Bransay Athletic: Land of the Giants

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Bransay Athletic have confirmed the departure of long-serving centre-back Matt Broughton, who has joined Albion Sports in the NCEL Premier Division, a step up from the Northern League Division Two.

The 22-year-old, a product of the club’s academy and captain during the 2030/31 season, leaves after 128 appearances, six goals, five assists and six titles across his seven-year tenure.

The move follows a challenging period for Broughton, whose place in the starting lineup was overtaken by new signings Jay Boyne, Cian Byrne and Markell Edmondson, relegating him to fifth-choice centre-back. With Boyne named permanent captain and Conner Burrows appointed vice-captain, Broughton’s exit marks the end of an era for one of Bransay’s most decorated academy graduates.

The writing was on the wall for Broughton after manager Callum Baird bolstered the defence with three signings in four months. Boyne, a 20-year-old from Durham United, arrived in March 2031, bringing aerial dominance and leadership. Cian Byrne, a 19-year-old from Horden Community Welfare and Markell Edmondson, an 18-year-old from Milltown, followed in the summer, adding depth and youth.

The trio’s arrival pushed Broughton, alongside fellow academy graduate Joe Prendergast, down the pecking order. In a strategic move, Baird handed the captaincy to Boyne, whose consistent starts and 131 prior appearances for Durham United made him a natural leader, while 18-year-old left midfielder Burrows, a dynamic new signing from Gateshead, was named vice-captain. The decision, though pragmatic, underscored Broughton’s diminished role, as his experience was deemed less effective for on-pitch leadership given his limited minutes.

Broughton’s journey with Bransay began in the 2025/26 season, when he graduated from the academy and made his debut against Bedlington United in the North Northumberland League Division One. That season, he featured in 15 matches, helping secure promotion.

He matched that appearance tally in the 2026/27 Premier Division campaign, cementing his place as a reliable defender alongside peers like Mark Harwood. Over seven seasons, Broughton’s 128 appearances included pivotal roles in six consecutive titles, culminating in last season’s Northern Football Alliance Premier Division triumph, which earned promotion to the Northern League Division Two. His six goals, often from set-pieces and five assists highlighted his contribution, though his leadership as captain during the 2030/31 season - stepping up after Harwood’s departure - defined his legacy.

Manager Callum Baird paid tribute to Broughton’s impact. “Matt’s been the heart of Bransay for years,” Baird said. “He came through our academy, grew with us through every league and led us as captain last season. His commitment and professionalism are second to none. We’re gutted to lose him, but with our new signings, his game time would’ve been limited. Albion Sports is a fantastic opportunity for him to shine at a higher level and he leaves with our gratitude and best wishes.”

Reflecting on his time at Bransay, Broughton expressed pride and acceptance. “This club’s my home,” he said. “From my debut as a teenager to lifting trophies, I’ve lived the dream here. The fans, the lads, Callum - it’s been incredible. But with Jay, Cian and Markell all coming in, I knew my time was up. I’m not here to sit on the bench and Albion Sports is a step up in the NCEL Premier, so I’m excited to challenge myself. I’ll always carry Bransay with me and hope to come back one day as a fan cheering us on.”

Albion Sports, competing at Level 9 in the NCEL Premier Division, offers Broughton a chance to test himself against stronger opposition, including sides like Harrogate Railway and Wakefield.

The move aligns with his ambition to play regular first-team football and build on his experience at a higher tier. Bransay, meanwhile, face their first Northern League Division Two season without one of their stalwarts, relying on Boyne, Edmondson and Byrne to anchor the defence alongside right-back Dean Culbert and left-back Alex Barras.

With Ryan Tioffo and Zoltán Németh leading the attack and new signings like Lee Cook and Conner Burrows adding midfield dynamism, Bransay aim to push for promotion under Boyne’s captaincy.

Broughton’s departure closes a chapter for the Isle of Bransay club, which has seen other academy icons like Harwood and Salo move on in recent years. Yet, with 8 academy graduates in this season’s squad and a new scouting partnership with Ryan Metcalfe’s Met Metrics, Bransay’s commitment to youth endures. As Broughton prepares for his NCEL challenge, the club and its supporters wish him success, knowing his contributions to six titles will forever echo at Forge Road.

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We’ve kicked off our first season in the Northern League Division Two with a blistering start, racking up 8 wins and 2 draws from our opening 10 matches to sit top of the table with 26 points. Scoring 38 goals and conceding just 12 for a 26 goal difference, we’ve set the pace ahead of second-placed Guisborough Town and defied expectations as second favourites at 9/1 behind i2i International Soccer Academy.

With one automatic promotion spot and a play-off berth for 2nd to 5th, we’re firmly in the hunt, though four relegation spots from 19th to 22nd keep us focused. New signings like Conner Burrows, Romuald Ouattara and Markell Edmondson have blended seamlessly with our academy core, led by captain Jay Boyne and vice-captain Burrows, as we navigate a competitive division featuring Kendal Town, Gosforth Bohemians and relegated Seaham Red Star.

We launched the season on 5 August with a statement 7-1 thrashing of favourites i2i Academy at their stadium. Ryan Tioffo led the charge, scoring in the 6th minute from Dion Halabi’s pass, then adding another in the 17th from Burrows’ low cross. Zoltán Németh struck in the 34th via Ouattara’s cross and Matt Edwards capitalised on a clearance error in the 45th. i2i’s Sam Monk scored a 45+4 penalty, but Tioffo’s hat-trick goal in the 51st from Cian Byrne’s lay-off, plus further strikes in the 69th and 88th from Jack Smith and Németh crosses sealed a rout.

On 9 August, we crushed Hebburn Town Under 23s 5-0 at Forge Road. Németh netted four, starting in the 4th from Tioffo’s pass after Edwards’ header, then in the 26th from Joe Prendergast’s long ball and in the 34th and 39th with a header and first-time strike. He capped his haul with a 45th+1 penalty. Smith added a 34th-minute header.

We drew 1-1 at Gosforth Bohemians’ Royal Agricultural College on 13 August. Leif Keillor-Dunn’s 32nd-minute header put us behind, but Tioffo’s 93rd-minute equaliser, volleyed in from Dean Culbert’s cross after Michael Sjøquist’s long ball, salvaged a point.

On 16 August, we beat Horden Community Welfare 3-1 at home. Jordan Elsdon curled in a 20-yard shot in the 18th, Sjøquist scored from Tioffo’s lay-off in the 55th and Németh’s 76th-minute penalty secured the win after Lewis Humphreys’ header.

We edged Campion 2-1 at Scotchman Road on 20 August, with Németh scoring a 17th-minute penalty and a 20th-minute goal from Burrows’ pass, despite Archie Foster’s 87th-minute consolation.

A 2-2 draw with Staveley Miners Welfare at home on 27 August saw Smith score from Boyne’s long ball in the 12th and Németh turn and strike in the 29th, but Coleby Suggett’s 67th-minute goal and an 82nd-minute deflection off Thomas Rickard’s shot levelled it.

On 3 September, we defeated Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 2-0 at Kingsley Park Stadium. Németh half-volleyed Burrows’ pass in the 66th and Edmondson headed in Burrows’ free-kick in the 76th. Our first Brooks Mileson Memorial Cup appearance came on 6 September, drawing 1-1 with Kendal Town at Parkside Road. Jonjoe McGraa’s 43rd-minute penalty was matched by Halabi’s 74th-minute spot-kick and we won 9-8 in a sudden-death shootout, with Oliver Walters scoring after Danny Parker’s miss.

On 10 September, we thrashed Seaham Red Star 5-1 at home. Tioffo scored twice, in the 2nd and 17th, from a clearance error and Ouattara’s cross. Jonah Hodgkinson replied in the 43rd, but Smith’s 48th-minute header, Sjøquist’s 77th-minute free-kick and Németh’s 83rd-minute goal from Elsdon’s pass sealed it.

