Post by omegababy on Jun 1, 2006 16:30:03 GMT
Just for a change we are on the front page of the evening post for a positive reason.
Must be some kind of record for Ossett Town to have made Regional News Headlines so many times in a week
Pitch Battle
After stories of Match Fixing
Wally's attempt to clear his name
Must be some kind of record for Ossett Town to have made Regional News Headlines so many times in a week
Pitch Battle
Supermarket Giant TESCO has made a £4.5Million bid to buy non-league Ossett Town's football ground.
But the Unibond Premier League club is split over the offer which could see their stadiumin Ingfield Rd in the Town centre bulldozed to make way for a new superstore.
The club had agreed a £1.5Million deal with Dewsbury Rams to share their Tetley's Stadium a mile away at Owl Lane--but a new Executive Committee at Ossett Say they are not interested and want to stay put.
Ossett Town Vice Chairman, Martin Voakes, said "At our last Executive meeting we unanimously voted to suspend negotiations with Tesco and start looking at options to develop the Ingfield Stadium"
"It is common knoweledge that some people want to move and some people want to remain. If the members decide to move, so be it. Thats democracy and we can't do anything about it!"
Richard Kelly, a former Ossett Town Commercial Manager and Executive Committee Member, is urging the clubs 40 members to vote in favour of the Tesco's bid at Ossett Towns AGM on 30th June.
"Its a phenominal offer thats on the tablefrom Tesco, to keep our clubhouse where it is and sell the football side" he said.
With the right infrastructure and finances in place there's no reason whywe could'nt be knocking on the door of the Football League within five years"
"We could dedicated junior pitches with their own clubhouse and stands. To provide those sorts of facilities for present and future players is something that is beyond the imagination of most clubs and we have got that within our reach".
Mark Sawyer, Chairman of the Dewsbury RamsRL Club said "We were in negotiations with the old Executive Committee. Ossett were going to buy a 50% in the Stadium. Weagreed we would allow them to come in on a groundshare with us and they would get an equal share of the 170 year lease.
"The ground and the running expenses would be shared, it was a very good idea!"
"From the Dewsbury point of viewwe would get an influx of cash to develop the ground, share running expenses and bring in sub leases such as a five-a-side complex."
"We would love for them to come on board, We have support from the Dewsbury board and Kirklees Council."
"We see it as a way of bringing our ground up to Super League SAtadium Standards"
"I would like to Ossett Town Members the opportunity to come and see our stadium so they can make an informed decision"
But the Unibond Premier League club is split over the offer which could see their stadiumin Ingfield Rd in the Town centre bulldozed to make way for a new superstore.
The club had agreed a £1.5Million deal with Dewsbury Rams to share their Tetley's Stadium a mile away at Owl Lane--but a new Executive Committee at Ossett Say they are not interested and want to stay put.
Ossett Town Vice Chairman, Martin Voakes, said "At our last Executive meeting we unanimously voted to suspend negotiations with Tesco and start looking at options to develop the Ingfield Stadium"
"It is common knoweledge that some people want to move and some people want to remain. If the members decide to move, so be it. Thats democracy and we can't do anything about it!"
Richard Kelly, a former Ossett Town Commercial Manager and Executive Committee Member, is urging the clubs 40 members to vote in favour of the Tesco's bid at Ossett Towns AGM on 30th June.
"Its a phenominal offer thats on the tablefrom Tesco, to keep our clubhouse where it is and sell the football side" he said.
With the right infrastructure and finances in place there's no reason whywe could'nt be knocking on the door of the Football League within five years"
"We could dedicated junior pitches with their own clubhouse and stands. To provide those sorts of facilities for present and future players is something that is beyond the imagination of most clubs and we have got that within our reach".
Mark Sawyer, Chairman of the Dewsbury RamsRL Club said "We were in negotiations with the old Executive Committee. Ossett were going to buy a 50% in the Stadium. Weagreed we would allow them to come in on a groundshare with us and they would get an equal share of the 170 year lease.
