Brighouse Town: Striker Church rejects moves to former clubs

Church, 21, has had two spells out of the team this season through injury, but has still played 21 league and cup games and scored five goals.

He triggered seven days’ notices to talk with him from Ossett United’s manager Wayne Benn, the former Bradford City player, and flood-ravaged Tadcaster Albion, now managed by former Town boss Paul Quinn.

Town manager Vill Powell informed Church of both clubs’ interest.

However, the player said he wanted to continue playing for Town, who he joined last summer from the newly merged Ossett club.

Prior to that he was scoring goals for Huddersfield YMCA.

He came back from five weeks on the sidelines at Pontefract Collieries earlier this month and scored the winner in the second half, shortly after coming off the bench, and later hit the crossbar with a thunderbolt of shot.

Church, having proved his fitness after his ankle injury, could make a start on Saturday at home to Paul Gascoigne’s old team Dunston UTS (3pm).

Gascoigne went on to have a tremendous career with Newcastle and England, and while he was with United, Brighouse-based centre back Peter Jackson, who pops into see Town when his Huddersfield Town ambassadorial commitments allow, was asked as a senior player to keep an eye on him.

Town first came across Dunston back in the 2013-14 season in the second preliminary round of the FA Cup, losing 2-1 at St Giles Road.

Their secretary Bill Montague informed the club this week that they would be bringing with them on Saturday significantly more supporters than usual as they can remember their last visit with fond memories some six years ago.

On the field of play Dunston have been going well of late and through cup runs and postponements, have only played 23 games to Town’s 26 but have shown some decent and consistent form.

Manager Chris Swailes has seen his 14th-placed side beat Ramsbottom United 3-2, draw 0-0 with Clitheroe, draw 1-1 with Moseley and last night, Tuesday, they cruised to a comfortable  3-0 home win over City of Liverpool.

Saturday’s game is being sponsored by Bradford company Expect Distribution Ltd and their managing director Neil Rushworth from Rastrick, who also has warehouses at Lee Bank, Halifax.

The match ball sponsor is Brighouse Rangers ARLFC who will be led by their chairman John Esmond who says he is expecting to bring along 20 players and staff to cheer on their near neighbours.

With both Huddersfield Town away at Swansea and FC Halifax Town at Torquay United, Town officials are banking on a big crowd before they head off the road for their next five matches. Their next home game will be at home to Kendal Town on Saturday, April 4.

Last Saturday’s away game with City of Liverpool was called off due to a flooded pitch as Storm Dennis hit.