On 17 September, we won a 5-4 thriller at Birtley Town’s Arrowmark Stadium. Jan Arne Bjornseth, Louie Jackson and Josh Rossiter traded goals with Sjøquist, Smith and Tioffo, but Matt Edwards’ 84th and 86th-minute strikes clinched victory.

We closed September with a 6-1 rout of Sunderland Ryhope at home on 27th, with Edwards, Németh, Smith, Culbert Dean, Prendergast and Tioffo scoring.

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Our 26 points put us top, two ahead of Guisborough Town (24 points). Pickering Town and Horden Commuity Welfare (20 points each) follow, with Pickering Town holding a game in hand. Alnwick Town (25 points) edge fifth, ahead of Pontefract Collieries (19 points) on goal difference (+8 vs. +5).

Northallerton Town and Gosforth (18 points) lurk outside the play-off spots, followed by Redcar Town (14 points). Bridlington Town, Campion, Glasshoughton Welfare and Seaham Red Star (15 points each) form mid-table, with i2i Academy in 14th (14 points).

Kendal Town (9 points), Ryton & Crawcrook Albion (8 points), Staveley Miners Welfare (7 points) and Hebburn Town Under 23s (7 points) hover above the relegation zone. Prudhoe Youth Club (6 points), Birtley Town (5 points), Sunderland Ryhope (5 points) and Fishburn Park (4 points) occupy the bottom four.

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Bransay Athletic have acted swiftly to replace two departing players, captain Jay Boyne and midfielder Michael Sjøquist, with the signings of 18-year-old centre-back Musa Jimoh from AFC Newbiggin and 22-year-old Northern Irish midfielder Ian Browne from Great Ayton United.

The moves come as Bransay, currently lagging behind the Northern League Division 2 leaders with 35 points, prepare for a crucial phase of the 2031/32 season. With ambitions of securing automatic promotion or a play-off spot, Bransay have targeted young, versatile talent to maintain their momentum in a competitive division.

Jay Boyne’s departure to Stanhope Town, a fellow Northern League Division Two side, marks a contentious exit for the 21-year-old centre-back. Boyne, who joined from Durham United in January 2031, made 14 appearances for Bransay, including 10 this season and was handed the captaincy over Matt Broughton last summer, a decision that raised eyebrows within the club.

Manager Callum Baird openly disapproved of Boyne’s move, citing his integral role in the team’s defensive solidity. Boyne’s leadership and aerial prowess, honed at Durham United, were key in Bransay’s Northern Football Alliance Premier Division title win last season. However, his desire for a new challenge at Stanhope Town, coupled with reported friction over his captaincy, led to his departure.

To fill Boyne’s void, Bransay have signed 18-year-old Musa Jimoh from AFC Newbiggin in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Jimoh, a promising centre-back, made 15 appearances across three seasons for Newbiggin, showcasing his physicality and composure in a step up from the youth academy.

His arrival bolsters Bransay’s defensive options, where he will compete with Markell Edmondson, Cian Byrne and academy graduate Joe Prendergast. Jimoh’s youth and potential align with Bransay’s ethos of nurturing young talent and he is expected to slot into their system, providing cover and competition for starting spots alongside left-back Romuald Ouattara and right-back Dean Culbert.

Michael Sjøquist, a 25-year-old midfielder, also left Bransay, joining Nationwide in England’s Wiltshire Premier League Division. Sjøquist, signed last season to replace departing players like Emmanuel Connor, made 35 appearances, scoring 7 goals and providing 8 assists, including a stunning 25-yard free-kick against Whitley Bay Reserves and a goal in the 5-3 comeback win over Hazlerigg Victory.

Baird praised Sjøquist’s versatility and work rate, noting his contributions were vital in midfield alongside Oliver Walters and Lee Cook. “Michael was a class act,” Baird said. “His goals and assists speak for themselves and he gave us stability in big moments. We’re sorry to see him go, but Nationwide offers him a new challenge and we wish him the best.”

Replacing Sjøquist is Ian Browne, a 23-year-old Northern Irish centre-back from Great Park United in the North West League Division One. Browne brings experience from 50 appearances over four seasons at Great Park, where he scored 7 goals and provided 12 assists, demonstrating his ability to contribute offensively from midfield.

Prior to that, Browne broke through Hebburn’s academy, making 28 appearances in the Northern Premier League Division One East between 2024 and 2029, showcasing his pedigree at Level 8. His arrival strengthens Bransay’s midfield, where he will compete with Cook, Matt Edwards, Oliver Walters and Harrison Bennett, while offering a creative link to wingers Jack Smith and Conner Burrows. Browne’s vision and passing range are expected to complement the attacking threat of strikers Ryan Tioffo and Zoltán Németh, who have scored 23 goals between them this season.

The departures of Boyne and Sjøquist, following earlier exits like Matt Broughton to Albion Sports and Jami Salo to Goan United, test Bransay’s squad depth, but Jimoh and Browne’s signings reflect the club’s proactive approach, guided by the oversight of Director of Football Moshe Haliva.

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I sit here in the empty stands at Forge Road, the final whistle’s echo long gone, the floodlights casting a cold glow over the pitch where we just stumbled to a 2-2 draw with Prudhoe Youth Club, of all teams.

The players have shuffled off, heads down and the fans - those loyal few who still chant my name - have trickled back into the Bransay night. It’s just me now, the coastal wind biting at my knuckles and this gnawing ache in my chest that I can’t shake.

Eight years, eight titles and now this. Seven losses in eleven games since October. Fourth place, seven points off the top. Knocked out of the cup by Marske United. My Bransay, my fortress, crumbling under my watch. And Ella - God, Ella - carrying our baby girl, due in December, while I’m drowning in this mess.

How did it come to this? I built this club from the North Northumberland League, from mud-soaked pitches and half-empty terraces to the Northern League Division Two. I turned academy lads like Jami Salo and Matt Broughton into island icons, found gems like Zoltán Németh and Jay Boyne to replace them when they left.

I kept us climbing, year after year, even when Salo bolted for the Goan cash, when Roscoe Green chased Barnoldswick’s promises, when Broughton walked to Albion Sports. I held it together, always found a way. But now? Bridlington Town tore us apart, 4-2 at Queensgate. Redcar Town, same scoreline, same humiliation. Guisborough Town made it three losses on the spin, another 4-2, Groundhog Day. Then Pontefract’s 4-3, Pickering’s 2-0, Kendal’s 3-1. And tonight, scraping a draw against Prudhoe, a team scrapping to avoid relegation. We’re fourth, 36 points, but it feels like we’re sinking.

I keep replaying every goal we’ve conceded, every missed chance. Tioffo’s not finishing like he did in August; Németh’s head seems elsewhere. Musa Jimoh’s raw, nowhere near Boyne’s level yet. Ian Browne’s trying, but he’s not Sjøquist, not that spark we need in midfield. I see the lads’ eyes in the dressing room - Burrows, Culbert, Smithy - they’re still fighting, but there’s doubt now, a crack I never saw before.

I’m supposed to be their rock, the one who turns it around, but I’m out of answers. I’ve tweaked the formation, pushed Ryan Metcalfe for new data, begged Moshe Haliva to fast-track a signing, but nothing’s clicking. Josh Lloyd is supportive, but I feel his gaze, the board’s whispers. Eight titles don’t buy you forever.

And then there’s Ella. My Ella, 28, with her chestnut hair and that laugh that used to pull me out of any slump. We met at the council offices three years ago, me filing permits for Forge Road, her sorting planning applications with that sharp wit.

She’s my anchor, the one who knows me beyond the touchline. Now she’s eight months pregnant with our girl - our little December miracle - and I’m terrified I’m failing her, too. She’s at home, probably rubbing her belly, reading baby books, while I’m here, haunted by scorelines.

I should be painting the nursery, picking names, not obsessing over why Markell Edmondson missed that header tonight. Ella says she believes in me, but how can I be a father - a proper one - when I can’t even keep my team from falling apart?

