On the eve of his first full season in charge of the Colls, Brendon Ormsby has announced that he is satisfied with his squad following the recruitment of several quality additions, although he is not ruling out any further additions “should the right quality player come available”.

“When I sat down at the end of last season and started planning for this campaign,” Ormsby explained, “I knew that I had a nucleus of a title-winning side, which is what we are aiming for at Pontefract. There were just a few areas that we needed to strengthen, and we needed to add strength in depth to the squad. One of the main aims was to bring experience into the team, as we were – and still are – a very young side and got bullied out of a couple of games last season. We also needed to add some steel, which we have done.”

Introducing the new signings

“Near the top of the list of priorities for the season was the recruitment of a proven goalscorer to give us more of an attacking threat,” Ormsby explained. With Duncan Bray leading the line magnificently during the closing months of the season and young Warren Redford growing in maturity and effectiveness with every game, the club have enhanced the strike force with the signing of Greig McGrory and James Hicks.

The signing of Greig McGrory represents a major coup for the club. Greig excelled in the NCEL last season as part of the now defunct Leeds Carnegie side, scoring 20 goals last season despite missing several games. He is a hardworking, enthusiastic player, who brings a touch of quality to the team’s forward play, and a real energy to proceedings.

Greig joined Barnsley Academy at U16 level, progressing to a 2 year scholarship which then led to the offer of a 3^rd year contract. On the field Greig played in several different positions for both the youth team and the reserves. He always gave 100% effort wherever he was asked to play, including a stint at right back! His best achievement at the Tykes was scoring in the FA Youth Cup Quarter Final against Birmingham City, although at 22, his best playing days are all in front of him – it is hoped that these are spent at The White Rose Stadium.

Greig is quick, strong, fit and tenacious, and very direct when in possession of the ball, combining terrific technical skills with good awareness of other players, and a real goalscorers instinct. He has already made a blistering start to his Ponte career, scoring 6 goals in his first 3 friendly fixtures.

Greig had offers from many clubs – several from a higher league than the Colls. However, he chose to join Pontefract, recognising the potential of the club and the quality of the management team, not to mention the squad.

James Hicks will cause a different set of problems for opponents. Big and strong, he is a real awkward customer, whose new gaffer confesses that he “would have hated to play against”.

Hicks has spent several years at Kellingley Welfare, with whom he won promotion to the West Yorkshire League Premier Division. He has also appeared for Glasshoughton during two spells at our Castleford neighbours, and enjoyed two productive seasons at Tadcaster Albion under Wayne Day.

A prolific scorer wherever he has played (he contributed 73 goals last season, albeit in local Saturday and Sunday Leagues), he may be recognised by stalwarts within the Colls following, having played for the Reserves in the Lancashire League during Craig Elliott’s season in charge. Alongside Duncan Bray, Warren Redford and Greig McGrory, James offers his manager a fine option, giving Ormsby the chance to vary his attacking focus.

Having played at lower league levels since leaving Glasshoughton, James is keen to get his career moving again. At 27, he is approaching his prime years, with good experience behind him. He is convinced that he can win trophies at Ponte Colls, and is delighted to be enjoying his time at the club.

With the recruitment of a left-sided midfield player a priority at the end of 2010-11, the club have secured the services of Rob Oldham. Rob is skilful and quick, with a real determination and work-rate to complement his skills.

Rob enjoyed 18 months at Huddersfield Town, before joining Barnsley Boys, where he spent 5 years. He also represented South Yorkshire Boys, before joining Doncaster Rovers on a two-year scholarship, for whom he made his Carling Cup debut against Accrington Stanley. He also made his NCEL debut while at Doncaster, playing half a season last year for Armthorpe in the Premier Division.

Rob names Nicky Handley as one of the main influences on his career, and the Colls’ Assistant Manager is duly proud to have one of his former charges with him at the club, and determined to give Rob all the help he can to make the most of his abilities. Who knows, if “the old man” ever shakes off his niggling injury, they make actually appear on the same pitch together at some stage of the season!

