We are delighted to confirm our full list of retained players for the upcoming 2023/24 NCEL Premier Division season.

• Arley Barnes – Defender/Midfielder
• Jacob Smith – Defender
• Alex Laird – Defender
• Carlton Pownall – Defender
• Lewis Gartland – Defender/Midfielder
• Harry Thompson – Midfielder
• Jake Maltby – Midfielder
• Joe Snowden – Midfielder/Attacker
• Luke Brooksbank – Attacker
• Jack Normanton – Attacker
• Alex Stewart – Defender/Midfielder
• Ellis Hudson – Attacker

It’s great to see so many lads returning to the club this year including Joe Snowden and Lewis Gartland who are making the step up to the first team from our successful WYL team and we are keen to ensure that there continues to be direct pathway for these young players!

Alongside those committed, we have a number of new signings that we are excited to reveal over the coming days.

Our full Pre-Season Schedule is now here!

Ilkley Town (A) – Tuesday 4th July – 7:45pm KO – MPM Stadium, Ben Rhydding Sports Club, Leeds Road, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 8AW

We kick off the first of our 7 pre-season friendlies with a trip to Ilkley who finished 4th in the NWCFL First Division North last season.

Farsley Celtic (H) – Thursday 6th July – 7:45pm KO – The Office Interiors Stadium, Silsden, BD20 0EH

Our second game will see us test ourselves against National League North side Farsley Celtic at Keighley Road. A good, early chance for Sils to play against a quality step 2 side.

Colne FC (H) – Tuesday 11th July – 7:45pm KO – The Office Interiors Stadium, Silsden, BD20 0EH

Another home fixture in the schedule as we face Colne who were relegated from the Northern Premier Division One West last season.

Steeton (A) – Saturday 15th July – 3pm KO – Marley Stadium, Aireworth Rd, Keighley BD21 4DB

The Train Station Derby has become a staple of our pre-season’s in recent years and continues again in 23/24 with a trip to our nearest and dearest Steeton AFC, members of the NWCFL.

Route One Rovers (H) – Tuesday 18th July – 7:45pm KO – The Office Interiors Stadium, Silsden, BD20 0EH

Newly promoted to the NCEL, Route One Rovers make the trip to Silsden for the first meeting between the two sides in the fifth our our scheduled friendlies.

Consett AFC (A) – Saturday 22nd July – 3pm KO – Belle View Stadium, Delves Lane, Consett DH8 7BF

A big away day up in Durham for the lads as we face tough opposition in the form of Consett AFC. The 2020 FA Vase finalists finished 13th in the Northern Premier League Division one last campaign.

Harrogate Railway Athletic (H) – Tuesday 25th July – 7:45pm KO – The Office Interiors Stadium, Silsden, BD20 0EH

Our final fixture sees us return home to take on familiar opposition from last season: Harrogate Railway having faced them in the FA Vase. This is our final pre-season game before the NCEL season kicks off.

Saturday 29th July – NCEL Premier Division Season Begins!

 

Our WYL side capped off a great season with an incredible 5-0 win over Gomersal & Cleckheaton at Fleet Lane last night to secure the West Yorkshire League Cup.

They overcame Ripon City, Weatherby, Otley Town and Field but saved their best performance for the final, playing some great football and scoring five brilliantly worked goals.

Lennon O’Grady, Chadeem Josiah, Joe Snowden and Dan Smith all got on the scoresheet but the defence and goalkeeper Matty Keen were equally as impressive in keeping a hard-earned clean sheet.

Silsden got off to the perfect start just seven minutes in.

A throughball from Snowden sent Josiah in behind and he unselfishly squared to O’Grady to rifle home the opener from close range.

Josiah’s pace continued to cause problems for the opposition, a perfect cross found picked out his late run into the area, and although his initial effort was saved, there was no stopping him on the rebound as he added our second.

O’Grady and Josiah would combine once again for the third goal, with the former’s pinpoint pass setting the winger away through the middle and leaving the keeper no chance with a calm finish into the bottom corner.

Gomersal and Cleckheaton weren’t without their chances however, heading wide a decent opportunity as well as sending a cross-shot onto the roof of the net.

After the break, Gomersal continued to press and looped a long range effort narrowly wide of the post.

Any potential Silsden nerves were quickly settled on 57 minutes, when Snowden picked up the ball and drove into the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top left corner.

