NCEL Division One - Club Thorne 2-2 Route One Rovers

No midweek action for the lads as they headed into a tough test against a free-scoring Route One side - a team that recently put seven past NCEL Premier Division outfit Parkgate in their 7-1 League Cup win.

There were six changes to the Thorne side following last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Ilkley in difficult conditions. Luke Williams missed out through suspension after his red card against Maltby Main, meaning Ethan Harrison came into the XI alongside Lewis Walker and Alex Peterson.

Thorne came into the game unbeaten in four of their last five, while Route One had picked up nine points from their previous five, scoring 16 goals in the process.

The game started quietly, with both sides easing into things, but after the opening ten minutes, the chances started to flow. Route One went close first - a goal-bound effort was brilliantly tipped around the post by Musselwhite. Moments later, Reiss Harrison fired narrowly wide with a sweetly struck volley from the edge of the area.

The visitors took the lead shortly after through a scrappy goal. A well-worked set-piece saw a deep cross force another good save from Musselwhite before a chaotic scramble in the box ended with the ball trickling over the line for 0-1.

Thorne reacted superbly. Ten minutes later, their pressure paid off. Ben Stobart pressed hard to win the ball back, feeding Reiss Harrison, who delivered a superb cross into the area. Lewis Walker met it perfectly, looping his header over the keeper and into the net to make it 1-1.

And just five minutes later, Thorne turned it around. A clever flick from Harry Brown sent Stobart racing down the flank - he slid to cross, and there was Walker again, taking a touch and poking it past the keeper for his ninth goal of the season.

A minor setback followed when Ethan Harrison was forced off in the 36th minute after suffering a nasty knock above his eye.

Half-Time: Club Thorne Colliery 2–1 Route One Rovers

The visitors came out fired up after the break and found an equaliser just two minutes into the second half. Reece Thompson was played through with a clever pass, beating Kemp for pace and slotting into the bottom corner.

Nathaniel Muenda replaced Ben Stobart in the 56th minute as both sides pushed for a winner. Chances came at both ends, but neither team could make them count.

With twenty minutes to go, Route One’s discipline fell apart - Musa Corrah saw red for a rash challenge on Dom Mellor, and just four minutes later, Mohammed Kanyi followed him down the tunnel after a late tackle on Alex Peterson.

That left the visitors with nine men for the final 13 minutes, giving Thorne a golden opportunity to find a winner. Ryan Ellison and Louis Seddons were introduced late on to pile on the pressure, but Route One held firm with a deep defensive block to deny Thorne all three points.

A frustrating afternoon in the end, but plenty of positives to take - especially another goal-scoring display from Lewis Walker and a performance that showed real fight and togetherness from the lads.

Full Time: Club Thorne Colliery 2-2 Route One Rovers

Man of the Match: James Baxendale - Sponsored by While She Sleeps

Club Thorne Colliery - Ryan Musselwhite, Ben Stobart (56’ Nathaniel Muenda), Dom Mellor (80’ Ryan Ellison), Andy Wright, Harry Brown (C), Alex Kemp, James Baxendale (87’ Louis Seddons ), Reiss Harrison, Lewis Walker (30’, 34’), Alex Peterson, Ethan Harrison (36’ Marc Newsham). Substitutes: Louis Seddons, Ryan Ellison, Nathaniel Muenda, Jake Robinson, Marc Newsham.

Route One Rovers - Hagie Damba, Eburaema Suko, Omar Anjum, Mohammed Kanyi, Raeece Ellington, Tawheed Ahmed (75’ Mohammad Hasnain (88’ Thomas Dear)), Umar Alizahoor, Reece Thompson, Zak Khan, Musa Dukuray Corrah, Gauderic Totap. Substitutes: Thomas Dear, Mohammad Hasnain, Awais Khan, Anees Younis, Bilal Hussain

NCEL Division One - Ilkley Town 1 - 1 Club Thorne

 NCEL Division One - Ilkley Town 1 - 1 Club Thorne - 04.10.2025

There were four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Maltby Main in midweek, as Marc Newsham, Louis Seddons, James Baxendale and Dom Mellor all returned to the starting eleven.

