FC Halifax Town: Bosomworth hails “outstanding achievement” of Town’s top seven finish

When David Bosomworth appointed Pete Wild as his seventh FC Halifax Town manager just 10 days before the start of the season, little could he have imagined where it would lead.

Almost one year on, The Shaymen are preparing to take part in the National League play-offs for the first time since 2014.

No wonder he has hailed it as an “outstanding achievement”, with The Shaymen among the favourites for relegation when Wild was given the job.

”I’m absolutely delighted and it’s well-merited and a great credit to the management team and the players for getting us there because it’s a tough league, an unforgiving league,” Bosomworth said.

“It’s very competitive and there’s no easy games. We sat in first place for a time, and second and third for a long time.

“It’s an outstanding achievement and one which the town can be rightfully proud of.”  

Whether Town would be allowed to participate in the play-offs was in the balance for several weeks due to the complications surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, before they were finally rubber-stamped by the National League last month.

”The requirement for conclusion to the season starts right from the top because the Premier League want to fulfil their matches, and then that brings in the EFL to do similar,” said Bosomworth.

“To allow these to happen they needed to have promotion and relegation, so from that perspective, while it’s not entirely satisfactory for teams getting relegated, it’s the only way they could do it, provided there was an expectation that matches could get played.

“If there was no likelihood of matches getting played then you’d had to have null and voided it.

“Granted behind closed doors only has a very limited shelf life because clubs need fans coming in, for the hospitality side of the businesses and the atmosphere for the games.

“So we need to see a resolution with that.

“At the moment I think everybody feels delighted that there is a chance of seeing football again, and at least we get a conclusion to the season.”

After a plea from the club for supporters to give what they could towards the added costs of competing in the play-offs, Town fans have smashed the initial £20,000 target.

“Everybody’s got behind that to help us, which is absolutely tremendous, and I’d like to thank people like Louisa, the supporters club and in particular Rob Brown and Roger Bottomley for helping us facilitate the various initiatives,” Bosomworth said.

“A lot of effort has gone into it and I think it’s been very well received.

“Obviously we do have costs and no income, so it’s a great help and thank you to our sponsors who have stood by us as well.

“You’re playing some big teams, like Yeovil just down from the league, Notts County who’ve never been in non-league, and then the bigger budgets from Harrogate and Boreham Wood.

“None of us can wait for that first game now, let’s hope it’s the first of three.

“I’m sure the team will give it absolutely everything.

“It’s a bit of the unknown isn’t it - how are teams going to come back from the break? The rest will help some but it may hinder others.

“It’ll be proper cup-tie football.”

Bosomworth was reluctant to put a figure on what it will cost the club to take part in the play-offs, but admitted it will be considerably higher than usual due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“It’s difficult to do that because you think you’ve covered everything and then something else comes along,” he said.

“There are significantly increased costs and we have to keep ploughing on.

“When the decision was made to do the mathematical calculation and go into the play-offs, the option was there to say if you don’t wish to participate, you can stand down.

“That would’ve been the last thing we would’ve thought of to do because, having gone through everything you go through in a season, you just want to see an outcome.

“Obviously people have lost their lives because of this horrendous virus and people are still fighting for their lives. There’s always great concerns with regards to a second spike, but accepting that, what a positive it is to be given the chance to play football.

“Yes it’s behind closed doors and it might not have quite the same atmosphere, but it’s every bit as important to get the right outcome.

“Let’s hope we have three cup-ties to play and let’s hope we can win the last one.”

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