While Handley was a great influence in bringing Rob to Ponte, the 18-year old also cites the “good set of lads” and the “great atmosphere” at the club as significant factors.

James McDaid can also play wide on the left-hand side, as well as in several other positions. This versatile player has enjoyed a successful career, having won the North Riding Cup with both Harrogate Town and Goole AFC.

Having previously played for York City, Harrogate Railway, Harrogate Town, Farsley Celtic, Goole AFC and Selby Town, James brings much needed experience – and, crucially, the experience of winning trophies – to the squad.

He was part of the successful Harrogate Railway FA Cup squad during the sides famous run in the competition, which peaked with victory over Bristol City. He was also part of the Great Britain Schools Football Team Championship in 1999, winning a silver medal (the team lost to France in the Final).

James was recruited into the ranks by Assistant Manager Duncan Bray, with the two having played together at Harrogate Town.

Also adding to the team’s options in wide areas, Will Ramsey has made a major impression on the club since joining in the closed season, starting with an outstanding performance in the first friendly, away at Marsden, and impressing everybody with his attitude.

Will joined the club from Premier League Selby Town, preferring Pontefract over their conquerors in last season’s televised FA Cup tie, having spent much of his career at the club, and having captained their U19s.

Choosing Ponte over his old club, Will recognised the ambition of the club, and believes that he has joined a club that is really going places – “heading in the right direction”.

He has been impressed by the squad, and already feels a part of the club, having joined at the start of the pre-season training schedule.

Richard Morris is a fine young midfielder, who represented Barnsley Schoolboys and South Yorkshire Boys, and also captained Barnsley College to the National College Final.

Richard played at Ossett Albion before moving to Leeds Metropolitan University.

Still eligible for the Academy side, Richard has a bright future in the game in front of him, and has showed his class during pre-season.

Mike Walpole is a highly versatile player, who has already scored one of the best goals likely to be seen at The White Rose Stadium this season: his 30 yard screamer against Pontefract AFC was something to behold.

Mike started at Oulton Owls, before going on to play for Leeds City Boys for three seasons.

He started playing open age football at Western Juniors in the Yorkshire Old Boys League, before joining East End Park. Whilst at the Leeds club he gained two promotions, rising from Division 2 to the Premier Division of the West Yorkshire League, going unbeaten during their first promotion season. While studying at Notre Dame in Leeds, Mike also represented the Notre Dame Academy.

It may have come as no surprise to many outsiders, but Liam Ormsby’s move to the team managed by his dad came late in the day as the team prepared for the season. Despite excellent performances from Andrew Broadbent and Paul Haigh in the middle of the park last season – and both looking sharp in pre-season – Ormsby senior recognised that the team required a different type of player in the engine room, possibly to complement the pair as the gaffer seeks flexibility in the formation of the team.

Liam is a player of undoubted quality, who excels in all aspects of the midfielder’s arts. Tough and uncompromising, he is in control of the football, a great passer, and also contributes his fair share of goals. Liam scored 16 goals from midfield during his first season at Garforth Town, and has already contributed an absolute peach during pre-season, leaving everyone in the ground speechless with his curling effort against Farsley on Tuesday night.

Having served a two-year scholarship at Barnsley, Liam signed for Harrogate Town, for who he played in the Conference for a season before joining Garforth Town, spending two seasons at the club. Liam’s final season at Garforth was marred by injury, which culminated in an operation to his ankle.

Upon his recovery, he decided to team up with his dad at Pontefract, rather than return for a third season at his old club.

Liam is also a professional coach, running Soccer Camps with his company, BOSS Soccer Schools. Many Colls juniors have enjoyed a fabulous week with Liam and his coaches this week, including several guest sessions run by “the gaffer” himself, and awards presentations by Peter Lorimer.

