Category Archives: Football

Football, Sport, Sports Headlines

Huddersfield Town Launch New Home Kit For Next Season

Huddersfield Town are proud to unveil their 2023/24 Umbro home kit, with the latest take on their famous blue and white stripes designed in tribute to their first of three consecutive league title victories in the 1920s!

Available for purchase ahead of Father’s Day from Friday 16 June 2023 both online and in store, the Utilita and SportsBroker sponsored kit was unveiled by First Team stars Jack Rudoni, David Kasumu and Rarmani Edmonds-Green in front of their new 1920s inspired mural outside the Millers Oils High Performance Complex.

Several design features across the kit also tip their hat to the centenary of the Club’s first ever league win, with ‘Huddersfield Town AFC 1923/24 Champions of England’ proudly featuring inside the neckline. With gold detailing around the neck, collar and Umbro’s double diamond, the woven embroidered Club crest is also enveloped in gold.

Two subtle changes are a thin pinstripe alongside their blue and white stripes, with the stripes themselves housing a prominent pattern of stars within them. On the rear of the kit, the three stars now sees the first detailed in gold, with the remaining two silver to represent the first of their three league titles.

Names and numbers will also feature in gold on the rear of the kit, matching seamlessly with the SportsBroker branding across the shoulders. Playing shorts will remain predominantly white with gold trim and blue down each side, with white socks featuring a blue ring across the top with gold HTAFC and Umbro detailing on the calf and shin.

Head of Retail Luke Cowan commented: “It’s always a brilliant occasion to launch the new home shirt, and we can really start to look forward to the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship season now we know what we’re wearing!”

“As always, we have worked extremely closely with Umbro in the development of our kit design to focus on the intricate details across the shirt, and are proud that this bespoke kit allows us to tell the story of that first league title win.”

“I’m also delighted that Umbro have got the home kit to us early this summer so that fans can buy theirs ahead of Father’s Day and the summer holidays.”

“Kit releases are always popular thanks to our amazing supporters, so to give everyone a great chance of making one their own as soon as possible the home shirt will be available both in store and to purchase online at shop.htafc.com from the morning of Friday 16 June, with no pre-order or click-and-collect service available on release.”

Football, Huddersfield, News

TOWN AWARDED ‘FAMILY EXCELLENCE 2023 GOLD AWARD’

Huddersfield Town are proud to have achieved the EFL’s Family Excellence ‘Gold Award’ status in recognition of the quality of the match day experience we provide for families.

The Family Excellence scheme sees Clubs receive two visit assessments each season from a family who rates their match day journey: from the website experience, ticketing, pre and post-match communication, entertainment and activities and more. The scheme recognises the continuous improvement and best practice that emerges across the League and rewards Clubs for their efforts in attracting and retaining young supporters.

After the second visit to the John Smiths Stadium, our assessor commented:
“There were many high points for this season’s two assessments including the warm, friendly, organised Club representatives, the external Stadium experience, the lovely post-match ‘thank you’ from the Club and the way the Club picked up on the fact a young girl was attending her first match.”

In addition to achieving scores which ranked Town seventh in the EFL for family experience, we were also one of just 12 Clubs handed the ‘Gold Award’, recognising our continued efforts to engage the next generation of Terriers. These efforts have contributed to a 12% increase in Under 11 Season Card Holders, and a 160% increase in match day tickets from 2021/22 to 2022/23.

Head of Supporter Services, Robyn Kennerdale, stated:
“We are immensely proud to have been recognised by the League for our commitment to attracting and engaging with junior supporters!”

“Delivering an affordable and enjoyable experience is key to ensuring the next generation of Town fans come through the turnstiles and want to keep coming back. From the pre-match activities in our Community Hub, to the opportunity for fans to meet players in the Family Area, many people behind-the-scenes come together to try and make a match day more than just the 90 minutes.”

“We now look forward to the upcoming 2023/24 season, when we will continue striving to improve match days for all groups of supporters.”

Communication Headlines, Council News, Football, Health & Welfare, Kingston Upon Hull, News

New Community Parks Improvement Strategy To Be Heard

A report highlighting a programme of regeneration projects across the city’s parks will be heard by scrutiny councillors next week.

The parks and open spaces report includes a number of schemes that are already underway, alongside proposals for a range of further improvements.

It will seek approval to move these projects forward, funded by the parks and open spaces assets budget.

One of projects already in development is the Football Foundation’s pitches and pavilion scheme at Bude Park. It has been in development since 2020 with a funding bid decision due imminently, kicking off a programme of works.

A further bid to the Football Foundation has already been submitted for the possible development of Playzones – new or refurbished outdoor mini-pitches designed for football and other activities which will focus on making identified priority groups more active.