I’m 35, but I feel a decade older. The Isle of Bransay expects me to deliver, always has. They see me as the lad who brought glory, the one who made Forge Road a fortress. But tonight, it’s just a cold, empty field.

I think of Salo’s 89 goals, Broughton’s 128 games, Boyne’s swagger before he jumped ship to Stanhope. I gave them everything, poured my soul into this club and now it’s slipping through my fingers. December’s coming fast - our girl, a new life, a new me I don’t know how to be. I want to fix this, for Bransay, for Ella, for her. But right now, staring at this pitch, I don’t know where to start.

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We’ve endured a torrid two months, plummeting from the top of the Northern League Division Two to fourth place with 38 points after a run of just three wins, one draw and seven losses in 11 league games since October.

Our early season swagger, which saw us score 37 goals in our first 10 matches, has evaporated, with 21 goals scored and 28 conceded in this period. We also suffered a 2-1 defeat to Division One side Marske United in the Brooks Mileson Memorial Cup second round, compounding our woes.

With one automatic promotion spot and a play-off berth for second to fifth, we’re clinging to the play-off positions by goal difference, but the four relegation spots from 19th to 22nd loom ominously. As we head into December, we’re desperate to rediscover our form to keep pace with leaders Pickering Town and avoid a mid-season collapse.

We began October with a 5-2 rout of Fishburn Park at Forge Road on 4 October. Zoltán Németh struck after 32 seconds, tapping in Jack Smith’s low cross and added another in the 21st minute from Jordan Elsdon’s through ball. Craig Palmer pulled one back in the 74th, but Dion Halabi scored from Smith’s lay-off in the 88th, Marlon Vasey’s own goal in the 93rd and Ryan Tioffo’s top-right finish in the 94th sealed it, despite Palmer’s second in the 95th.

Our first defeat came on 8 October, a 4-2 loss at Bridlington Town’s Queensgate Stadium. Seb Gedsted headed in a corner in the 9th, Gerry Foley scored in the 17th and Onur Yılmaz converted a 25th-minute penalty. Joe Prendergast’s 45th+3 header and Smith’s 73rd-minute header from Elsdon’s cross made it 3-2, but Foley’s 84th-minute tap-in clinched it for Bridlington.

We bounced back on 11 October, thrashing Alnwick Town 4-0 at home. Németh scored twice from Smith’s low crosses in the 13th and 32nd, completing his hat-trick in the 45th+2 with a top-right strike from Lee Cook’s long ball. Matt Edwards added a fourth in the 81st from Thomas Ousager’s lay-off.

On 14 October, we won 4-0 against Pickering Town in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup first round at Mill Lane. Cook scored from Elsdon’s cross in the 22nd, Prendergast volleyed a clearance in the 40th, Halabi struck in the 87th from Rhys Evans’ pass and Tioffo finished at the near post in the 91st from Andrew Brownhill’s ball.

But our momentum faltered on 22 October, losing 4-2 at Redcar Town’s Mo Mowlam Memorial Park. Jake Reynolds and Josh Elcoate scored in the 24th and 31st, with Tioffo and Németh levelling it by the 34th. Reynolds’ 30-yard screamer in the 63rd and Kain Fearnhead’s 64th-minute goal sank us.

Our cup run ended on 25 October with a 2-1 home loss to Marske United in the Brooks Mileson Memorial Cup second round. Trent Chapman headed in Dougie Crawford’s cross in the 10th, Tioffo equalised in the 26th from Craig Daly’s long ball, but Chapman’s second in the 35th proved decisive.

We closed October with a 4-2 defeat at Guisborough Town’s King George V Ground on the 29th. Tioffo scored in the 10th from Evans’ cross, but Bryan Orozco’s 18th-minute header, Remaye Campbell’s 53rd-minute volley and his 82nd and 86th-minute goals overturned Halabi’s 56th-minute penalty.

November brought no relief, starting with a 3-0 win over Glasshoughton Welfare at Forge Road on 1 November. Burrows cut in to score in the 29th, Tioffo volleyed Smith’s cross in the 62nd and Németh volleyed Tioffo’s pass in the 84th.

But we fell 4-3 at Pontefract’s Harratt Nissan Stadium on 5 November. Leam Shirtliff’s 21st-minute penalty was cancelled by Tioffo’s 30th-minute goal, but Tony Moxon’s 40th-minute strike, Tom Harrison’s 86th-minute equaliser and Gavin Piper’s 95th-minute winner undid Smith’s 67th-minute header and Burrows’ 69th-minute lead.

On 8 November, we lost 2-0 at home to Pickering Town, with Michael Altendorf’s 21st-minute nutmeg and Catalin Barsan’s 30th-minute header sealing our fate.

A 3-1 defeat at Kendal Town’s Parkside Road on 12 November deepened our slump. Kaidyn Bassey’s 18th-minute header, George Fletcher’s 43rd-minute goal and Jonjoe McGraa’s 47th-minute strike overshadowed Tioffo’s 45th+1 goal from Smith’s cross.

We drew 2-2 at home with Prudhoe Youth Club on 22 November, with Alex Barkley’s 23rd-minute goal and Kieran Douglas’ 89th-minute header bookending Burrows’ 71st-minute equaliser from Halabi’s lay-off and Tioffo’s 93rd-minute open-goal tap-in.

Draws continued with a 1-1 against Northallerton Town at home on 26 November, where Smith’s 31st-minute goal from Elsdon’s pass was matched by Leigh Robinson’s 80th-minute penalty and a 1-1 at Hebburn Under 23s’ Green Energy Sports Ground on 29 November, where Leif Colvin’s 17th-minute goal was answered by Németh’s 61st-minute strike from Cook’s pass.

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Pickering Town lead with 47 points, followed closely by Guisborough Town on 46 points and Horden Community Welfare on 44 points, forming a tight title race. These three have pulled away, with Pickering’s consistency and Guisborough’s attacking flair keeping them ahead.

We sit fourth on 38 points, level with Alnwick Town on 39 points but trailing the leaders by nine points, our title hopes fading. Bridlington Town match our 38 points, but our goal difference keeps us in the play-off spots. Gosforth Bohemians in seventh have 36 points, while Redcar Town and Northallerton Town, both on 35 points, remain within striking distance of the play-offs.

Seaham Red Star and i2i International Soccer Academy occupy 10th and 11th with 31 points each, followed by Pontefract Collieries and Ryton & Crawcrook Albion in 12th and 13th with 29 points. Glasshoughton Welfare and Campion, both on 28 points, sit in 14th and 15th, forming a congested mid-table.

Kendal Town in 16th have 24 points, seven clear of Hebburn Under 23s in 17th on 23 points. Sunderland Ryhope in 18th have 18 points, just outside the relegation zone. Birtley Town and Prudhoe Youth Club share 17 points in 19th and 20th, while Staveley Miners Welfare and Fishburn Park, both on 13 points, prop up the table in 21st and 22nd.

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The engine hums softly as I steer my old Ford through the winding lanes of the Bransay Harbour, the headlights cutting through the December dark. Forge Road’s floodlights are a faint glow in the rearview mirror and the 3-1 win over i2i International Soccer Academy - our first in seven bloody games - still pulses in my veins.

But it’s not the three points, not Tioffo’s brace or Németh’s goal, that’s got my heart singing tonight. It’s Lucy. My Lucy Baird, two days old, waiting at home with Ella. My daughter, my miracle, born 11th December and this win, this gritty, gutted-out victory, feels like it was for her. A gift from God, maybe, to remind me there’s light even when the pitch feels like a graveyard.

I grip the wheel, the memory of the game flickering through my mind. We started shaky, still scarred from that godawful run - Bridlington, Redcar, Guisborough, all 4-2 losses, then Pontefract, Pickering, Kendal and those soul-crushing draws against Prudhoe and Northallerton. Seven games without a win, fourth place, nine points off Pickering Town.

