Steeton send love to Kirkpatrick and respond to Silsden

The Chevrons secured a battling 1-0 win at Thornton Cleveleys in the North West Counties Football League First Division North, backing up a 3-3 draw with AFC Blackpool 48 hours earlier.

But the afternoon was marred by Kirkpatrick’s plight, with the Steeton defender stretchered off early on.

He has had a scan since and has now been ruled out for the season due to damaging his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

His knee injury happened on the same day as Brighouse Town’s match at Emley was abandoned due to a horrific collision which left their keeper, former Silsden man Kyle Trenerry, in hospital with severe ligament and muscle damage.

Long-term injuries like these are something of a nightmare for those in the semi-professional game, with Steeton boss Roy Mason reflecting: “It’s terrible for this to happen to any player at this level, as football isn’t their livelihood.

“They’re not professionals who have access to the best surgeons and medical attention in the world, they’re just relying on bog-standard NHS treatment.

“The lad’s going to be looking at quite a long time out and it doesn’t just affect his football, it affects the rest of his life, from a work perspective as well.

“I’m gutted for him, because he’s been playing so well for us over the last few weeks, and you could see he was massively improving by playing alongside the experience of Dan Illingworth.”

Illingworth is one of a number of Steeton players formerly at Silsden, and tensions have been apparent between the two clubs this summer.

Jacob Mistry left his post as the manager of the Cobbydalers’ West Yorkshire League side, then became assistant at the Chevrons, before taking several of his former players to Marley.

With Silsden’s WYL side decimated, they had to withdraw from competition this year, much to their frustration.

Giving his take from the opposing trench, Mason said: “There’s always been a bit of rivalry between the two of us as local clubs.

“But in terms of how Steeton as a club handled that situation this summer, I think we handled it correctly in every which way.

“We never even spoke to Jacob about joining us until he’d handed in his notice and left Silsden.

“Jacob’s a young coach, and I’ve spoken to him for the last few years, while he’s periodically rung me for advice.

“He rang me after he left Silsden because he was unsure on what to do for this season, but at that time we had no vacancies, as Stewart Airdrie was still our assistant manager.

“But then Stewart stepped down to become our chairman instead, and with Jacob having already decided at that point that his time at Silsden was up, we had a vacancy for him.

Roy Mason (standing) and Jacob Mistry (sitting in white) in the Steeton dugout on Saturday for the game against AFC Blackpool. (Image: Ian Meachin.)

“From our perspective, things were handled perfectly, and what I would say is that myself and (Silsden joint-boss) Matt Cavanagh still have a very good working relationship.

“I speak to Cav on a regular basis and to be fair to him, he’s been very helpful to us over the last couple of years since he joined.”

Mason added: “For me, all local clubs need to work together, it’s vital to have that and for them to try to get along as best as they can.

“While there’s rivalry, like there is in all sports, we’re all just here trying to progress.”

And Steeton’s progress has been clear over the last couple of weeks.

A thumping 6-1 defeat at Droylesden on Saturday, August 10 left them second-bottom in the early season standings, sat on just one point from a possible 15.

But since then, they are unbeaten in five league games, with three wins and two draws, though it will be a tough ask to extend that run on Saturday, given they visit league leaders Atherton LR.

Reflecting on the Chevrons’ turnaround, Mason said: “Football’s a funny game, isn’t it?

“They say seven days is a long time in football, but two weeks seems to be even longer obviously.

“We’ve done really well since that Droylesden game, though our opposition were fantastic that day, head and shoulders above anyone else we’ve played.

“The big thing we’ve shown since is character, and I don’t think this current crop know when they’re beaten.

“We’ve got more of that character, and more experience, in the squad than we’ve ever had.

“The introduction of (former long-serving Silsden players) Arley Barnes and Dan Illingworth into the back four has made a huge difference.

“Not only are they both great defenders, but they’re also great leaders, who organise and pull everyone together.

“They’re the ones who’ve been making sure everyone stays switched on, all of the time.”