hit the ground running. James turned the tide and across 29 league games he was able to steer the team to a credible 15th placed finish in the league with 48 points which was a fantastic achivement getting an average of 1.48 points per league game.
The 2025/26 season starts with James Walshaw in charge assisted by Luke Potter.
History of Ossett Town AFC
Ossett Town AFC were formed in 1936, during a public meeting the Mayor of the Borough of Ossett charged John Carter, a former Yorkshire League Referee, with bringing Ossett the highest possible standard of Football.
It has been a steady rise for the Club, who in 2003/04 won promotion to the NPL Premier Division where they competed for seven season before suffering one of only a handful of relegation’s in their history at the end of the 2010/11 season, and the first since 1980.
The club started out in the Leeds League, which was renamed The West Yorkshire League in 1939, before switching to the Heavy Woollen League. So called due to the heavyweight cloth manufactured in the area during World War II.
After the War, in 1945, Ossett Town joined the Yorkshire League. In 48/49 they recorded their record victory in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, beating David Brown Athletic 11-0 away from home and in 49/50 won the West Riding County Senior Cup, the first honour for the club, and finished the season in a club high third place, scoring 120 goals in the process.
A notable moment in their history occurred in 1957 when Derrick Blackburn was sold to Swansea Town for £1,350 and with this new found wealth the club bought the Ingfield site where Ossett United still play to this day.
The Club moved to the new Ingfield ground in 1959, just after being relegated from Division One and celebrated the first season at Ingfield with a 3rd place finish and promotion straight back to the First Division of the Yorkshire League as well as a first West Riding County Cup success but suffered a second relegation in 60/61.
Following a restructure of the Yorkshire League they found themselves in the third Division in 1970, by which time long serving player Frank Lloyd, who would dedicate 50 years of his life to Ossett Town, became manager.
During this period Graham Firth joined the playing staff as a teenager and would go on to become the clubs first Commercial Manager as well as groundsman, barman and long serving Chairman too! Frank Lloyd relinquished the managerial role and became Club Secretary
Through the 70’s they climbed from the third division to the first division before returning to the second Division in 1980, a division they finished runners up in during the final season of the Yorkshire League. Following the merger with the Midlands League the North East Counties League (NCEL) was formed, a competition Ossett Town were founder members of. 1982 also saw Town collect their final County Cup win thanks to a 2-0 victory over Bradley Rangers at Huddersfield Town’s Leeds Road.
Graham Firth began his 28 year stint as Chairman in the mid 1980’s, 1987 is a notable year in the clubs history as outside investment in the club saw floodlights erected for the first time, new dressing rooms built, the clubhouse extended and the pitch was re-laid at considerable cost.
Micky Bullock was appointed as manager and the club hosted Manchester United in a pre-season friendly for who Lee Sharpe made his debut. A club record attendance of 2,600 was also set.
Local businessman Peter Wilkinson joined the committee and took the role of Football Chairman, he took the lead with what happened on the field while Graham Firth ran the off field side of the club. Peter’s son, Andrew, helped bring the club into the electronic world as he set up and ran the clubs first website with great success.
The Club won the NCEL second division title that season before a second promotion saw the club start the 90/91 season in the NCEL Premier Division. The 89/90 season was the last time the club won a trophy, lifting the NCEL League Cup thanks to a shock victory over FA Vase finalist Bridlington Town, who were managed by future Town boss John Reed.
Ossett Town had nine consecutive seasons in the Premier Division then in 1998/99 promotion to the Northern Premier League (NPL) was gained thanks to a second place finish.
Sadly John Carter, one of the founders of the club did not see the club reach the NPL, passing away in 1994 age 88 having performed every off field role at the club including Chairman, Secretary and manager.
Gary Brook was player manager at this time, and following promotion guided the club to two impressive eight place finishes in the NPL First Division, a mention in The Sun as their team of the week thanks to a 7-1 away win at Whitley Bay, and also a run to the second round of the FA Trophy when 1100 people came to Ingfield to see former League side Doncaster Rovers sneak away with a 1-0 victory.
Ossett Town’s third season in the NPL, 01/02, saw heartbreak despite finishing second, an automatic promotion place, as ground improvements were delayed twelve hours due to inclement weather and promotion denied.
Gary Brook remained at the club but a number of players moved on, the Reds ending the following season in lowly 20th place, but comfortably ten points above the relegation places.