I saw it in the lads’ eyes: doubt, fatigue, the weight of my own failures as their leader. But tonight, at Forge Road, we roared back. The crowd - our crowd - erupted and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe.

But it’s Lucy who’s got me floating. Two days ago, in that sterile hospital room, Ella - my Ella, 28, with her chestnut hair plastered with sweat - handed me this tiny, squirming bundle. Lucy, with her button nose and those big, curious eyes, like she’s already sizing up the world.

I held her and everything - those losses, the board’s whispers, the sleepless nights - melted away. I’m 35, been Bransay’s manager for eight years, won eight titles, but nothing, not even biggest comeback, compares to her. She’s my purpose now, my reason to keep fighting, on and off the pitch.

I picture her growing up, toddling around our little house, Ella chasing her with that laugh that still makes me weak. I met Ella three years ago at the council, me faffing with Forge Road permits, her sorting planning forms with that sharp wit. Now she’s my wife, my rock and Lucy’s mum.

I see Lucy at five, kicking a ball in the garden, me teaching her to trap it with her instep, giggling as it bobbles away. I’ll take her to Forge Road, her tiny hand in mine, introduce her to the community. Maybe at the Campion match in January - Ella’ll bring her down, wrapped in a scarf and the fans, those salt-of-the-earth Bransay folk, will coo over her. “That’s Baird’s little one,” they’ll say and I’ll beam, prouder than any trophy.

I want Lucy to love football; to feel the rush I feel, the joy of a last-gasp winner. But more than that, I want her to love Bransay - the island, the club, the people. She’ll grow up hearing tales of Jami Salo’s, Matt Broughton, that 7-1 rout of i2i to start this season. I’ll tell her how we climbed from the North Northumberland League to Level 10, how we defied the odds with academy lads like Dean Culbert and Jack Smith. She’ll see the photos on the clubhouse walls, faded snaps of our amateur days and maybe one day, she’ll play for Bransay’s women’s team - if we can get one started. Or she’ll be in the dugout, barking orders like her old man, or just in the stands, cheering with Ella.

I think about her future, what I want for her. A Bransay education, maybe, at the little school by the harbour. Summers on the beach, collecting shells, Ella teaching her to bake those lopsided scones. I want her to be kind, like her mum, but fierce, too, ready to scrap for what she believes in, like me on my best days.

I’ll save every penny from my wages to give her choices - uni, travel, whatever she dreams. But I know she’ll carry this place in her heart, like I do. The Isle of Bransay’s small, but it’s mighty and Lucy’ll be its daughter.

Tonight’s win feels like a sign, a nod from above that I’m not done yet. For Lucy, I’ll turn this season around. We’re fifth, but there’s time - 19 games left, a play-off spot in reach. I’ll lean on Ryan Metcalfe’s data, Moshe Haliva’s nous, Josh Lloyd’s faith. I’ll get Tioffo firing, Németh hungry, Prendergast steady.

For Lucy, I’ll make Forge Road a fortress again. I glance at the dashboard clock - 20:03. Ella’s probably rocking Lucy to sleep, humming that lullaby she seems to love already. I’m almost home, to my girls, my life. This win’s for you, Lucy Baird. Your dad’s coming back and he’s bringing hope.

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The dressing room door clicks shut behind me, the lads’ chatter fading as I send them home after our 5-0 thrashing of Campion. Forge Road’s pitch lies quiet under the January frost, the floodlights dimming, but my heart’s still racing - not just from the win, our fourth in a row after that grim autumn slump, but from Lucy.

My Lucy, three weeks old, here for her first Bransay match on 3rd January 2032. I can still see her tiny face, bundled in Ella’s arms, those big eyes blinking at the players before the game, the fans cooing over her in the stands. This day, this 5-0, feels like it’s hers, a perfect start to her life with Bransay and I’m floating as I step into the chilly night to find my girls.

The game replays in my head as I cross the car park. We were electric - Németh tapping in Tioffo’s low ball in the 16th, Halabi rifling one from the edge in the 29th off Cook’s lay-off, Tioffo slotting Németh’s square ball in the 35th after Burrows’ long pass. Then Németh again in the 68th, cool as you like from Culbert’s over-the-top ball and Cian Byrne’s glancing header from Brownhill’s corner in the 72nd.

Five-nil, clean sheet, second place behind Guisborough Town. Eleven points adrift, sure, but with 16 games left, this feels like a turning point after those seven losses in October and November. The lads believed again today - Smith’s runs, Burrows’ vision, Byrne’s grit at the back. I believed again.

But it’s Lucy who’s got me soaring. Before kick-off, Ella brought her round the dressing room, wrapped in a tiny Bransay scarf her nan knitted. The lads melted - Jack Smith pulling faces, Dean Culbert pretending to head a ball for her, even Cian Byrne, usually so serious, cracking a smile as he tickled her hand. She just stared, my little girl, like she was taking it all in. Ella, radiant despite the sleepless nights, held her close, whispering, “This is your daddy’s world, Luce.”

In the stands, the fans - our fans, the heart of this island - swarmed them, old lads like Tommy from the harbour saying, “She’s a proper Bransay girl already.” I caught Ella’s eye from the touchline, her hair tucked under a beanie and felt this surge of love I can’t put words to.

I spot them now, near the clubhouse, Ella rocking Lucy gently, chatting with a few stragglers. “There’s the boss!” calls Mary, a season-ticket holder since our North Northumberland days. I jog over, grinning. “Cracking result, Callum,” she says. “And this little one’s your lucky charm, eh?”

I laugh, peering at Lucy, her cheeks pink against the cold. “Reckon she is, Mary. Scouted her myself.” Ella rolls her eyes, but her smile’s warm.

Tommy’s there too, pint glass in hand, though the bar’s long closed. “Five-nil, Bairdy! Tell Németh to keep that up and we’re in the play-offs or more.” I nod, promising to pass it on, though my eyes keep drifting to Lucy, asleep now, tiny breaths puffing in the scarf.

“Thanks for coming, folks,” I say, shaking hands. “Means the world to see you here for Lucy’s first match.” They wave us off and Ella and I head to the car, her arm looped through mine, Lucy’s car seat cradled in her other hand. I buckle Lucy in, kissing her forehead and slide into the driver’s seat. Ella’s beside me, glowing despite the chill.

“You were brilliant today,” she says, squeezing my hand. “Lucy’s proud of her dad.” I chuckle, starting the engine. “Hope she didn’t see me swearing at the ref in the first half.” Ella laughs, that laugh that’s been my anchor since we met at the council three years ago. “She slept through it, don’t worry. But the fans loved her. Think she’s got more admirers than you now.”

As we wind through Bransay’s lanes, the sea glinting under moonlight, we talk about the game, the goals, how Burrows is growing into vice-captain at 18. But mostly, we talk about Lucy. “Reckon she’ll be a striker like Ryan?” I ask, half-joking.

Ella smirks. “Or a manager like you, shouting at everyone.” I picture Lucy at Forge Road in years to come - maybe kicking a ball at half-time, maybe just eating chips in the stands with her mates. I want her to love this club, this island, like I do. I see her in a Bransay kit, number 10, or maybe she’ll be an artist, a teacher, anything she dreams. Whatever she chooses, I’ll be there, cheering louder than any terrace.

We pull into our driveway, the cottage dark save for the porch light Ella left on. I carry Lucy’s car seat inside, Ella flicking on the kettle. As we settle on the sofa, Lucy stirring but not waking, I think back to today. That 5-0 wasn’t just a win; it was Lucy’s day, her welcome to Bransay Athletic. I remember the fans’ faces, the lads’ grins, Ella’s pride.

I’m 35, carrying the weight of eight titles, a rocky season and now fatherhood, but tonight, I feel light. We’re second, the play-offs are ours to chase and Lucy’s my reason to fight. I kiss Ella’s temple, whisper, “Love you,” and watch Lucy’s tiny chest rise and fall. This is my team - on the pitch, in this room - and I’ll do anything to make them proud.