"The ground and the running expenses would be shared, it was a very good idea!"
"From the Dewsbury point of viewwe would get an influx of cash to develop the ground, share running expenses and bring in sub leases such as a five-a-side complex."
"We would love for them to come on board, We have support from the Dewsbury board and Kirklees Council."
"We see it as a way of bringing our ground up to Super League SAtadium Standards"
"I would like to Ossett Town Members the opportunity to come and see our stadium so they can make an informed decision"
After stories of Match Fixing
IT'S A FIX!
Coach told kids to lose vital match
Exclusive
By Mark Lavery
A FOOTBALL coach has been forced to resign after telling a team of 11-year-olds to throw a vital match.
Ossett Town coach Paul Hitch told his under-12 team not to defend a throw-in during a junior soccer gala competition.
His bemused young players – including his own son Joe – duly obliged and stood by to let the opposition, another Ossett Town team, score to win the match 1-0 and progress to the next stage of the contest.
The incident sparked outrage among other clubs from across West Yorkshire that were taking part.
When the two Ossett Town sides faced each other in the final game of the group stage Mr Hitch realised the other Ossett team needed a victory to secure a place in the next stage at the expense of Wakefield's Thornes Juniors.
But his match rigging plot had a fatal flaw. He was rumbled after asking players to take a dive, within earshot of an official from Thornes.
Faith
Now Mr Hitch, who was pre-match announcer for the senior first team, has resigned in disgrace as officials scramble to restore the club's credibility with shocked teams from neighbouring towns.
He has left his post as vice-chairman of the junior arm of the club, which has around 20 teams, and as a coach for the U12s.
An Ossett town insider, said: "He has brought embarassment to the club. What sort of example is it to kids who are really keen, especially with the World Cup coming up? The kids were upset and crying. They don't like being told to lose."
And Phil Thompson, manager of the club's under-16 side, said: "The Junior Management Committee has still to consider how we can restore faith with our footballing neighbours. We can only apologise to all concerned."
The Ossett club has sent letters of apology to Thornes and Rothwell U12s, who were in the same group in the competition.
Rothwell U12 boss Paul Walker said: "It's kids' football and you don't expect that sort of thing happening."
Tournament organisers went to great lengths to make amends after discovering the match-fixing plot. They declared the rigged match null and void and arranged a play-off between the winning Ossett side and Thornes Juniors, who won fair and square.
"The moment I said it I realised I had made a mistake," admitted Mr Hitch, who runs an Ossett newsagents. "It was terrible sportsmanship, but I can't turn the clock back. I'm an honourable person and I've resigned and apologised to anybody who would listen."
Coach told kids to lose vital match
Exclusive
By Mark Lavery
A FOOTBALL coach has been forced to resign after telling a team of 11-year-olds to throw a vital match.
Ossett Town coach Paul Hitch told his under-12 team not to defend a throw-in during a junior soccer gala competition.
His bemused young players – including his own son Joe – duly obliged and stood by to let the opposition, another Ossett Town team, score to win the match 1-0 and progress to the next stage of the contest.
The incident sparked outrage among other clubs from across West Yorkshire that were taking part.
When the two Ossett Town sides faced each other in the final game of the group stage Mr Hitch realised the other Ossett team needed a victory to secure a place in the next stage at the expense of Wakefield's Thornes Juniors.
But his match rigging plot had a fatal flaw. He was rumbled after asking players to take a dive, within earshot of an official from Thornes.
Faith
Now Mr Hitch, who was pre-match announcer for the senior first team, has resigned in disgrace as officials scramble to restore the club's credibility with shocked teams from neighbouring towns.
He has left his post as vice-chairman of the junior arm of the club, which has around 20 teams, and as a coach for the U12s.
