NEWSOME Football Club have big plans for a bright future.

Huddersfield District League champions for the second time in four seasons, this time by a record 13-point margin, they also reached the Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup final, giving West Riding County Amateur League kings Bay Athletic a tough test before going down 3-1 at the Galpharm.

In addition, there was a run to the last four of the Barlow Cup, while the second team finished third in District Reserve Division I, made the final of the Richardson Cup and the semis of the Huddersfield FA Challenge Trophy.

On top of all that, league officials recognised the progress made on improving the club’s ground at Cross Lane, formerly the home of Primrose Hill Cricket Club, by awarding them the Gee Cup final.

“People came in their hundreds to experience the excellent facilities we now have in place, and we received thank-you letters from both finalists saying it was the best set-up they’d seen in years, which was very gratifying,” said club chairman Chris O’Brien.

“We worked very hard on the ground during the close-season last year, and what’s more, it was funded through the club itself, helped by the support of Kirklees Council along with SITA UK, Lockwood Window Company, Code Blue Group and many other local businesses who have supplied products at cost prices to help us stay within budget.

“Labour has come free as the players, coaching staff and committee members have given up their weekends and even worked until midnight on some weekdays to achieve what we have.”

Formed in 1999 to bring football back to the area after the demise of Newsome United in 1982, the club originally entered the Huddersfield Works League, winning the Division II title at the first attempt.

A reserve side was formed to play in the Works top flight, enabling the firsts to move into the District League in 2000, heralding a run of three successive promotions as divisional champions between 2001-03.

The Second Division championship was won in 2006, by which time the reserves had moved into the District League, and Newsome landed their first league championship in 2007.

Having led a nomadic existence previously, the demise of cricket at Primrose Hill opened up exciting possibilities for Newsome, who have no dropped the ‘WMC’ part of their title.

Work is continuing on the ground, with O’Brien explaining: “We are further improving the changing rooms, re-seeding the pitch and preparing to construct a perimeter fence with the view to playing at a higher level in the not too distant future

“Our ultimate aim is to attract youngsters and develop an excellent facility to improve their skills and keep them out of trouble while also securing their talent to continue to put Newsome football on the map.”