With 15 minutes to go, substitute Smith then put the icing on the cake with a wonderful solo goal.

A quick break saw the winger receive the ball in his own half and sprint beyond two defenders before slotting the ball in at the near post.

As the game neared its end, Callan Parker-Wells saw an effort crash back of the crossbar, whilst at the other end Keen made a superb diving stop to secure his clean sheet.

It’s been a fantastic season overall for our WYL side, having only been promoted last season, the lads secured a 2nd place finish in the WYL Premier Division and have now topped that with last nights cup triumph.

Speaking after the game, manager Jacob Mistry said: “Everyone’s buzzing, it was the perfect way to cap off our first season in the Prem, there’s a great atmosphere around the whole club at the minute.

To win 5-0 in a cup final is an amazing achievement and something that doesn’t happen very often. Coming into the game we were really confident, we knew the pitch would suit us and we knew what we had to do. Everyone played a massive part and it was probably our best performance of the whole season and what better time to do that than in a cup final.”

Silsden Lineup: Keen, Ryan, Gartland, Kirkpatrick, Hartley (McCrum, 83), Hoban, Josiah (Tafireyi, 76), Parker-Wells, Joe Snowden (Seward, 71), O’Grady (Cunningham, 71), Stewart (Smith, 44).

Match Details

Silsden AFC 5-0 Goole AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Saturday 15th April 2023

The Office Interiors Stadium – Att: 231

Match Report

Silsden ended the 22/23 NCEL Premier Division season on a high, with a spectacular 5-0 victory over already-relegated Goole at The Office Interiors Stadium today.

Two first half goals from Jack Normanton were followed by a Tyler Walker own goal and strikes from Lennon O’Grady and Ellis Hudson.

The win not only ended the Cobbydaler’s 13 game winless run, but also saw them leapfrog Bradford district rivals Albion to 11th in the table on 51 points.

From the first whistle the hosts looked to take the game to the Vikings, Normanton lashing an early effort into the side netting after a loose ball dropped to him in the box.

Goole keeper Mateusz Zaniewski was then forced into two good saves, first blocking Luke Brooksbank’s low effort with his leg before getting down well to deny Normanton’s acrobatic effort on 20 minutes.

Many Silsden fans may have been surprised to see defender Liam Hudson in between the sticks but Hagie Damba’s absence left the hosts with little choice.

Hudson proved himself a fine shot stopper, making himself big to deny a Goole striker after a loose back pass allowed them through on goal.

Normanton would break the deadlock for the hosts on 28 minutes, racing through and seeing his initial effort saved, he reacted quickest to follow up and poke home with his left foot.

He would grab his and Silsden’s second just before the break, good work from Brooksbank enabling the striker to rifle home from inside the six yard box for 2-0.

The Vikings came out after halftime looking to turn things around, Hudson once again being called into action with another great save 1on1.

Things weren’t going quite as well for Goole keeper Zaniewski however.

His miscontrol from a Walker backpass gifted Silsden their third goal and summed up a disappointing season for the away side.

On 74 minutes, O’Grady added the finishing touches to a well crafted Silsden move, his first goal for the senior team since making the step up from the WYL side.

Ellis Hudson’s great run and finish on 78 minutes put the icing on the cake of a 5-star Sils performance with Goole lacking any sort of attacking threat for much of the game.

Brooksbank and Joe Crosby both came close to applying further misery later on but their late misses mattered little to the outcome of the game.

With the result, Silsden record their highest ever NCEL Premier Division points total of 51 points and with that game the season comes to a close, plenty of positives to take for the Cobbydaler’s who have a the summer break to look forward to ahead of next year’s campaign.

From everyone at the club, we would like to thank all fans, players, staff and volunteers for a wonderful season and we hope to see you all again next season!

Match Details

Barton Town 2-1 Silsden AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Tuesday 11th March 2023

The Easy Buy Stadium

Match Details

On a wet and windy night in Barton, Silsden were unable to overcome the conditions and their opponents as they continued their winless run in the NCEL Premier Division with a 2-1 defeat.

Despite the visitors going ahead through Joe Crosby, goals from Ben Hinchcliffe and Dan North meant the Swans secured all three points.

Whilst Silsden created plenty of chances, they were unable to find a way past Barton’s impressive Ryan Musselwaite who saved the hosts on a number of occasions.