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We’ve roared back from our autumn slump, winning seven of eight league matches across December 2031 and January 2032 to climb to second place in the Northern League Division Two with 62 points from 30 games. Scoring 27 goals and conceding just 7 in these league fixtures, we’ve rediscovered the form that saw us top the table in September, narrowing the gap to leaders Guisborough Town to five points while boasting a stronger goal difference.

Despite a disappointing exit in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup second round on penalties to Kendal Town, our league resurgence - fuelled by Ryan Tioffo, Zoltán Németh and Dion Halabi - has us firmly in the hunt for the automatic promotion spot, with the play-off berths for second to fifth as a fallback.

Our month began with a setback on 2 December, exiting the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup second round at Forge Road after a 0-0 draw with Kendal Town. A tense penalty shootout saw Tioffo miss our first attempt, allowing Kendal to advance.

We bounced back on 13 December, beating i2i International Soccer Academy 3-1 at home, two days after my daughter Lucy’s birth. i2i’s Sam Monk scored a 45th-minute penalty, but Lee Cook equalised in the 57th from Tioffo’s square ball. In the 77th, a poor clearance landed with Jordan Elsdon, who fed Németh, leading to Cook’s volleyed lay-off for Tioffo’s bottom-left strike. Tioffo sealed it in the 89th, firing into the bottom left as goalkeeper Ridsdale stood rooted.

On 20 December, we defeated Gosforth Bohemians 3-1 at Forge Road. Jack Smith cut inside for a stunning left-footed goal in the 19th, Tioffo blasted one past Raji in the 26th and despite Dean Culbert’s 39th-minute own goal, Cook scored from Németh’s lay-off in the 62nd.

We closed December on 27 December with a 2-1 win at Horden Community Welfare’s Welfare Park. Elsdon headed in Halabi’s cross in the 7th, Halabi converted a 78th-minute penalty and Lewis Humphreys’ 85th-minute goal made it tense.

We kicked off 2032 with a 5-0 thrashing of Campion at Forge Road on 3 January, Lucy’s first match. Németh tapped in Tioffo’s low ball in the 16th, Halabi rifled one from the edge in the 29th off Cook’s lay-off and Tioffo slotted Németh’s square ball in the 35th after Conner Burrows’ long pass. Németh struck again in the 68th from Culbert’s over-the-top ball and Cian Byrne glanced in Andrew Brownhill’s corner in the 72nd.

On 10 January, we won 4-0 at Staveley Miners Welfare’s Inkersall Road. Németh scored from Culbert’s near-post cross in the 9th, Aamir Daniels’ 18th-minute own goal came from Cook’s pass, Byrne headed in Brownhill’s corner in the 22nd and Halabi nodded in Brownhill’s cross in the 32nd.

We beat Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 3-1 at home on 17 January, with Elsdon scoring in the 32nd from Németh’s pass, Tony Mosely levelling in 45+1 and Halabi’s 25-yard strike in the 62nd and Tioffo’s mazy 71st-minute run securing the win.

On 24 January, we edged Seaham Red Star 3-2 at Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium. Tioffo scored from Burrows’ lay-off in the 6th, Farhad Zarei equalised in the 18th, Cook struck from Smith’s pass in the 67th, Németh curled a 25-yard beauty in the 82nd and Joe Stephenson’s 93rd-minute goal made it close.

We finished January with a 4-1 home win over Birtley Town on the 31st. Louie Salkeld scored in the 3rd, but Halabi’s 9th-minute penalty, Smith’s 19th-minute header from Burrows’ cross, Cook’s 56th-minute cutback goal and Tioffo’s 71st-minute strike from Joe Prendergast’s long ball sealed it.

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Guisborough Town lead with 67 points after 30 games, but their recent draw against i2i and Brooks Mileson Memorial Cup commitments could offer us an opening. We’re second on 62 points, five behind but with a superior goal difference, keeping the automatic promotion spot in sight.

Pickering Town sit third with 57 points, Alnwick Town fourth with 56 and Horden Community Welfare fifth with 54, occupying the final play-off spot. Redcar Town, sixth with 52 points and Bridlington Town, seventh with 49, remain threats to the play-off positions.

Northallerton Town in eighth have 43 points, followed by Ryton & Crawcrook Albion in ninth with 42. Gosforth Bohemians and Seaham Red Star share 40 points in 10th and 11th, while Kendal Town, Campion and i2i International Soccer Academy are level on 39 points in 12th to 14th. Glasshoughton Welfare in 15th have 38 points.

Pontefract Collieries in 16th have 34 points, Birtley Town in 17th have 32 and Hebburn Town Under 23s in 18th have 30 points, four clear of the relegation zone. Fishburn Park and Sunderland Ryhope, both on 26 points, occupy 19th and 20th, with Fishburn’s better goal difference keeping them ahead. Staveley Miners Welfare and Prudhoe Youth Club, both on 23 points, sit bottom in 21st and 22nd.

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The touchline’s a furnace, even in this February chill, as I pace the dugout at Forge Road, my eyes locked on the pitch where we are are scrapping for our lives against Guisborough Town. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

We’re on 68 points, 10 league wins in a row, breathing down Guisborough’s neck at 70 points after they squandered an 11-point lead. A win puts us top; a loss sees them pull five points clear; a draw keeps the two-point gap.

Simba Mlambo’s Guisborough, with that machine Remaye Campbell - 38 goals in 33 games - are no joke. My heart’s hammering, not just for the league, but for Lucy, Ella, the Isle of Bransay. This is our moment.

Six minutes in and I’m already gripping the dugout rail. Guisborough’s corner swings in, Dean Culbert towers to head it clear, but it drops to Robbie Kellacher, back to goal. He lays it off to Konata Joseph on the edge, who unleashes a rocket that smacks the crossbar. The thud echoes in my skull. “Wake up, lads!” I bellow, clapping hard. Too close, too early. My stomach twists – Campbell is lurking and we can’t afford a slip.

Eighth minute and it’s worse. Campbell, the menace, lines up a free-kick 30 yards out. I’m muttering, “Stay tight!” He strikes it clean and the ball screams, clipping the crossbar again. Forge Road gasps. It falls to Joseph, who nudges it goalward; Kenzie Harker bundles it in, but the linesman’s flag is up. Offside. I exhale, hands on my knees, relief flooding me. “Thank Christ,” I mutter, but my eyes dart to Campbell. He’s smirking, knowing he’s got us rattled.

Ninth minute and we finally breathe. Culbert launches a throw-in deep in their half. It pings to Markell Edmondson, then back to Craig Daly, 40 yards from his net, cool as ice. He spots Matt Edwards in space, lofts a high ball down the left to Jordan Elsdon, who’s tearing forward. “Go on, Jordan!” I shout. Elsdon’s first-time cross zips to Zoltán Németh at the near post, but Jacob Barry, their keeper, tips it round. Corner. I clap, “Good, lads, good!” but I’m itching - we need to punish them and soon.

Twenty-first minute and we’re flying. Elsdon snuffs out a Guisborough corner, sparking a counter. He finds Tioffo, who’s off like a shot. It’s four-on-six, a proper breakaway. Tioffo sprays it right to Jack Smith, ghosting past Mark Harrison near my dugout. “Cut it, Jack!” I yell, but his pass to Elsdon’s behind him and the move fizzles. I slap my thigh, groaning. “Oh, come on, lads, that was it!” Wasted. Mlambo’s barking orders opposite and I feel the game slipping into a scrap.

Thirty-seventh minute and we’re probing again. Conner Burrows takes a throw-in; Harker intercepts but gifts it back. Burrows feeds Dion Halabi and I’m roaring, “Wide, Dion, wide!” He pings it to Smith, who’s tormenting Harrison. Smith’s first touch is silk, gliding past him and his shot cracks the post. I’m halfway out my dugout, fists clenched. Kellacher clears for a throw. Burrows lobs it to Halabi, who knocks it back. Burrows, instead of crossing, dances past Joseph down the left - cheeky sod - and swings it to the far post. Smith leaps, outmuscling Harrison and heads it home. 1-0. The Forge Road faithful erupt, but I’m calm, applauding Smith as he jogs past. “Brilliant, Jack, more of that!” Inside, I’m buzzing - this could be the night.

