As we move through the Christmas period and towards the New Year, I wanted to take the opportunity to update supporters, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone connected with Garforth Town on where we are as a club and what lies ahead.

First and foremost, thank you to our supporters. Your backing throughout the season so far has been outstanding. Home and away, in all conditions, you continue to get behind the team and that support genuinely matters. Non league football is built on its community and we are proud of the connection between the club and the town.

On the pitch, the season has brought its challenges, but there have been plenty of encouraging signs along the way. Most recently, we picked up a 1–0 win against Emley in what was a scrappy and hard fought derby game. Both teams largely cancelled each other out, with one moment of quality proving the difference. The standout moment of the day was the fantastic crowd of 802, which created a great atmosphere and showed what this club can be when the town gets behind it.

Attention now turns to a busy period of fixtures. We travel to Pontefract Collieries on New Year’s Day for a 3pm kick off, before returning home on Tuesday 6 January for a 7.45pm kick off against Lincoln United. These are important games and your support, both home and away, will make a real difference.

Away from the first team, our youth pathway continues to show real promise. Our U18s are competing in the Monday night U23 league and have lost only two games all season. Several players from that group have already been invited to train with the first team, which is exactly the pathway we want to see developing at Garforth Town.

Off the pitch, there has been plenty of positive progress. I would like to thank James and Kellie Horne for their continued work on the commercial side of the club. Over the last two Saturdays they have been out on Main Street speaking to people, promoting upcoming fixtures, and helping to drive interest and support locally. That visibility in the town is vital and their efforts are appreciated.

We have also seen the successful launch of our We Are Garforth beer in partnership with Kirkstall Brewery. The response has been excellent and it has been great to see supporters getting behind the project. Initiatives like this are about more than just matchdays, they help build identity, connection, and long term sustainability for the club.

The matchday experience continues to develop. The fanzone is now an established part of the ground and continues to grow, and work has begun on the next phase with the start of the hospitality area. This is an important step forward and will help strengthen the club financially while improving what we can offer supporters, guests, and partners.

As ever, none of this would be possible without our volunteers. From matchday operations to bar staff, stewards, and those working behind the scenes during the week, your time and commitment does not go unnoticed. I would also like to thank our sponsors and partners for their continued support during what remains a challenging period for clubs at our level.

Finally, myself and Faye, Craig and Carol and James and Kellie would like to wish everyone connected with Garforth Town a very Happy New Year when it arrives. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at the Bannister Prentice Stadium in early January.

Andy Hey
Chairman