DARREN BLAND hopes his new-look AFC Emley side will catch the eye of both sets of fans when Town visit the Welfare Ground for their opening pre-season friendly on Friday (7.00).
The new manager of the Northern Counties East League First Division club would be more than happy for Town supporters to adopt Emley as their ‘second’ team.
“I know there’s a great relationship between the two clubs, and it’s great to have Huddersfield Town visiting us,” said Bland.
“Obviously it provides a fantastic financial boost for us, but it’s also a chance to show Town fans what we’re all about.
“I know football in Emley has had its ups and down over the last 10 years, but it remains a big, big name in Yorkshire non-league football circles.
“I can recall the old days when the original Emley used to get two or three thousand up for big cup games.
“If, on the days Town are playing away, we could get an extra hundred or so watching us, that would be a real bonus.
“The committee up here and hard-working and determined to push the club forward, and there is so much potential here.
“I would love to be the man who gets the club up to the level they should be playing at, and one things for sure – I’ll give it a real go.”
Former Hallam and Staveley boss and Worksop assistant manager Bland has retained a useful nucleus of players who operated under former Town midfielder Ian Banks last season.
Keeper Mick Clarke, defenders Max Joice, Anthony Leech and Sean Hazelden, midfielders Marc Townsend, Mark Stuart and strikers Steve Kenworthy and Micky Amos remain.
Former Halifax striker Jamie Smith, ex-Worksop midfielder Matt Thorpe and Staveley defender Callum Westney have been brought in.
And Sheffield-based Bland has more new recruits in the pipeline to bolster chances of the club, founded in 2005, getting into the NCEL Premier Division at the fifth time of asking.
“We’re into our third week of training, and I’m pleased with the way things are progressing, but I’m expecting a big test on Friday,” added Bland, whose teams as a player included Parkgate and Ossett Albion.
“You would expect Huddersfield to be fitter than we are, but we’ll enjoy the occasion and try to give them the kind of challenge they’ll want.
“If we do the basic things properly and play to the tactical plan set out then I’ll be satisfied.”
Admission is £6 adults and £3 concessions for the first of eight Emley friendlies in the build-up to the new campaign, which like Town’s, starts on Saturday, August 7.