Half-time, 1-0. In the dressing room, I’m measured but firm. “You’ve got them rattled, lads, but Campbell’s a killer. Stay tight, don’t give him an inch. Smith, you’re murdering Harrison. More of it.” They nod, focused. I’m happy despite the early scares. We’re in control but Guisborough are too dangerous to relax.

Fifty-fifth minute and it’s turning. Culbert’s throw finds Smith on the right, but he’s dispossessed. Campbell’s got the ball now and my pulse spikes. Harker bombs down their right, delivers a cross, but Daly snatches it. Mlambo’s losing it opposite, arms flailing.
Daly boots it to the halfway line; Campbell wins the header to Harker. Burrows, already on a yellow from a minute ago, lunges in. “No, Conner, no!” I cry, but it’s too late. The ref’s whistle shrieks, second yellow, red card. I’m at the fourth official, pleading, “He got the ball!” but I know it’s futile. Stupid, silly challenge. We’re down to 10 men and I’m fuming, hauling Romuald Ouattara on to shore up the left.

Sixty-third minute and Ouattara’s making an impact. His corner’s headed out by Sam Husband, but he swings in another cross. Németh’s bundled over by Alex Laird in the box and I’m screaming, “Penalty, ref!” Adam Herczeg points to the spot, despite Guisborough’s protests.
Halabi steps up, cool as you like and slots it bottom left. 2-0. I slump against the bench, breathing hard. “Yes, Dion!” I crow, fist pumping. With 10 men, this feels massive.

Seventy-fifth minute and we’re pushing for the killer blow. Barry’s goal-kick finds Laird, who misjudges a header over Neville Lawrence. Culbert gallops onto it, plays inside to Tioffo, but Laird cuts it out, back to Simon Beckett. I’m shouting, “Press, Dion!” Halabi crunches into Campbell - good lad, keep him quiet. Culbert feeds Edmondson, who finds Tioffo holding up at halfway. Tioffo’s pass to Cook is loose; Konata Joseph clips him, but Németh pounces on the ball, free on goal. I’m at the pitch’s edge, nodding. “Go, Zoltán!” He buries it above Barry’s dive. 3-0. I’m running to him, hugging him, ruffling his hair. “You beauty!” I roar. This is it, surely.

Eighty-eighth minute and I’m still twitchy. Beckett’s throw-in’s cleared by Culbert, but only to Laird, who heads it back. Halabi’s pass to Németh is intercepted by Kellacher. Laird boots long to Bryan Orozco, who nods it into Daly’s hands. Daly’s kick is headed back by Husband to Butler, who finds Lawrence via it. Lawrence feeds Max Lynch, then Orozco, then Joseph. I’m screaming, “Close him down!” but it’s too late - Joseph slots it bottom left past Daly. 3-1. My stomach lurches. “Tighten up, lads!” I bellow, glancing at the clock.

Ninety-first minute and it’s torture now. Beckett’s throw goes to Husband, back to Beckett, who tears down the left. “Close him!” I yell, but he finds Campbell on the edge of our box. Campbell lays it off and Orozco fires home. 3-2. I’m livid, hands on my head. “What are we doing?!” Guisborough smell blood, rushing to restart.

I’m shouting, “Slow it down!” Ian Browne takes a booking for time-wasting in the 95th and I’m urging the lads to form a wall in our final third. “Head it, kick it, fucking anything!” Tioffo’s chasing scraps, buying seconds.

The final whistle blows and I’m drained, relief washing over me like a tide. 3-2. We’ve done it. Top of the league, 71 points to their 70. I shake Mlambo’s hand, his face thunder, then hug every player - kisses for Németh, pats for Smith, a quiet word for Burrows about that red card. In the changing room, I’m stern. “Brilliant, lads, but hush - Guisborough’s next door. No gloating. We’ve been here before, top in September and bottled it then. Nine games left now. Stay humble.” I send them to celebrate in Bransay Harbour, pubs staying open late on my call. “I’ll join you if Ella lets me,” I grin, knowing she’s already given the nod, though I’ll see Lucy first.

Inside, I’m a mess of relief and fear. Those last minutes - Joseph’s goal, Orozco’s strike - nearly cost us. Campbell’s 38 goals haunt me; he hit the bar, could’ve buried us. But Smith’s header, Halabi’s pen, Németh’s clincher - they’re why we’re top.

Tioffo’s work rate, Culbert’s clearances, even with 10 men. This was for Lucy, for Ella, for the fans who’ve stuck through our October nightmare. Nine games to go, a one-point lead. We’ve won the battle, but the war’s not over. I think of Lucy’s first match, that 5-0 over Campion and smile. She’s my strength. We’ll fight for this title, for Bransay and for her.

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Bransay Athletic have confirmed the departure of three players - Harrison Bennett, Alex Barras and Thomas Ousager - as the club, currently top of the Northern League Division Two focus on their final games in the 2031/32 season.

With no plans to replace the trio at this late stage, Bransay are confident in their squad depth, boasting six midfielders, four left-backs and three strikers to cover the losses.

The club, under manager Callum Baird, remain in a tight title race with Guisborough Town, level on points and are determined to secure promotion to the Northern League Division One while navigating the automatic and play-off spots.

Harrison Bennett, an 18-year-old midfielder, is the first to depart, joining Hemsworth Miners Welfare in the Eastern Counties Premier Division. Bennett, who arrived from Highgrove last season, made just three substitute appearances in the league during the 2030/31 campaign and featured once in the cup this season.

Despite limited minutes, his work rate in training earned respect from Baird and the coaching staff. With Bransay’s midfield bolstered by players like Lee Cook, Matt Edwards and Ian Browne, Bennett sought regular football elsewhere. The club wish him well in his next chapter at Hemsworth, where he’ll aim to break into their first team.

Alex Barras, a 20-year-old left-back and academy graduate, has moved to Staithes Athletic in the North Riding Premier Division. Barras, a fan favourite, made 84 appearances over four seasons, starting regularly for three consecutive campaigns. His 36 assists and seven goals, including a remarkable 19-assist haul last season, cemented his status as a key figure in Bransay’s rise from the Northern Football Alliance to the Northern Leagues.

However, the arrivals of Conner Burrows and Romuald Ouattara this season pushed Barras down the pecking order, limiting him to four appearances. Baird praised his contributions, saying, “Alex has been phenomenal for us, a proper Bransay boy who gave everything. His assists last season were crucial in our title win. Staithes are getting a top player and he’ll always be welcome back at Forge Road.” Barras leaves with the gratitude of the Isle of Bransay faithful.

Thomas Ousager, a 19-year-old striker, has rejoined his academy club, Stokesley Sports Club, in the North Riding Premier Division, where he made 38 appearances and scored eight goals between 2028 and 2030. Since joining Bransay, Ousager struggled for minutes behind Zoltán Németh and Ryan Tioffo, making seven appearances and providing one assist.

His desire to return to Stokesley, where he feels at home and can be closer to family, was respected by the club. “Thomas is a talented lad who needed more game time,” Baird said. “We’re happy to support his move back to Stokesley, where he’ll thrive. He’s got a bright future and we’ll be watching his progress.” Ousager’s departure leaves Bransay with Németh, Tioffo and Dion Halabi as their striking options.

Bransay’s decision to forgo replacements reflects their faith in the current squad, which includes versatile players like Jordan Elsdon and Jack Smith in midfield and Ouattara and academy graduates at left-back. Bransay are well-positioned.

The departures of Bennett, Barras and Ousager mark the end of their Bransay journeys, but the club’s promotion push continues unabated, with the Forge Road faithful rallying behind Baird’s side for a historic season.