The city has also been pre-selected by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to receive up to £85,000 with the aim being to improve the quality of a green space for the community. The chosen site is Alderman Kneeshaw Park.

Further proposals that will be heard include possible new water play schemes at Bude Park and Oak Road, recreation of a running track at Alderman Kneeshaw, access reviews at East and Pickering Parks, restoration of the Pickering Park entrance gateway and ‘pocket parks’, a community-led scheme that aims to transform small unloved and neglected areas into safe useable spaces.

Councillor Julia Connor, Portfolio Holder for Environment said:
“Covid reawakened the public’s interest in our parks and proved just what a valuable asset they are to the city and how much the public need them.”

“Therefore, this programme of investment in our parks is to be welcomed but the revenue consequences and detailed management of the schemes will require careful consideration.” As Portfolio Holder I will keep matters under review.”

Comments of Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration said: “Regeneration in our neighbourhoods across Hull is a priority for myself and this administration.”

“This new strategy will for the first time, provide funding for the continual investment into our parks and open spaces that are much loved and greatly treasured by all of our residents.”

The report will be heard first at Communities, Culture and Leisure Scrutiny on Thursday 24 November, then at Cabinet on Monday 28 November.

Football, News, News Headlines

Harrogate Town Players Help Out During Meals On Wheels Week

On Wednesday 2nd November, Players and Management from Harrogate Town AFC joined volunteers and staff at non-for-profit organisation, Harrogate Neighbours to deliver meals with a difference to mark National Meals on Wheels Week.

Kayne Ramsey, George Horbury, Lewis Richards, First Team Manager and Director of Football, Simon Weaver and CEO of Harrogate Town AFC, Sarah Barry spent the morning at The Cuttings, Harrogate Neighbours’ extra care scheme learning about the vital service which sees over 100 meals prepared and delivered into the community every single day.

Like so many areas of the social care sector, meals on wheels requires greater government funding to support older and vulnerable people living within the community, who without the dedicated volunteers who run the service would not receive a nutritionally balanced, hot daily meal.

Player Lewis Richards said, “I really enjoyed meeting the service users and seeing how much effort goes into preparing the meals. The volunteers are amazing – it was a real feel good factor.”

Speaking on behalf of the club, Sarah Barry, CEO of Harrogate Town AFC said, “Sue and her team are doing a fantastic job of tackling the issues facing this vital service. We were honored to be able to see first-hand how the service works and how important it is for so many vulnerable people living within our community.”

“The players really enjoyed seeing the meals being prepped, meeting the volunteers and joining them on their deliveries – the service users were all very excited to see Simon and the players at their door and hope our involvement helps raise awareness for this vitally important campaign”

Commenting on the initiatives, CEO of Harrogate Neighbours, Sue Cawthray said, “We’re so grateful for the support of the local community and especially the Harrogate Town AFC players who have dedicated their time to the cause.”

“As Chair of the National Association of Care Catering, Meals on Wheels Week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the service, say thank you to the volunteers, who without, the service would not be possible and do our bit here in Yorkshire to encourage more funding to ensure the sustainability of such a vital service.”

“Due to the rising cost of living, many people are going to have to choose between eating or heating and that’s just not right. Malnutrition in older people is on the rise, our service supports those at risk, protects the NHS and allows our team to provide not only hot food, but a daily ‘check-in’ which is vital to people’s wellbeing.”

Football, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Sport, Sports Headlines

Second Manager Of The Month In Succession For Paul Heckingbottom

Paul Heckingbottom has been named the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for September, having also claimed the award for August.

Circumstances decreed that all of Sheffield United’s games in September were away from home. No matter. All three were won, without conceding a goal, as Heckingbottom continued to build his side’s impressive start.

Heckingbottom commented: “Once again it has been a team effort, circumstances saw us on the road throughout September, but we’ve managed to continue our encouraging start.”

“The players, staff and supporters all deserve credit, we’ve got an impressive environment at Bramall Lane and hopefully we will continue to pick up points as we work towards the World Cup break.”

Former Blades boss Danny Wilson chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel. He said: “Zero goals conceded in September, all three games away from home and maximum points returned – terrific consistency by Paul’s team secured him a place at the top of the table.”

Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman added: “It’s back-to-back awards for Paul Heckingbottom, and why not? The Blades boss had only three assignments in September, but his side stood up to each task valiantly, navigating a trio of away fixtures to record nine points and zero goals conceded.”

Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies concluded: “Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United won all three games during September and topped the Championship table after 10 games.”

“The Blades were fifth favourites for the title before a ball was kicked at around 10/1, but after continuing their excellent start to the season during September they are now joint favourites for the title alongside Norwich at 2/1 and are odds-on at 4/6 to be promoted back to the Premier League.”