Although his dad was obviously the major factor in his joining Pontefract, it was by no means the only consideration. In fact, for many weeks of the pre-season period, it appeared unlikely to happen. However, in the end Liam was persuaded to join, and has settled in remarkably quickly. He has started to enjoy his football again, having struggled with injury last season and found the Garforth playing style stifling. He is at Pontefract to help his dad – and the club – win trophies and move the club up through the league structure. The presence of old friends Greig and Scott McGrory to add to the new friends he is making within the squad have helped Liam to settle in, and add to the belief that the team is “really ready to go places” as the 21-year old puts it.

Playing alongside Liam in his three pre-season friendly appearances has been Scott McGrory, Greig’s brother. Also signed from Leeds Carnegie, Scott was at Queens Park Rangers as a schoolboy, before being transferred to Crystal Palace. When the family moved north, he joined Barnsley as a youth team player, and enjoyed two seasons at Oakwell, before being handed a first team squad number for the 2006-7 campaign, signing a two-year professional contract.

Scott left Barnsley to take up a scholarship at Leeds Metropolitan University, where he played for Leeds Carnegie in both the NCEL and the BUCS University League. He also had a spell at Harrogate Town with Liam Ormsby.

With such a quality squad in midfield, the gaffer has many options available to him in this area, and players who can suit any type of game.

At the back, Stephen Edwards has joined from Burnley, where he played at left back throughout last season, having played all across the back line during five seasons as a junior at Scunthorpe United. With Luke Smith moving on, Ormsby was seeking a left back who could provide excellent defensive work with good link play going forward. Good on the ball, Edwards offers good control of the ball going forward, and adds to the team’s attacking options.

At 18, Stephen is also young enough to play in the Academy side, and is seeking a full-time career in the game. Stephen was introduced to the club by Ian Burchnall, and is starting the Sports Coaching Degree which is being launched by the Colls’ Football Development Manager this September. Stephen hopes to involve his three-year degree course with building his football career.

Stephen is also a Pontefract lad, born and bred, adding to the growing number of talented local boys in the squad.

Despite the excellent form of Johnny Forsyth and Nick Handley at centre half in the closing months of last season, the team has been enhanced in this area by the arrival of Tom Robinson. With club captain Handley struggling to shake off a long-term injury, Robinson is forming a strong partnership with Forsyth, who clearly relishes playing alongside the newcomer.

With a remarkably calm approach for a 21-year old, Tom graduated from U18s football at Rufforth to University football: while taking his degree at Newcastle University, he played for Team Northumbria. Having graduated this summer, he has moved back to his native Yorkshire, and joined the club alongside the McGrory brothers and Liam Ormsby, with whom he played at Harrogate.

Tom also recognises “a good set of lads” when he meets them, and is impressed by the structure of the club and, in particular, the professionalism of the management team.

Also vying for a starting berth in the centre of the Colls defence will be Lee Stretton. Lee, who was recruited to the side by Lee Kelsey (what better vote of confidence can there be for a defender than being hand-picked by the last line of defence?) is a solid, no-nonsense centre-half. However, he also shows real quality on the ball, is comfortable in possession, and able to start attacks with rampaging runs or intelligent passes.

Let hostilities commence….

With Connor Rollinson re-joining the club and Lee Kelsey signing as ‘keeper having made a couple of appearances towards the end of last season, the manager believes that he has a squad which is built to cope with the rigours and demands of a tough season. “We are not just looking at the league fixtures,” Ormsby explained, “but at all the cups as well. The team is entered into seven cups, and we are looking to win every game. If we approach the season this way, we should be in position to compete for the odd trophy. To do this, I need a strong squad. If the season goes to plan, we will be looking at three games a week for large chunks of the season. Nobody will play every game, but I am sure that everybody can play a part in our success.”

The squad gives the manager everything: different goalscoring threats, added steel and experience, quality in key positions, and cover in all areas. With several of the U19s squad already experiencing first team football and expecting to knock on the door during the season, the squad looks stronger than it has for many a year.

Exciting times beckon for Pontefract Collieries.