Post by adambrid on Oct 24, 2008 22:28:11 GMT 1
Hello and welcome to the 8th edition of my blog.
In an effort to cheer everybody up following this week of woe I have decided to take a trip down memory lane to look back at some of the great Guiseley players of the past. In order to entertain fans young and old I have asked my brother and father to name their favourites from years gone by. This is the first in a two part series. Next week I will analyse the greats of today.
ADAMBRID’S BEST OF THE PAST
Mark Bett
Bettsy was a brilliant winger and striker during his spell at Guiseley. This nifty player had quite the shot on him and was a reliable penalty taker. Current Bradford Park Avenue star Bett was a Guiseley fan favourite from the moment he pulled on the Fort Nethermoor colours. He’d be an ideal partner for David Brown today.
Craig Hall
Craig had a fabulous scoring record and brought life to an otherwise dwindling midfield during the 2006/2007 season. It’s a real shame he left the club as he was a great asset to the team. I will always remember his scorching winner against Mossley in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round where he ran through several opposition players and slotted the ball home with ease.
Steve Dickinson
Has there ever been a better man to pull on a Guiseley goalkeeping shirt? Dicko is and always will be a Guiseley legend having starred for the club so many times over the years. It was largely thanks to this crowd hero that Guiseley grinded out many positive results in the 2007/08 season. He is a keen shot stopper with a great sense of position. If ever there is a Guiseley Hall of Fame, Steve should be inducted first.
Matty Smithard
Smithard never disappointed when he pulled on the Guiseley colours for several recent seasons. This central midfielder chipped in with a few goals and a good eye for a pass. Smithard was another fan favourite in my opinion. I was sorry to hear of his injury that came as a result of over playing.
Andy Wright
Andy was a speedy winger who could curl free kicks right past the opposition wall. Always one to show off his silky skills, vastly experienced Andy scored a cracker against Grantham Town on his 29th birthday. He had a decent scoring record and has stepped up in to the Conference North with Blyth Spartans. He is still deeply missed by the fans who loved his pace and agility.
Gavin Knight
He scored plenty of goals in an impressive Guiseley side during the 2006/07 season and some of the 2007/08 season. I loved his somersault celebration and sometimes wonder how he managed to stay on his feet! I remember shouting for Knight to shoot from seemingly miles outside the box against Radcliffe Borough in late 2006 and Knight entertained the possibility with an amazing goal.
FATHERBRID’S CHOICE
Vince Brockie
“Brockie was a passionate player who always gave 110% every game. There has never been a midfielder like it since. I hope one day he manages the first team because he will get them playing better than they are now. I don’t think he came back just to manage the reserves. He’s there for one reason and one reason only: to manage the first team.”
BROTHERBRID’S CHOICE
Geoff Horsfield
“From the get go you could tell this striker was a peg above the rest. Horsfield netted countless times for Guiseley and it was no surprise he eventually attracted the interest of Premiership clubs. Horsfield, then a DIY man of sorts, was a class act who always gave his all for the side. As a little child, I found Geoff a pleasure to watch and some of his 30 plus goals during the 1994/95 season still remain in my memory.”
AB
In an effort to cheer everybody up following this week of woe I have decided to take a trip down memory lane to look back at some of the great Guiseley players of the past. In order to entertain fans young and old I have asked my brother and father to name their favourites from years gone by. This is the first in a two part series. Next week I will analyse the greats of today.
ADAMBRID’S BEST OF THE PAST
Mark Bett
Bettsy was a brilliant winger and striker during his spell at Guiseley. This nifty player had quite the shot on him and was a reliable penalty taker. Current Bradford Park Avenue star Bett was a Guiseley fan favourite from the moment he pulled on the Fort Nethermoor colours. He’d be an ideal partner for David Brown today.
Craig Hall
Craig had a fabulous scoring record and brought life to an otherwise dwindling midfield during the 2006/2007 season. It’s a real shame he left the club as he was a great asset to the team. I will always remember his scorching winner against Mossley in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round where he ran through several opposition players and slotted the ball home with ease.
Steve Dickinson
Has there ever been a better man to pull on a Guiseley goalkeeping shirt? Dicko is and always will be a Guiseley legend having starred for the club so many times over the years. It was largely thanks to this crowd hero that Guiseley grinded out many positive results in the 2007/08 season. He is a keen shot stopper with a great sense of position. If ever there is a Guiseley Hall of Fame, Steve should be inducted first.
Matty Smithard
Smithard never disappointed when he pulled on the Guiseley colours for several recent seasons. This central midfielder chipped in with a few goals and a good eye for a pass. Smithard was another fan favourite in my opinion. I was sorry to hear of his injury that came as a result of over playing.
Andy Wright
Andy was a speedy winger who could curl free kicks right past the opposition wall. Always one to show off his silky skills, vastly experienced Andy scored a cracker against Grantham Town on his 29th birthday. He had a decent scoring record and has stepped up in to the Conference North with Blyth Spartans. He is still deeply missed by the fans who loved his pace and agility.
Gavin Knight
He scored plenty of goals in an impressive Guiseley side during the 2006/07 season and some of the 2007/08 season. I loved his somersault celebration and sometimes wonder how he managed to stay on his feet! I remember shouting for Knight to shoot from seemingly miles outside the box against Radcliffe Borough in late 2006 and Knight entertained the possibility with an amazing goal.
FATHERBRID’S CHOICE
Vince Brockie
“Brockie was a passionate player who always gave 110% every game. There has never been a midfielder like it since. I hope one day he manages the first team because he will get them playing better than they are now. I don’t think he came back just to manage the reserves. He’s there for one reason and one reason only: to manage the first team.”
BROTHERBRID’S CHOICE
Geoff Horsfield
“From the get go you could tell this striker was a peg above the rest. Horsfield netted countless times for Guiseley and it was no surprise he eventually attracted the interest of Premiership clubs. Horsfield, then a DIY man of sorts, was a class act who always gave his all for the side. As a little child, I found Geoff a pleasure to watch and some of his 30 plus goals during the 1994/95 season still remain in my memory.”
AB