Storm Amy was the dominant force of the afternoon, making conditions incredibly difficult for both sides. Both teams came into the fixture looking to rediscover form - Ilkley with four points from their previous five games, while Thorne had picked up five from the same number.

Despite playing against the wind in the first half, Colliery started the brighter of the two teams. Early chances fell to Newsham and Muenda, but both efforts were well dealt with by the home defence. Ilkley responded shortly after, hitting the bar following a mix-up between Robinson and Twibell.

Midway through the half, Thorne were forced into an early change as Lewis Twibell was replaced by Andy Wright after picking up a knock. The reshuffle saw Brown slot in at right-back.
Thorne continued to create opportunities - Newsham and Muenda both went close - but couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Just before the interval, Musselwhite produced another fine save to deny the hosts, diving low to keep out a one-on-one effort. However, Ilkley broke the deadlock moments before half-time when a free-kick was parried into the path of Kevin Gonzalez, who slotted home from close range.

Half-Time: Ilkley Town 1-0 Club Thorne Colliery

Neither side made changes at the break, and with the wind now in their favour, Thorne began the second half strongly. The pressure mounted immediately with a series of corners and half chances. Robinson thought he’d bundled the ball over the line from a Williams corner, but the referee judged there to be a foul on the keeper.

Just after the hour mark, Alex Peterson and Ethan Harrison were introduced in place of Baxendale and Newsham - and the changes quickly paid off. Five minutes later, Thorne grabbed a deserved equaliser. Brown and Seddons combined well down the right before delivering into the box. The clearance fell to Ethan Harrison on the edge of the area, whose volley was diverted into the net by Williams to make it 1-1.

Further substitutions saw Ellison and Walker replace Seddons and Muenda as Thorne pushed for a winner. Despite several late half chances, neither side could find a decisive goal.

The referee’s whistle confirmed another hard-earned point for Colliery, who remain in ninth place - just a single point off the top five.

Full Time - Ilkley (45’ Gonzalez) 1-1 Colliery (65’ Williams)

Man of the Match: Harry Brown - Sponsored by Arthurs Investments

Ilkley Town - Matthew Keen, Prince Attakorah, Thierry Henrickson, James Nightingale, Nicholas Brayshaw, Maxim Hague (85’ Edward Croft), Joseph Edmonds (85’ Harry Abson), Jack Lane, Kevin Gonzalez (45’), Harry Brown (C), Peter Roberts. Substitutes: Edward Croft, Harry Abson, Shaban Mehmeti, Tom Smith, Lewin Storton.

Club Thorne - Ryan Musselwhite, James Baxendale (59’ Ethan Harrison), Dom Mellor, Reiss Harrison, Harry Brown (C), Jake Robinson, Lewis Twibel (22’ Andy Wright)l, Louis Seddons (69’ Ryan Ellison), Nathaniel Muenda (69’ Lewis Walker), Marc Newsham (59’ Alex Peterson), Luke Williams (65’). Substitutes: Ryan Ellison, Ethan Harrison, Alex Peterson, Lewis Walker, Andy Wright.

Club Thorne DIY SOS

Funding money for Club Thorne Colliery for new changing room facilities!

When we won promotion to Step 6 in early May 2024, we were riding the crest of a wave. The club and our local community could look forward to us playing in the NCEL for the first time in almost 40 years. Just six days after we lifted the trophy, our club and community were devastated by an arson attack on the pavilion. Thanks to the great work of the local fire service, even though the damage ravaged the front of the building, enough of it was saved to allow us to begin the season. With just enough usable changing rooms, it bought us enough time to work with the council to devise a plan which helped us and those in the community that also use the pavilion.

In the early part of the season, we were able to get by with the three remaining changing rooms we had. However, as the weather worsened and with the building exposed to the elements, the damage was deemed unsafe and on October 21st, the building was condemned. With no changing facilities available this means we currently face a 45 minute, 25 mile trip to Gainsborough Trinity who are kindly supporting us by hosting our home fixtures. Whilst we are most grateful to Gainsborough for their support and putting aside the financial implications this places on the club, it is ripping the heart of our club and community. There are no direct public transport links to Gainsborough and as such, it is very difficult for our phenomenal local supporters to attend the games.