It would be Cobbydaler’s stopper Hagie Damba who was first called into action however, denying Hinchcliffe from just inside the six-yard box.

At the other end, Crosby opened the scoring when Musselwaite spilt a Mark Hoban strike into his path, allowing the young striker to poke home a smart finish on the rebound.

Jake Maltby was a whisker away from doubling the lead when his curling shot from distance dropped just wide of the post.

The Swans would level on 42 minutes.

Although Damba did brilliantly to stop an initial opportunity for Barton, moments later a well-struck half volley from Hinchcliffe brought them level.

Crosby would have another chance before the break but Musselwaite did well to push his header out of danger following a freekick on the left.

On 65 minutes Sils captain, Kyle Hancock forced another save from the keeper and on the counter, Barton would grab their second.

There was a hint of offside as North rounded Damba and finished but the goal stood and the Swans were ahead.

Both Sumaili Cissa and Lewis Gartland would see good chances again prevented by Musselwaite whilst Damba was also called upon to make two good diving saves in succession.

Barton’s keeper would round off his Man of the Match performance to deny Ellis Hudson’s late strike from inside the box and secure the three points for his side.

Silsden will be hoping to end their 13 match winless run as they take on relegation strugglers Goole on Saturday at the Office Interiors Stadium in a 3pm kick off.

Match Details

Silsden AFC 1-1 Barton Town

NCEL Premier Division

Tuesday 4th April

The Office Interiors Stadium

Match Report

Silsden were held to their third consecutive 1-1 draw against a ten-man Barton side at The Office Interiors Stadium last night.

Harrison Coley opened the scoring early on for the visitors before Ellis Hudson levelled the game from the penalty spot on 18 minutes.

On 81 minutes, Swan’s striker Sam Cable saw red for an off the ball incident on Jacob Smith but despite this, Silsden were unable to press home their advantage and find a winner.

The game started out in end to end fashion, the host’s keeper Hagie Damba being called into action on a couple of occasions early on with Luke Brooksbank testing Ryan Musselwaite at the other end.

Barton’s breakthrough did come on 13 minutes when the ball dropped kindly to Coley at the back post and he duly finished to put the visitors ahead.

Just five minutes later the Cobbydalers were awarded a spot kick for a foul on Hudson.

The former Bradford City winger stepped up and slotted low to make it 1-1.

Chances kept coming for both sides as the half continued, Joe Crosby unleashed a fierce 30-yard strike that Musselwaite turned behind before Damba made himself big to save one-on-one from Henry Parr.

Brooksbank would have two great opportunities just after the interval, first miscuing an acrobatic effort inside the box before smashing a curling effort off the woodwork moments later.

Silsden’s best chance would fall to Jack Normanton when brilliant work from Crosby down the right gave the striker a shooting opportunity.

His shot was drilled in low and hard but Musselwaite got down brilliantly to deny him and keep the scores level.

With the game reaching its end, Barton’s Cable was given his marching orders after lashing out at Smith off the ball, Silsden couldn’t find a late goal however leaving the game to finish 1-1.

The Cobbydalers have now drawn 6 of their last 7 games and sit in 13th but seem much improved from their losing run and are creating plenty of chances.

Next up is a tricky test against Garforth Town at The Office Interiors Stadium this Saturday.

Match Details

Maltby Main 1-1 Silsden AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Saturday 1st April

Muglet Lane

Match Report

Silsden were very unlucky not to come away from South Yorkshire with the three points after a 1-1 draw with Maltby Main in the NCEL Premier Division.

Lamin Janneh Gitteh opened the scoring for the visitors on the 20 minute mark before Maltby hit back through Toby Kenyon just before halftime.

Despite creating a number of create chances throughout the game, the Cobbydalers lacked cutting edge and were unable to find a winner, meaning they remain in 13th place in the division.

The game started in rather dull fashion with no real chances of note until Janneh Gitteh’s opening goal on 20 minutes.

Captain Kyle Hancock, deployed at right back in this game, sent a brilliant long ball over the top and into the striker’s path who neatly poked the ball into the back of the net.

Jack Normanton would have a great opportunity to double the lead 10 minutes later, when he raced in on goal only to see his strike tipped onto the post by the keeper.

After Janneh Gitteh had hit the side netting at one end, the hosts went up the field and levelled when a low cross dropped to Kenyon who smashed home from just inside the 6-yard box.

