Garforth Town (A) - Tuesday, 19th November 2024

The Opposition - History
The club was established in 1964 as Miners Arms, a Sunday league team based at the pub from which they took their name. They joined the Elmet Sunday League, where they played until joining the Leeds Sunday Combination in 1972. In 1976 the club switched to Saturday football, joining the West Yorkshire League. They applied to join the Yorkshire League for the following season, and after being advised that pub teams were not allowed in the league, adopted the name Garforth Miners.

In 1978 Garforth were elected to Division Three of the Yorkshire League. They finished second-from-bottom of the table in their first season, but were Division Three runners-up in 1979–80, earning promotion to Division Two. When the league merged with the Midland League in 1982 to form the Northern Counties East League, the club were placed in Division One North. In 1985 they were renamed again, becoming Garforth Town. League reorganisation saw them placed in Division Two in 1985 and they went on to finish as runners-up, earning promotion to Division One. Although they were Division One runners-up in 1996–97, also winning the League Trophy, the club were not promoted to the Premier Division. However, they were Division One champions the following season, and were promoted. They also won the West Riding County Cup for the first time with a 1–0 win over Liversedge in the final. In 1999–2000 they both won the League Cup (beating Glapwell 3–1 in the final) and the West Riding County Cup (winning 2–0 against Eccleshill United in the final).

Garforth finished bottom of the Premier Division in 2001–02, but avoided relegation after Denaby United folded. However, the following season saw them finish bottom again, and they were relegated to Division One. In 2003 the club were taken over by Simon Clifford, who stated that his ambition was to take the club into the Football League. He took over as manager early in the 2004–05 season and made several high-profile signings, including Brazilian Sócrates (who made one appearance as a substitute) and Lee Sharpe. They finished as Division One runners-up, earning promotion back to the Premier Division. Another Brazilian, Careca, played for the club in a friendly that summer. In 2006–07 a fourth-place finish was enough to earn promotion to Division One North of the Northern Premier League.

In 2008–09 Garforth won the West Riding County Cup for a third time, beating Bradford Park Avenue in the final. They retained the cup the following season, defeating Barnoldswick Town in the final. In 2011–12 they finished fifth, qualifying for the promotion play-offs, but lost 4–1 on penalties to Curzon Ashton in the semi-finals after a 2–2 draw. They were bought by former Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe in December 2012, but the 2012–13 season saw the club finish bottom of Division One North, resulting in relegation back to the Northern Counties East League. Lowe left the club in 2015.

In 2023–24 Garforth finished third in the Premier Division. In the subsequent play-offs they defeated Rossington Main on penalties in the semi-final and then beat Albion Sports on penalties in the final, earning promotion to Division One East of the Northern Premier League.
(Source - Wikipedia)

Manager Paul Marshall took over in October 2019.

A journey of around 68 miles awaits the Nailers this evening.

The Opposition - This Season
The Miners started the season with three clean sheets, defeating Northallerton Town in the Cup and Liversedge in the league before an NPL draw with Consett.
In fact they didn't suffer defeat until the last day of August, losing to Bury in the FA Cup in front of 1,186 fans.
This triggered a mini slump as they went on to lose five of their next six matches before bouncing back to beat Ossett United and Grimsby Borough.
November has been a mixed month so far, beginning with a heavy defeat at Cleethorpes but improving with wins over Heaton Stannington and impressively at Emley.
The last two matches have seen a 2-0 defeat at North Ferriby and at the weekend they defeated Sherwood Colliery 1-0 back at the Bannister Prentice Stadium after five successive away matches.
They currently sit 9th: P 17 W 8 D 3 L 6 F 25 A 22 Pts 27.

The Nailers
Belper started the season well, and their only away defeat in the league remains at Emley back in August.
After defeat at home to Cleethorpes came a run of five successive wins, ended at the Raygar Stadium by Brighouse Town and then four days later Newton Aycliffe won at Belper by the same scoreline of 2-0.
However the 22nd of October saw a return to winning ways, Harry Draper securing a brace as the Nailers won at Carlton Town.
Three weeks ago Belper exited the FA Trophy, losing on penalties at Chasetown after a 1-1 draw but back in the League the following weekend the three points were secured in an incredible 6-4 win over Consett.
That result was the second in what is currently a five match winning streak in the league and the Nailers have not conceded in the last three matches.
Draper is clear as leading scorer with 18, while Nat Crofts and Curtis Burrows have five. Luke Rawson sits on four and Keaton August & Jack Broadhead have two.
Belper sit 2nd in both the table and form guide, and are the only side yet to draw a match this season: P 17 W 13 D 0 L 4 F 31 A 18 Pts. 39.

Head to Head
The sides have met just once before, an FA Trophy match in 2008.
Garforth won 2-0 in front of 143 spectators in West Yorkshire.
Record for Belper: P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 0 A 2.

The return fixture from today is scheduled for Saturday, 1st March 2025.

Form Guide (all comps)
Garforth Town: WLWWLW
Belper Town: WDWWWW

Team News
There are no major injury concerns or suspensions.

Permutations
Belper will go top with a point or more as Cleethorpes do not have a midweek game and currently lead the table on goal difference.
This is Belper's game in hand on Emley who are two points behind.
For Garforth, victory could shoot them up to 6th, one place outside the playoffs.
They will drop a place if Newton Aycliffe better their result this evening; they travel to Bridlington Town.

Match details
Garforth Town vs. Belper Town
Northern Premier League Division One East
Tuesday, 19th November 2024 - 7:45pm kick off

Bannister Prentice Stadium
Cedar Ridge
Garforth
Leeds
LS25 2PF

Admission prices: Adults £9, Seniors/Students £6, Under 16s £3, Under 5s £0

Follow the match
Live audio commentary is available with Tom on Radio Belper Town - https://radiobelpertown.mixlr.com
Full coverage on X and Facebook.
Match reports to follow on the website (all matches) and in the Non-League Paper (Saturday matches only).

NPL East fixtures
Tuesday
(14th) Bridlington Town vs. Newton Aycliffe (9th)
(8th) Garforth Town vs. Belper Town (2nd)
(21st) Ossett United vs. Bradford (Park Avenue) (7th)

Wednesday
(19th) Brighouse Town vs. Dunston (6th)