The council have supported the club by sourcing and donating three cabins which we are able to repurpose into dressing rooms. This will allow us to return home and once again put our club where it belongs, at the heart of the Thorne and Moorends community. A move which is also beneficial to the local youngsters who also use the facilities in Moorends. Our aim is to be home for the Doncaster derby on December 28th against Armthorpe Welfare. What a great Christmas present it would be if we could run out at Moorends to finish the year. But, we need your HELP. On December 2nd, we will be launching our Club Thorne DIY SOS project. This will allow people to support in a range of ways, either by donating money, materials or time.

All donations would be greatly appreciated!

Donate below! Please share:

https://gofund.me/4eb269e5

Wombwell Town 2-1 Club Thorne

Wombwell win their third in a row after beating Club Thorne Colliery, despite being a goal down within the first three minutes.

Newly promoted Club Thorne Colliery have had a decent start to the season, after an opening day, 3-1 win against Wakefield AFC just two weeks ago and a dramatic away draw against Selby Town just three days after.

Wombwell Town on the other hand, have had a dream start to the season, SIX goals in TWO games, two wins and looking a huge threat to the rest of the league with a big statement to where they may end up come April.

Club Thorne Colliery began the game well as they opened the scoring through a Harry Brown tap in. After a great move from the Thorne attack, Dom Mellor made a good run down the left hand side which he finished with a low and precise cross to Brown’s feet, who was there to hit it home.

The lead did not last long though. As Wombwell pumped up the pressure on the Thorne defence, leading to a defensive mix up. This then gave Jordan Kershaw the perfect opportunity to pounce on the mistake, beat the keeper and tuck it into the back of the net.

Wombwell’s physical presence posed as a big issue for Thorne, winning headers all around the park, dominance in possession and big challenges gave the home side a good look in the game. A few first half chances for the home side were all well defended by Thorne to keep the score level.

Dom Mellor was close to putting the away side ahead just before the half, with a volley from a tight angle going across goal. At the break it was still somehow level, with both sides having a fair share of chances.

It took only four minutes for Wombwell to take the lead in the second half. Owen Sykes, in some style, curled a corner straight into the Thorne net, Westcarr-Toft could not do anything about it with the crowd in the six yard box.

The second half was a fairly even affair, both sides were creating good chances but neither had enough for the end product of a goal. Wombwell went the closest to another goal however, a free kick in a good position was curled just past the post late on in the half. 

The final whistle sounded and Wombwell had found their third win in three games, with Club Thorne losing their first game in the NCEL for over 38 years, this leaves them in 11th after three games, a decent start to the season for the Colls who start with a win, a draw and a loss.

Club Thorne manager, James O’Neill, didn’t think his side “played to their very best” but they went “toe to toe for most of the game” which is positive to take from the game. Jamie Green said after the game that he thought a draw “would have been fair” after the away side battled out well for 90 minutes against a strong Wombwell side. 

Up next, Club Thorne will welcome Worsbrough Bridge this Saturday for the second home game of the season. The Briggers currently sit on one point from 3 games as they travel to the Chesterfield Poultry Stadium. On Tuesday night, Worsbrough progressed to the next round of the NCEL League Cup after beating Appleby Frodingham on penalties.

Club Thorne XI: Westcarr-Toft,  (61’ Czubik), McLoughlin, Kennedy, Green, Buckham (81’ Andrew), Brown ⚽️‘4 (81’ Scorer), Mellor (81’ Verhees), Slater, Pugh (64’ Walker), Baskerville

Subs: Scorer, Andrew, Czubik, Verhees, Walker.

Wombwell Town goalscorers: Jordan Kershaw ⚽️’18, Owen Sykes ⚽️’49.

Half-time deficit overturned by brilliant second half

A brilliant second half performance gives Club Thorne another win and increases their chances of promotion after beating East Riding Rangers 4-2. 

It was a poor start to the game for Thorne as they conceded only five minutes in. A mix up at the back gifted the East Riding striker an easy finish past Dixon-Brown. 

The home side doubled their lead through a long throw meeting the head of their striker who then flicked it in and off the post. 

Thorne were definitely second best in the first half, failing to get a shot on target up until the 40th minute when Chris Spinks had a well-driven volley saved by the East Riding keeper. 