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What a couple of months it’s been for us. February and March 2032 threw everything at us in the Northern League Division Two and we’ve come out swinging, bagging five wins, a draw and two losses. We’ve piled on 21 goals, let in 13 and now we’re sitting on 80 points after 34 games, just one point shy of Guisborough Town at the top. Our goal difference is a whopping +52, better than anyone else and with the play-offs already in the bag, we’re gunning for that automatic promotion spot to make it nine promotions in a row.

We kicked off February on the 8th at the Royal Agricultural College against Fishburn Park and the lads were on fire, winning 3-1. Early on, in the 9th minute, Conner Burrows laid it off for Dion Halabi, who smashed a 25-yard screamer into the top right. Just before the break, Lee Cook swung in a free kick from near the halfway line, Zoltán Németh nodded it to Jack Smith and Smithy rifled a 25-yard half-volley into the same corner. Fishburn’s Steven Saunders got one back in the 63rd, slipping it into the right corner, but in the 95th, Burrows’ cross found Smith’s head to seal it.

On the 14th, we were back at Forge Road and tore Bridlington Town apart, 5-2. In the 8th minute, Burrows’ cross led to Smith’s header hitting the bar and Ryan Tioffo was there to tap in. By the 23rd, another Burrows cross was nodded down by Smith for Cook to hammer home. Németh got in on the act in the 31st, blasting one off the bar from Jordan Elsdon’s cutback and a minute later, Elsdon drilled one into the near corner. Németh danced through their defence in the 59th for a tidy bottom-left finish. Bridlington hit back with Osian Torr’s volley off a Mark Small cross in the 65th and Small’s edge-of-the-box strike in the 68th, but we were too strong.

The big one came on the 18th at Forge Road against table-toppers Guisborough Town and we edged it 3-2. Németh slotted a penalty in the 12th after they fouled Tioffo. Guisborough levelled with a deflected shot in the 25th, but Tioffo put us back ahead in the 38th, latching onto Smith’s through ball. They equalised just before the break, but in the 88th, Burrows’ free kick found Cian Byrne, who powered in a header to nick the points. Massive.

Then came a proper wake-up call on the 22nd at home against Alnwick Town, where we got hammered 5-2. Marko Syers headed in a Hari Bondarenko cross in the 4th and Jamie Clark was a nightmare, scoring in the 8th off a rebound, again from six yards in the 20th, heading in Prince Yelegon’s cross in stoppage time and converting a penalty in the 53rd. Charlie Fraher pulled one back with a nice bottom-right effort in the 79th and Tioffo scored from Elsdon’s square ball in the 90th, but it was a day to forget.

We got back on track on the 28th at Forge Road, beating Redcar Town 2-0. Culbert’s 12th-minute cross was met by Elsdon’s towering header and in the 58th, Andrew Brownhill’s ball was knocked back by Németh for Cook to slot in. Craig Daly kept a clean sheet, which was just what we needed.

March started with a mad 5-4 win away at Sunderland Ryhope’s Meadow Park on the 6th. Németh scored in the 40th from Elsdon’s ball across. Ollie Radford’s volley from Rhys Nicol’s cross levelled it in the 46th. Tioffo put us ahead in the 67th with a bottom-left finish. Cook chased a long ball in the 77th, rounded keeper Docherty and scored into an empty net. Juddy Nganga’s penalty in the 79th made it level again, but Tioffo’s bottom-right strike from Matt Edwards’ ball over the top in the 80th restored our lead. Scott Walker’s goal from Euain Dowell’s cutback in the 83rd had us sweating, but Tioffo’s outrageous 35-yard curler in the 92nd was a thing of beauty. Charles Asiedu’s penalty in the 96th couldn’t stop us.

On the 20th, we hit a wall, losing 1-0 away to Glasshoughton Welfare at Leeds Road. Sam McManaman scored in the 5th minute after Alex Drury squared it and despite having most of the ball, we couldn’t find a way through.

We finished March on the 27th back at Forge Road, beating Pontefract Collieries 2-0. In the 5th minute, Burrows’ cross-cum-shot was helped in by Németh. Three minutes later, Tioffo’s deflected cross fell perfectly for Németh to tuck away. Markell Edmondson and Byrne were solid at the back.

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As it stands, Guisborough Town are top with 81 points and a 45 goal difference, but with four games left, we’re right on their heels with 80 points and a superior 52 goal difference. Alnwick Town are 3rd with 71 points, Horden Community Welfare have 70 in 4th and Pickering Town hold the last play-off spot with 63, just ahead of Bridlington Town on goal difference, who also have 63.

Redcar Town and Northallerton Town are level on 58 points in 7th and 8th, with Glasshoughton Welfare on 56 in 9th, Gosforth Bohemians on 54 in 10th, Seaham Red Star on 52 in 11th and Ryton & Crawcrook Albion on 50 in 12th. Kendal Town have 49 points in 13th, i2i International Soccer Academy are on 48 in 14th, Hebburn Town Under 23s have 46 in 15th, Pontefract Collieries are on 45 in 16th and Campion have 43 in 17th.

Sunderland Ryhope are relatively safe in 18th with 40 points. Down at the bottom, Fishburn Park and Birtley Town are tied on 34 points in 19th and 20th, with Fishburn’s better goal difference keeping them ahead. Prudhoe Youth Club have 31 points in 21st and Staveley Miners Welfare are last with 30, ten points adrift.

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Bransay Athletic stormed to the summit of the Northern League Division Two with a commanding 5-0 victory away at Pickering Town’s Mill Lane, capitalising on Guisborough Town’s shock 1-0 defeat to Northallerton Town.

The Irons’ ruthless display, coupled with their rivals’ slip-up, has swung the title race firmly in their favour with just three games remaining.

The match at Mill Lane turned decisively in Bransay’s favour early on. In the 13th minute, Pickering’s Janeil Williams was shown a straight red card for a reckless two-footed challenge from behind on Ryan Tioffo, leaving the hosts with ten men.

The Irons wasted no time exploiting their advantage. In the 25th minute, Lee Cook played a short free kick to Dean Culbert on the edge of the area. Culbert’s precise pass found Jack Smith inside the box and the veteran winger calmly slotted into the near right corner. Three minutes later, Zoltán Németh doubled the lead, latching onto Jordan Elsdon’s pass and firing into the near corner after a deflection wrong-footed Pickering’s defence.

Németh struck again in the 31st minute, capitalising on another Elsdon move. The left midfielder surged down the flank, his cross cannoning off the post and falling kindly for Németh to tap into an open goal.

Early in the second half, in the 49th minute, Culbert’s cross exposed Pickering’s goalkeeper Butler, who fumbled the catch pathetically, allowing Elsdon to pounce and score into an unguarded net.

The hosts’ misery deepened in the 55th minute when Steve Wheeler received a second yellow for shoving Elsdon during a throw-in, reducing Pickering to nine men. Bransay sealed the rout in the 70th minute, as Cook unleashed a stunning 30-yard free kick that clipped the far right post and bounced in off the inside.

Meanwhile, at Guisborough’s King George V Ground, Northallerton Town delivered a hammer blow to the league leaders’ title hopes. Goran Mitrović’s 33rd-minute strike from 20 yards, nestled into the bottom left corner, secured a 1-0 upset, ending Guisborough’s run of form and handing Bransay the initiative.

This result has transformed the title race. Bransay Athletic now lead with 83 points and a 57 goal difference, two points clear of Guisborough Town, who sit on 81 points with a 44 goal difference. With only three games left, the Irons hold a slender but significant advantage in their quest for a ninth consecutive promotion.

Bransay’s remaining fixtures offer a mix of challenges. On 10th April, they host 12th-placed Kendal Town at Forge Road, a side safe in mid-table but capable of causing problems. A trip to bottom-of-the-table Prudhoe Youth Club at Essity Park follows on 17th April, where the Irons will hope to dominate. The season concludes on Sunday, 25th April, with a tricky away clash against 8th-placed Northallerton Town at Calverts Stadium, fresh off their victory over Guisborough.