The following season saw a league re-structure with the introduction of the conference North and South, meaning the club were promoted to the NPL Premier Division. Scott Cooper replaced Brook but we was soon replaced by Steve Richards.
Here began a rollercoaster period for Town, achieving our best run in the FA Cup to the 4th Qualifying round in 05/06 and our highest league finish of 11th in the NPL Premier Division in 06/07, but a large turnover of managers, 11 in ten seasons, including Steve Kittrick, Paul Lines and former Wolverhampton Wanderer’s player Peter Daniels saw Town flirt with and eventually succumb to relegation in 2010/11.
Sadly during this period, in 2009, Frank Lloyd passed away at the age of 80, in honour of his 50 years at the club the Directors room was renamed the Frank Lloyd Hospitality Suit in his memory.
Phil Sharpe oversaw the 10/11 season, assisted by two former Town players, Paul Sykes and Mark Wilson, but with money tight the club were relegated from the Premier Division. Sharpe retained the manager’s role for the return to the NPL First Division North and was assisted by the experienced Eric Gilchrist. The latter ending the season in charge after Sharpe stood down.
2012/13 started with the appointment of an eleventh manager in ten seasons as Craig Elliott joined the club the season ended with an 12th placed finish, a run to the First round of the FA Trophy and were a missed penalty away from taking FC Halifax Town to extra time in the Semi Final of the West Riding County Cup.
The Club started the following season more positive than any other in recent seasons, then at the club AGM Graham Firth stood down as Chairman after 28 years in the role, taking up the position of Honorary President. The members of the club unanimously voted the clubs Junior Chairman, James Rogers, as Firth’s replacement.
Craig Elliott was replaced in February 2014, the experienced John Reed was appointed as manager, assisted by Clive Freeman as the club ended the season in eighth place, impressive given the changes to the squad that were forced with only three months of the season remaining.
Tuesday 2 June 2015 saw the untimely death of former Chairman Graham Firth following a short illness. He dedicated his life to Ossett Town AFC, taking on the mantle of John Carter to bring the highest level of football to the area; that is something that can be said he did.
The side continued to struggle in the First Division North and in September Reed parted company with the club by mutual consent, his replacement, Graham Nicholas from NCEL side Garforth Town could not halt the slide, winning just a solitary point from his first eleven games the clubs committee acted and he was relieved of his position as the club looked to be heading to the NCEL for the first time in almost 20 years.
The committee, led by Rogers, took the bold step of appointing untried Grant Black in his first managerial role. With him Black brought Steve Ridley who would combine playing duties with that of Assistant Manager and Mick Norbury, who began his playing career with the club in 1987, came in as coach.
Danny Frost signed from Ossett Albion and former Doncaster Rovers striker Alex Peterson joined him upfront. Both players scored on their debuts as Town recorded their first win in five months, a victory that started an excellent run, Black led Town to a higher league position than the previous season!
Black strengthened the side considerably over the summer and last season saw Ossett Town challenge at the top of the league all season, finishing an impressive 4th place and earning a play-off place. No one expected this from the club, Black creating a team spirit not known at Ingfield for a long time.
Town shocked Scarborough Athletic on their own ground in the semi-final with a 2-1 victory for The Reds, that set up a final with Farsley Celtic, who had looked odds on for automatic promotion until we ourselves beat them 2-0.
The final proved to be a step too far, despite taking the lead in the 87th minute the home side drew level during seven minutes of time added on, that late goal gave Farsley Celtic the momentum going into Extra Time and they took advantage to win the game.
Black started as manager in Town's last season in 2017/18 but results didn't follow the success of the previous season and Grant and Town parted ways with Lee Ashworth taking the reigns for the final few months of Ossett Town's existence. Town finished the season in 16th place, one place below Ossett Albion in the league table with both teams on 47 points.
History of Ossett Albion AFC
The club was formed in 1944 as a junior club, eventually they became a senior club and played in the West Riding County Amateur League and the West Yorkshire League, winning numerous honours before joining the Yorkshire League in 1957.
Albion won promotion from Division 2 in 1959 and were runner up to League champions Farsley Celtic in 1960. Albion were runners up again in 1962 to champions Stocksbridge Works. Albion continued to get regular top 4 places for several years afterwards but in 1972 they were relegated to Division 2. Albion won promotion in 1974 and finally won the Yorkshire League title in 1975. However, Albion went down again in 1978, but bounced back as Division 2 champions in 1979. Albion suffered yet another relegation in 1980, but again won the Division 2 title in 1981.