Down at the break, O’Neil knew his team had to step up in the second half, and they did just that. Three minutes into the half, Ethan Harrison pulled one back for Colliery after flicking the ball in from a low cross. 

Thorne continued to attack the Rangers’ defence and the hard work paid off. Just 15 minutes after the first goal, Jordan Hall converted Colliery’s second, after Spinks delivered a corner perfectly onto his head giving the keeper no chance in stopping it. 

The goals didn’t stop there. A composed Ethan Harrison put Thorne into the lead after slotting it past the keeper in the 73rd minute. 

Not even a minute later, Harry Brown stole the ball from the East Riding midfielder and fired a shot on target, the keeper got a strong hand to it, however, the ball curled back and into the net, making it 4-2 to Thorne completing the comeback. 

Another win for Thorne, four goals scored again in one game and it’s looking very likely for them to be promoted. They sit at the top of the table, twelve points clear with only six games to go, promotion is likely, but they will not celebrate too soon. 

Psychology in Football

Football is not only a physical challenge but also a mental one as well. The psychological aspects of the game play a significant role in shaping individual and team performances. Most clubs use sports psychologists to support players and staff in performing to the best of their ability. These psychologists help the players maintain motivation, resilience, emotional control, and well-being while playing at such a high level. 

Sports psychologists are also used for players going through injuries. When a player gets injured, it has a huge effect on their mental health. This is due to the fear of not making it back into the team or, in the most tough stages, not being able to do anything due to mobility issues. The psychologists work alongside the physios in order to bring the players back into the game in the correct way, both mentally and physically. 

Sport psychology helps footballers train with more focus, keep consistency, play with more confidence, and reflect more effectively after a match.

One of the most important psychological aspects of football is self-belief. Self-belief shapes a player's confidence in their abilities and judgements on the field. A player with high self-belief is more likely to trust their instincts and make better decisions on the pitch, even in high-pressure situations. If a player or a coach doesn't believe in their own abilities, they will most likely perform at a lower standard due to them second-guessing their decisions or missing certain opportunities. Strikers are prime examples of players who need to adopt self-belief. If they miss 10 shots in a row, they need to keep going and believing in themselves. Once that goal is scored, they pick themselves up and go for more. 

Psychology plays a pivotal role in understanding the various motivational factors that drive football players. By identifying individual and team goals, psychologists and coaches can help players stay motivated and focused on achieving peak performance. The ability to set challenging yet attainable goals, combined with effective motivation strategies, can have a significant impact on a player's commitment, perseverance, and overall drive to succeed.

Andrea Pirlo once said, 'Football is played with your head; your feet are just tools'. This proves that to be a successful footballer, you have to have the right mindset, and this is where the psychology side of football becomes a major aspect of the game. A good mentality eliminates weaknesses in a player's game and keeps them playing well consistently. 

Psychology helps in fostering team cohesion and effective communication among players. Understanding each player's personality, motivation, and communication style is crucial for building a cohesive team. By employing psychological principles, coaches and team leaders can create an environment that encourages open communication, fosters teamwork, and builds a strong sense of unity among players, leading to good team performances. 

Football is generally hard to deal with mentally. This can be due to decisions not going your way, lowered confidence, bad performances, or even opposition players getting into your head. Plus, injuries, suspensions, and the media pressuring players—there are many things in the game that affect players mentally. This is why sports psychologists are used to cope with them and toughen the brain. The hard times in football can be used to make you stronger, to motivate you, and to get you back to your good performances. They are also there to humble you and stay grounded, which is important for young players so they do not get too carried away with themselves.

Being a professional football player is not only physically draining, but it is also mentally draining. The number of hours the players work, the amount of time they are away from their families and friends, and a lot more work that goes on behind the scenes drains the players’ minds. Sports psychologists come into the clubs to help the players deal with all the pressures that they deal with on a day-to-day basis and continue performing at the highest standards they can. 

Football players face immense pressure both on and off the pitch, navigating the expectations of fans, coaches, teammates, and themselves. To cope with this pressure, players employ a variety of strategies, including mental preparation, visualisation techniques, and maintaining a positive mindset. They focus on their training regimen, honing their skills to ensure they perform at their peak when it matters most. Additionally, players often rely on the support of their teammates and coaching staff, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collective responsibility. 

