Ex-top flight player named as manager of newly formed non league club

Ex-top flight player Curtis Woodhouse has been named as the manager of a newly formed non league club in Great Driffield Town.

Although it’s as yet unclear which league Great Driffield Town’s first team will play in at the start of next season, the short-term aim is to win the Humber Premier League, and then hope to be competing with the likes of North Ferriby, Bridlington Town and Hall Road Rangers.

The club hope that they can provide a pathway for its junior players to eventually reach the stage of playing in the first team – something that has worked for Driffield’s rugby, cricket and hockey clubs.

Paul Burkinshaw, Driffield Junior Football Club secretary and one of the main figures who has made Great Driffield Town AFC become a reality, spoke with the Wolds Weekly about what the future holds including improvement of facilities at Allotment Lane.

It’s great to be back!! I’m looking forward to an exciting journey with the newly formed Great Driffield Town AFC. For way too long the town has been crying out for this, this has been talked about for years but finally it’s a reality. One town, one team @WoldsWeekly ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/yiWhXf0hmx

— Curtis Woodhouse BEM (@curtiswoodhous8) April 5, 2022

“The proposal for Great Driffield Town AFC came on the back of the demise of the senior men’s team at Driffield JFC,” he said.

“There was a general feeling that all clubs in the area were offering the same and fighting for the same players and, as a result, we had a team struggling in the Humber Premier League (Driffield JFC), and two teams in Humber Premier League One (Driffield Evening Institute AFC and Hutton Cranswick SRA).

“None of the teams looked like making any progress and it was likely that would continue.

“However, collectively brought together, there is footballing talent in Driffield that can compete at a higher level. We looked at the rugby, hockey and cricket clubs in Driffield, where there is one central club and the potential of their players is harnessed for the better.

“Similar views were expressed by people such as Dave Lawson at Driffield EI and at Hutton Cranswick and things moved forward from there.

“The decision also came on the back of the facilities that are planned at Allotment Lane.

“There are advanced plans for a new clubhouse and changing rooms and significant improvements to the playing surface and the area around the pitch including barriers, dugouts and hard standing”.

Paul adds: “Driffield JFC is a well-established club with facilities at Allotment Lane, governance arrangements as a formally registered charity and a successful junior set-up as well as women’s and girls’ teams but we all see Great Driffield Town as the creation of a new club,” said Paul. “Driffield EI and Hutton Cranswick SRA are recognised by the appointment of Dave Lawson and Scott Barron as trustees, clubs and individuals who deserves lots of respect, to work alongside Jim Laird who has been the driving force behind Driffield JFC for many years.

“The new club will help to provide a bridge between junior and senior football. Currently, all the existing clubs are offering something similar and junior players simply go their different ways.

“Great Driffield Town will offer something different and will go beyond what the town has ever had before – a first class set-up with good facilities, a good pitch, good organisation – and something to aspire to.

“We’re looking at three teams in 2022/23 and it’s important that the first team is competitive in whichever league they play in as it’s pointless having all the good facilities if the team isn’t performing. It all goes hand in hand.

“Now the name and trustees are confirmed, the club will look to establish the men’s teams and appoint management teams for each in the very near future in order that they can begin to plan for the new season.

“Next season, starting in Humber Premier League One would be OK. If that’s where we are, I think the club would be expecting to win it and progress from there.

“We want to provide aspiration for talented local footballers of which there are many to come through from the under 16s and under 18s into a good standard of adult football.

“But the community aspect of the club is also important. We want Driffield to have pride in their football club and provide somewhere that supporters can go, watch a decent game, have a beer and meet people.

“What we are doing has been talked about for many years as being needed but there is a shared belief between everyone involved that now is the right time to do this and that is what we are doing.

“The most important aspect is that this is about building a proper football club, not just a team. Managers and players will come and go, but the club will remain and we’re going to build it.”

Curtis Woodhouse, who is Driffield born and bred, has been brought in to take the reigns, is excited to be part of the club’s plans.

He said: “I’m delighted to be the first manager of Great Driffield Town.

“The project really excites me. I remember going to watch Drffield North End when I was five years old.

“My Dad was the manager of the team and people were talking about the merger then and discussing what it would be like if Driffield could put one tea, together.

“All it has ever been for years and years is talk.

“To actually be a part of it happening is exciting.

“When you think of all the talent that has come off Drffield and has had to move elsewhere to get a level of football, it’s sad.

“So to be part of the revival is great. It’s been needed for years and hasn’t happened for various reasons.”

Paul Burkinshaw added: “We spoke to Curtis about the manager’s job during the week before the appointment of the club was made and had chats with Andy and Jonny about working alongside him.

“It’s a big deal for us to appoint someone of Curtis’ calibre – a former professional footballer and a non league manager who sets out to succeed in everything he does.

“He wants to achieve in everything he does and has the highest of standards and that fits in with our plan too.

“Curtis approached us to discuss the role and was really interested and excited about the new club and keen to help it become a success.

“We were equally pleased and it seemed a natural move to appoint Andy and Jonny to work alongside him, who both have been part of the existing clubs and will bring some continuity and their own experience.”

Twitter users reacted as the ex-top flight player Curtis Woodhouse is named as manager of the newly formed non league club…

@ScottCrabby: Great stuff mate – all the best with that. Too big a place not to have a decent side operating in it. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

@timwinn1: Great news. If Driffield Old Boys and Driff EI had combined years ago things may have been different. Good luck Curtis. Put the town on the map 👍👏

@GraemeRucroft: Congratulations @curtiswoodhous8 must be extra special with the family connection and local team!

@PabloTheMackem: Congratulations mate. Go smash it!! 👍🏻

@StevenDodds20: Good luck Curtis 😊👍

@aitch_matty: Good luck dude, great role model for the young players

@andydblade: Good luck champ that will only go one way ⬆️

@doddrussell69: All the best with the new venture, sure you’ll smash it.

@ClaytonLaird: Yes man! Congrats on the appointment. Always wanted Driffield to have a team that could work through the pyramid! ⚽️

@runcornbear: All the best with the new venture always seem to do well where you’ve been surprised you didn’t get higher up the pyramid

@Stepoversam: I still can’t believe you’re not managing higher, particularly with your record, and your views on how to play, that would come across in an interview. Good luck on this role.