In 1982, the Yorkshire League joined up with the Midland League to form the Northern Counties East Football League. Ossett Albion were placed in Division 1 East, league re-organisations moved them into Division 1 Central in 1984 and Division 1 in 1985. Albion were Division 1 champions in 1987 and were promoted to the Premier Division. They finished bottom the first two seasons, but avoided relegation and eventually they began to climb the table. Albion, with Gerry Quinn as manager, were League champions in 1999, but were denied promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One due to one of their changing rooms not being big enough. In 2001, with Eric Gilchrist in charge, Albion finished 2nd to Brigg Town but were promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One instead of Brigg.
Ossett Albion finished bottom of the division in 2002 and they were relegated back to the Northern Counties East League but in 2004 Albion were champions again on a dramatic final day of the season, they pipped Eastwood Town to the Northern Counties East Premier Division title by virtue of scoring the more goals with the two clubs locked on the same number of points and also with the same goal difference, returning to the Northern Premier Division One.
2016–17 was Albion's 13th in the Northern Premier League Division One and their fortunes in recent campaigns fluctuated considerably. Twice the club finished just outside the play-off positions, they also had a few seasons struggling against relegation and in 2013–14 only a late reprieve rescued their status at this level.
Albion first entered the FA Cup in 1962–63, winning their first game 5–1 at Selby Town. They have reached the 4th Qualifying Round on three occasions, in 1965–66 they defeated Bridlington Town, Harrogate Town and Bridlington Trinity before losing 3–0 to South Liverpool away. In 2003–04, Albion beat Alnwick Town, Alsager Town, Ossett Town, Pickering Town and Newcastle Town before losing 1–0 at home to Stalybridge Celtic. In 2012–13, Albion beat Hebburn Town, Farsley, North Ferriby United, and Hinckley United before losing 4–1 away to Bradford Park Avenue.
In the FA Trophy, Albion have reached the 1st round twice, in 2002 and 2005.
In the FA Vase, Albion reached the 4th round in 1982, 1995 and 2000.
Albion first entered the FA Amateur Cup in 1952, beating Hull Old Grammarians 2–0. Their best performances, to get to the 1st round proper, were in 1962 (losing to Crook 1–0), 1968 (losing to North Shields 3–0) and 1973 (losing to Oldbury United 1–0). Albion's biggest win was 10–2 over Reckitts and Sons. Albion's last game in the Amateur Cup was a 3–1 defeat at North Ferriby United. The FA Amateur Cup was discontinued in 1974 and replaced by the FA Vase.
Albion have won the West Riding County Cup in 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1999, the Yorkshire League Cup in 1976 and 1977 and the Northern Counties East Football League Cup in 1984, beating Ilkeston 2-1, and 2003, beating Sheffield 3–0.
Albion's all-time record appearances holder is Peter Eaton, who made over 800 appearances during the 1970s and 1980s. Albion's record goalscorer is John Balmer, who hit over 40 goals in consecutive seasons during Jimmy Martin's reign in the early 1990s.
A number of former Ossett Albion players progressed into the Football League including Ian Ironside who went to Middlesbrough, Gary Brook who joined Newport County in 1987, Chris Cornelly who joined Lincoln City, Steve Downes who joined Grimbsy Town, Barry Holmes who went to Halifax Town, Shane Killock who joined Huddersfield Town and Dave Syers, who began his career with Ossett Albion, turned professional two seasons later with Bradford City. Players who represented Ossett Albion after their professional careers ended include ex-Cambridge United striker Micky Norbury, John Balmer who also played for Cambridge United, Fulham midfielder Robert Wilson, former Swansea City player Paul Raynor and former Huddersfield Town defender Rob Edwards.
In September 2017, the founders and directors of Unita, a local based facilities management company, took the reins at Ossett Albion in a move which saw the club inherit a ready-made football academy with 150 players enrolled. This saw Huddersfield Town's former head of youth development Dave Haley take over as first team manager and Andy Welsh former Sunderland midfielder become head coach. Phil Smith (ex Sheffield Wednesday Academy coach) provided support and oversee the running of the academy.
In 2018, it was announced that Ossett Albion and Ossett Town would merge to form Ossett United.