An Ossett town insider, said: "He has brought embarassment to the club. What sort of example is it to kids who are really keen, especially with the World Cup coming up? The kids were upset and crying. They don't like being told to lose."
And Phil Thompson, manager of the club's under-16 side, said: "The Junior Management Committee has still to consider how we can restore faith with our footballing neighbours. We can only apologise to all concerned."
The Ossett club has sent letters of apology to Thornes and Rothwell U12s, who were in the same group in the competition.
Rothwell U12 boss Paul Walker said: "It's kids' football and you don't expect that sort of thing happening."
Tournament organisers went to great lengths to make amends after discovering the match-fixing plot. They declared the rigged match null and void and arranged a play-off between the winning Ossett side and Thornes Juniors, who won fair and square.
"The moment I said it I realised I had made a mistake," admitted Mr Hitch, who runs an Ossett newsagents. "It was terrible sportsmanship, but I can't turn the clock back. I'm an honourable person and I've resigned and apologised to anybody who would listen."
Wally's attempt to clear his name
Soccer ace bids to clear name over RL fracas
EXCLUSIVE
BY DAVID BRUCE
CHIEF CRIME REPORTER
AN amateur soccer star has pledged to clear his name after being caught on camera in the middle of a disturbance at a rugby final.
James Walshaw, 22, who has scored 97 goals for Ossett Town in the last three seasons, revealed that he took a day off work to go to Dewsbury police station, after seeing his photograph in his local newspaper.
Officials at Thornhill Trojans Amateur RL club asked members of the public to help identify five men caught on camera during the melee after the National Conference Grand Final at Batley's Mount Pleasant ground on May 20. Thornhill were beaten 20-11 by Oulton Raiders.
Trouble broke out in a stand after the game. Today Mr Walshaw, of Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, confirmed he was one of the men ringed in the photo.
He said he had been to the game with some friends but, during the incident, one of his friends was hit – and he was caught on camera as he went to grab him "to get him out of there".
Trojans bosses have said that anyone found to have been a troublemaker at the final would be banned for life.
Insp Ian Gayles of Dewsbury Police said that they were aware of an incident at the ground but had received no complaints of assault, nor any other offences. He added that they would assist Thornhill Trojans in the club's investigation.
Steve Kittrick, manager of Ossett Town, told the YEP that they would hold an investigation if any of their players were found to be involved in any trouble.
He said that Mr Walshaw, who had been in the top three goalscorers in the Unibond League Premier Division in the last three seasons, had recently been placed on the transfer list
EXCLUSIVE
BY DAVID BRUCE
CHIEF CRIME REPORTER
AN amateur soccer star has pledged to clear his name after being caught on camera in the middle of a disturbance at a rugby final.
James Walshaw, 22, who has scored 97 goals for Ossett Town in the last three seasons, revealed that he took a day off work to go to Dewsbury police station, after seeing his photograph in his local newspaper.
Officials at Thornhill Trojans Amateur RL club asked members of the public to help identify five men caught on camera during the melee after the National Conference Grand Final at Batley's Mount Pleasant ground on May 20. Thornhill were beaten 20-11 by Oulton Raiders.
Trouble broke out in a stand after the game. Today Mr Walshaw, of Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, confirmed he was one of the men ringed in the photo.
He said he had been to the game with some friends but, during the incident, one of his friends was hit – and he was caught on camera as he went to grab him "to get him out of there".
Trojans bosses have said that anyone found to have been a troublemaker at the final would be banned for life.
Insp Ian Gayles of Dewsbury Police said that they were aware of an incident at the ground but had received no complaints of assault, nor any other offences. He added that they would assist Thornhill Trojans in the club's investigation.
Steve Kittrick, manager of Ossett Town, told the YEP that they would hold an investigation if any of their players were found to be involved in any trouble.
He said that Mr Walshaw, who had been in the top three goalscorers in the Unibond League Premier Division in the last three seasons, had recently been placed on the transfer list