Beyond the physical aspects of the game, footballers also prioritise mental resilience, staying composed under pressure, and learning from setbacks to continually improve. Ultimately, the ability to thrive under pressure is a hallmark of elite footballers, as they embrace the challenge and channel their energy into delivering standout performances when it counts.

All in all, psychology is a huge aspect of football. It is the driving force behind how players play and act in games, training, and just their day-to-day lives. The amount that goes on behind the scenes in football is dealt with through psychologists and a huge team of people looking after the players and getting them through injuries, pressures of the game, winning and losing, and dips in performance. Football is not only a physical game; it is also a very mental game, with so many different things to think about and train your brain to deal with.

Club Thorne Victorious Again

A clean sheet, three points and four goals on the road for Colliery as they continue their title charge in the Humber Premier league. 

Thorne dominated the first ten minutes of the game, pinning the Hedon defence in and refusing them to step foot into the Colliery half. 

Verhees had the first shot of the game, after a brilliant high press he aimed for the near post, but the Hedon goalkeeper denied him the opener.  

Not long after, Verhees was at it again, this time his effort beat the keeper, but was kept out by the underside of the crossbar. 

Thorne were unfortunate not to be ahead at half time, but they would be proud of the first half performance, the opposition didn’t get a second to breathe. 

Just a few minutes in the half, Thorne lost Dom Mellor due to an ankle injury that came through a good challenge from the Hedon defender. 

Almost seventy minutes into the game, captain Harry Brown opened the scoring after the ball fell into his path, he volleyed it straight into the bottom corner. 

It was then two goals on ten minutes from Thorne, Ethan Harrison doubled the lead on his return from injury, then, substitute, Toby Marriott hit a third past the keeper after some good build up play from Colliery. 

Lewis Walker then put the icing on the cake after he made it four for Thorne, he was fed through and finished calmly. 

Thorne sit top of the league still with a mighty seven point gap between them and second place South Cave United. They will be looking to keep building on this in order to move up the English football pyramid. 

Club Thorne 4-1 Beverley Town Reserves

Club Thorne’s stylish second half performance puts them 7 points clear at the top of the Humber Premier League with a third straight home win against Beverley Town Reserves. 

Thorne didn’t have the best of starts to the game, after failing to clear their lines in just the fourteenth minute of the game, Beverley took advantage and went in front. 

This didn’t stop Thorne though, they responded to this mistake with chances up the other end of the pitch, leading to the in form Joe Pugh firing home from the penalty spot.

It wasn’t the best first half from Thorne, but Jimmy O’Neil had a lot to say to his side in order for them to turn the result around. 

The second half kicked off and it only took Thorne ten minutes to respond, Tom Hinton’s corner was whipped in to perfection and then fired home by debutant, Jamie Green. 

After this, Colliery were relentless to the Beverley defence, forced two brilliant saves from the away sides’ keeper, one clipping the crossbar. 

It wasn’t long until Thorne got their third, Henry Parr received the ball down the left wing, his cross was then fired goal-wards and the keeper catches but fails to stay outside of the goal.

Almost instantly, Thorne found their fourth, Henry Parr again crossed the ball in to perfection, finding Tom Hinton who hit it first time past the keeper. 

It’s another three points on the board for Thorne, three home wins in a row and top of the table with just nine games to go, can they go on to win it? 

Football and Community: How Local Clubs and Organizations Foster Unity and Inclusivity

Many local communities are brought together by football. There are examples in almost every town in the country of how football can bring together communities of kids, adults, and even elderly people. Most local football teams have age groups from 4/5 up to adults playing football. This creates opportunities for kids to develop skills, have fun, make friends, and be competitive. When you get older, it becomes more serious but still, it is about friendship and togetherness and discipline, it teaches you valuable life lessons in endless ways, it proves who the true lovers of football are and it keeps you a part of that community. 

Not only does it provide a platform for the kids to grow up learning skills and developing a football career, but it also develops a career in coaching for those taking part. It’s the start of a career that is usually funded by the local teams to collect the coaching badges and gain the valuable experience needed in coaching. 