Silsden would start the second half in positive fashion, Jake Maltby first seeing a close range effort deflect over before Luke Brooksbank saw his initial shot saved and his follow-up volley drop wide of the far post.

The visitor’s best chance of the game came on 72 minutes as Joe Crosby looked to have rounded the keeper, but with the net at his mercy, a nasty bobble caused him to send his shot wide of the target.

After Jacob Smith’s header was saved at point blank range, there were no further chances and the game finished level; looking back Silsden will likely be disappointed they couldn’t find that elusive winner.

Speaking after the game manager Matt Cavanagh said: “Maltby isn’t an easy place to visit but we adapted the way we play and it worked. The lads worked hard but sadly missed that killer instinct, we’re not a million miles away an if we can start turning the draws into wins then we can finish the season strongly.

“We created enough chances to be out of sight in both halves but sadly goals change games and if you can’t convert them then that’s why we’ve walked away with one point instead of three.”

 

Manager Matt Cavanagh thinks the lads can take positives from yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Maltby Main but is looking for his side to keep improving and finish the season on a high.

Cav said: “Maltby’s not an easy place to visit but we adapted the way we play and it worked. The lads worked hard but sadly we missed that killer instinct. We’re not a million miles away and if we can turn the draws into wins then we can finish the season strongly.

“We created enough chances to be out of sight in both half’s. Sadly goals change games and if you cant convert them then that’s why we walked away with one point rather than three.”

With a packed schedule to end the campaign, Matt also spoke on squad rotation and upcoming opportunities for some of the lads from the West Yorkshire League team.

“We will have had three games in six days and the squad isn’t huge with the injuries and suspensions but we’ll assess and see who is ready for Tuesday.

“The three or four lads that have stepped up have done really well lately from the WYL. I will be trying to give them as many opportunities as I can to show them what is needed to compete at this level.

“Honestly Adam Hartley deserved to keep his shirt after his performance against Albion but it didn’t sit right with me taking him when the WYL team needed him in a top of the league clash against Beeston and wouldn’t have been a ‘whole club’ approach in my opinion.

“It’s a positive to see that the young lads are playing positive football and when they do get their chance they need to take it. That’s why we have the team so we can bring through young, hungry local lads. Also well done to Connor, Jacob, Jamie and the lads on a superb result yesterday!”

 

Match Details

Albion Sports 1-1 Silsden AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Thursday 30th March

The Citadel

Match Report

In a game of two halves at The Citadel last night, Bradford district rivals Albion Sports and a young Silsden side shared the points with a 1-1 draw.

A Cobbydaler’s team featuring five players from their West Yorkshire League side, had the better chances in the first 45 minutes,  taking the lead through Jack Normanton’s sensational chip.

Albion came out strong after the break however, with former Silsden striker Robbie Fox squaring to Hass Gorji to level the scores for the Lions.

The match started brightly for the visitors, a neat passing move allowed Luke Brooksbank to get a shot away inside the box but it was well blocked for a corner.

Ellis Hudson would be the next to go close for Silsden on 23 minutes, his powerful header from a corner flying wide of Albion keeper George McMahon’s post.

Those two continued to look lively, McMahon denying Brooksbank with a good low stop before Hudson curled a left-footed strike wide.

A moment of brilliance from Cobbydaler’s striker Normanton broke the deadlock.

Picking the ball up around 30 yards from goal, he drove forward and into the penalty area before lifting a perfectly-weighted lob over the keeper’s head and into the far corner.

The Lions fought back in the second half, putting the Silsden defence under pressure and forcing a number of blocks.

That pressure would tell on 65 minutes when a long ball found Fox racing in behind and he unselfishly squared to Gorji who made no mistake from close range.

Albion might have had a second were it not for a brilliant stop from Hagie Damba in the Silsden goal, showing quick reactions to deny the attacker at point blank range then smothering the ball before the hosts could poke home from the ensuing scramble.

Young midfielder Joe Snowden was inches away from a debut winner late on for the visitors when his rasping effort from distance dropped agonisingly wide of the post.

The 1-1 draw a fair result in the end with both sides now looking at a quick turnarounds ahead of their games on Saturday.

Silsden head to South Yorkshire to take on Maltby Main, the game kicks off at the usual time of 3pm.