Guisborough, meanwhile, face their own tests. They travel to 17th-placed Hebburn Town Under 23s at the Green Energy Sports Ground on 11th April, a match they’ll be favoured to win. On 17th April, they host 4th-placed Horden Community Welfare at King George V Ground, a potential banana skin given Horden’s play-off ambitions. Their final league game is away at 21st-placed Staveley Miners Welfare at Inkersall Road on 25th April, but their focus may be split by the Brooks Mileson Memorial Cup Final on 15th May.

Bransay’s attacking trio of Németh, Tioffo and Smith, backed by Elsdon’s flair and Cook’s midfield dominance, have been pivotal in this surge. The defensive solidity of Cian Byrne and Markell Edmondson, combined with Culbert’s reliability at right-back, ensured Pickering barely threatened.

With the title race now in their hands, Bransay Athletic are three wins away from etching their name into Northern League history.

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Bransay Athletic have clinched the Northern League Division Two title in spectacular fashion, sealing their ninth consecutive promotion with a 4-2 victory over Prudhoe Youth Club at Essity Park today.

The Irons’ relentless form, coupled with Guisborough Town’s dramatic collapse, has seen them transform a two-point lead on 3rd April into an unassailable eight-point gap with just one game remaining. Finishing on 89 points, Bransay have secured their place in the Northern League Division One for the 2032/33 season, a remarkable leap towards the County Leagues and six divisions from EFL football.

The turning point came after Bransay’s emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Pickering Town at Mill Lane on 3rd April, where they capitalised on Guisborough Town’s 1-0 home defeat to Northallerton Town.

While the Irons surged, Guisborough faltered, suffering three consecutive league losses. Last Saturday, they fell 3-1 to 17th-placed Hebburn Town Under 23s at the Green Energy Sports Ground and today, a humiliating 5-1 home defeat to Horden Community Welfare at King George V Ground all but ended their title hopes. These results left Guisborough languishing on 81 points.

Bransay, by contrast, thrived under the pressure. Following their demolition of Pickering, they delivered a commanding 3-0 win over 12th-placed Kendal Town at Forge Road on 10th April. The Irons’ attacking trio of Zoltán Németh, Ryan Tioffo and Jack Smith ran riot, with Tioffo scoring a hat-trick.

Today’s 4-2 triumph at Prudhoe Youth Club was the icing on the cake. Despite a spirited effort from the relegation-bound hosts, Bransay’s clinical finishing and defensive resilience - led by Cian Byrne and Joe Prendergast - ensured the title was secured with a game to spare. Jordan Elsdon’s dynamism on the left and Rhys Evans’ tireless work at right-back were instrumental, while Cook’s midfield mastery kept the Irons in control.

This latest triumph marks Bransay Athletic’s ninth consecutive title, a staggering feat for a club that began in the North Northumberland League at Level 18 under Callum Baird. Next season, they will compete in the Northern League Division One alongside established sides like Carlisle City, Penrith and Brighouse Town. At their current rate of ascent, the dream of EFL football - once unthinkable for a club with an average attendance of 174 in a 12,000-capacity stadium - is starting to feel tantalisingly close.

Guisborough Town, despite their late-season collapse, will have a chance to salvage promotion through the play-offs, joined by Alnwick Town and Horden Community Welfare. Pickering Town can secure the final play-off spot tomorrow with a victory in their game-in-hand against i2i International Soccer Academy.

At the other end of the table, the relegation battle has concluded with Birtley Town, Fishburn Park, Staveley Miners Welfare and Prudhoe Youth Club all dropping to Level 11.

Bransay will round off their Division Two campaign with a trip to Northallerton Town’s Calverts Stadium on Sunday, 25th April. While the title is secured, the Irons will be eager to maintain their momentum and give their fans - however small in number - a fitting send-off before preparations begin for the challenges of Division One.

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Here we are, stepping into the Northern League Division One for the 2032/33 season, fresh off our ninth straight promotion after romping to the Division Two title with 92 points. This is a new beast - 20 teams, two promotion spots, one for the champions and one for the play-off winners to reach the Northern Premier League Division One East and two relegation spots to dodge.

The bookies have us as 9th favourites at 12/1, which suits me fine - we’ve always thrived as underdogs. Marske United lead the odds at 10/11 after their 8th-place finish last season, followed by Isle of Man at 9/4, Easington Colliery at 5/2, Crook Town at 7/2 and Darlington Town at 4/1. Tow Law Town, Willington and Newcastle Benfield are next, while we sit just above Heaton Stannington at 13/1.

The likes of Boldon CA, Brighouse Town and Newton Aycliffe are further back, with newly promoted Alnwick Town, Hallam, Sunderland West End and relegated Ashington trailing at long odds. Ashington is in a mess, losing 14 players and scrambling with three days to go. I fancy our chances to shake things up and keep this promotion streak alive.

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In goal, we’ve got Craig Daly holding the fort for his third season. He’s been rock-solid, with 55 league appearances, 81 goals conceded and 13 clean sheets. The lad’s a proper leader and I’m counting on him to keep us tight at the back. Backing him up is 17-year-old academy graduate Aled Griffiths, who stepped up in four games last season, conceding three and nabbing a clean sheet. He’s raw but got bags of potential and I’ll be giving him chances to prove himself.

Our defence is a strong unit. At right-back, 21-year-old academy lad Dean Culbert is a mainstay, with 141 league appearances, three goals and 28 assists. He’s a machine and his crossing is vital. Rhys Evans, our 22-year-old Welshman, covers him after 19 sub appearances last season.

On the left, 19-year-old Frenchman Romuald Ouattara is coming into his own, making 30 appearances and seven assists last season. Charlie Fraher, another academy graduate in his sixth season, is solid cover.

At centre-back, we’ve got a tough call between Cian Byrne, Markell Edmondson and Joe Prendergast, all class operators. Musa Jimoh’s a decent back-up if we need him, but those three are the core of our backline.

Midfield’s where we’ve had to rebuild after losing Julian Mitchell to Hyde Park Club, Lee Cook to Camberley Town and Ian Browne walking away at the end of his deal. I was gutted to see them go, but we’ve brought in three cracking young lads to fill the gap. Dean McCartney, an 18-year-old Irish midfielder, joins from The New Saints’ academy, where he made six appearances. Matt Gordon, 19, impressed me at i2i Academy last season before his loan to Croftlands Park and he’s ready to step up. Dieudonné Belinga, a 20-year-old from relegated Knaresborough Town, brings 22 appearances’ worth of experience. They’ll be our main men in the middle, with Matt Edwards as a reliable option off the bench. Oliver Walters, a long-time servant, is still around, but he didn’t play at all last season, so expecting him to shine in Division One might be a stretch. Still, his presence in the dressing room is gold.

Jack Smith is our talisman on the right wing, starting his eighth season with us. He’s got 160 appearances, 78 goals and 74 assists and last season’s 14 goals and 13 assists in 35 games show he’s still got it. Andrew Brownhill, our 17-year-old academy grad, backs him up with four assists in 10 appearances last season.

On the left, 19-year-old Conner Burrows was a revelation in his debut season from Gateshead, with 17 assists and three goals in 40 games. Jordan Elsdon, with 92 appearances, 14 goals and 19 assists, is quality cover.

Up top, Ryan Tioffo and Zoltán Németh are untouchable. Last season, Tioffo banged in 32 goals and 10 assists in all 42 league games, while 20-year-old Németh matched him with 32 goals and 12 assists. They’re a nightmare for defenders and I’m not splitting that duo for anything. Dion Halabi is our only back-up striker right now, with 11 goals in 40 games last season, but we’re in talks to bring in more firepower to bolster our depth.

We’re ready to take on the likes of Marske, Isle of Man and Easington, but it’s not just about them. This league is tough and teams like Alnwick, who came up with us, could surprise a few. I’m buzzing to get going at Forge Road and see how far these lads can take us.

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