Local teams also provide safe spaces for people to exercise, learn, and have fun. Usually, they keep kids in certain areas off of the streets mixing with crime and on the pitch keeping fit and learning important life skills. The clubs provide funding to the local councils and community as they generate their income from local ticket sales, player fees, and in some cases, merchandise. 

So the benefits that local teams have on the community are huge, they provide opportunities in and out of football, they teach people valuable lessons, and provide jobs and money needed in certain areas that need it to develop schools, local social centres, and the overall community. 

Hackney Wick FC is a prime example of a football club that works with the community, to give people opportunities and to even save lives. Made up of a group of volunteers, the club describes themselves as not being 'your regular football club' and they share that their 'ethos is based on community engagement, uniting the local diverse groups as well as battling peer pressure and tackling gang influences' which showcases the clubs' goal to better the community through a shared love of the game. 

Hackney Wick doesn't just give people the opportunity on the football pitch, they also offer educational workshops, sporting opportunities, mentoring, and access to work opportunities which gets people off the streets, out of the gangs, and into a good place with lots of positive opportunities. Moreover, they offer training, employment, and community projects that promote health and well-being alongside community safety.

One prominent example of a big team helping the local community would be Liverpool. They actively engage with the local community through the Liverpool FC Foundation, which focuses on creating life-changing opportunities for children and young people. The foundation's initiatives cover a wide range of areas, including health and well-being, sports participation, and educational support. The club's players and staff actively participate in community outreach programs, visiting schools, hospitals, and community centers to inspire and support residents. The impact of Liverpool FC's involvement in the community has been substantial, emphasizing the profound influence that a football team can have beyond the stadium.

Another example of a community-based team is my local club. Club Thorne. A club built for the community. The emphasis of Club Thorne is to be a football club at the heart of the community. As a non-profit organisation, the club works with schools and communities to deliver projects that make a difference to the local community. The club offers many opportunities for young people to play football and enjoy themselves and then when getting older and progressing through the ages, the cub offers huge opportunities to play football at a fairly high level. The club also offers many different opportunities outside of playing the game, they offer ways into coaching such as funding the course, they offer to fund referee courses and they offer roles inside the football club such as groundsmen, media jobs, and bar work. 

Fans. The most important part of football. Lots of different people come together to support a team and help build the team to become a rock for the community and togetherness. Fans don't only motivate players on the pitch, but they also give the club the funds to function and grow and keep playing the game. Fans are hugely important to smaller teams as they are the main income to run the club. However, their importance isn't just money related, it is about the togetherness, people coming together from all different genders, nationalities, races, and all different backgrounds to watch a team play for 90 minutes a week and all of them loving each other, backing each other and focusing on this one team. 

It's safe to say that community in football is so highly important, it ranges from keeping people safe to funding coaching badges or helping local charities. I think football is a huge platform to promote safety in communities as it brings so many different people together and gives people a passion to keep them busy and away from danger. Football offers so many different opportunities and so many positives can be taken from the game. How can you not love the beautiful game? 

By Cian Stringer 

Club Thorne Increase Chances of Winning the Humber Premier League

Club Thorne extend their lead at the top of the Humber Premier League to 9 points after their 3-1 home win over Recketts AFC. 

From the start, Thorne were clearly the more dominant side, with chances from Joe Pugh and Callum Verhees inches away from giving them a lead within 10 minutes. 

However, Colliery led within the first half an hour, as Joe Pugh put them ahead following a rebound off the post from Verhees’ shot. 

Then, only seven minutes after, Tommy Waud brilliantly placed a 25 yard shot into the left corner following a run which started on the halfway line. 

Despite having a few good chances, Colliery finished the half two goals to the good and looked comfortable in the game. 

Thorne controlled the second half, having many chances early on and they continued to bully the Recketts side throughout the half. Then, in the 73rd minute, Jordan Hall put Thorne three goals up following a game of pinball in the Recketts area. 

Recketts pulled one back in the 89th minute following a slight mix up in the Thorne defence, but it was not enough as that would be the only chance of the game for them.  

Thorne continue their spectacular form and sit top of the table, 9 points clear with just 10 games to go. After the game, we interviewed Joe Pugh, he went on to say the lads are now “on a stream train” and that they have to just “keep going” .