Frantic activity behind scenes at the KGV as new contracts handed to trio

2021/22, 2022/23, Season Roundup

With last season barely over, Guisborough Manager Steve Bell has wasted no time planning ahead for the new season and shared his plans for the new campaign at a special barbecue and Q&A session for supporters at the KGV on Saturday.

Steve has already secured the services of team captain JJ Bartliff and defensive lynchpin Nick Hood with new contracts for the coming season and the first new signing of the close season was made this week when defender Liam O’Sullivan re-joined the Priorymen from neighbours Marske United. O’Sullivan, who was a big favourite with the KGV faithful before he moved to Marske several seasons ago, has also been given a one-year contract.

Liam’s signing will undoubtedly improve the team and the re-signing of JJ on a contract is massive for us.
We are still working hard on getting a few more new players and the next week or two in terms of players coming into the club will determine what I expect for the new season. The plan is definitely to be challenging at the top end of the table this season. At the moment we will be starting with pretty much the same squad that we finished last season with.
We are definitely more settled as a team now compared to the chaos that we inherited last year and we’re all really looking forward to getting back into action.
Steve Bell

Liam O’Sullivan – new signing from Marske

New contract for club skipper JJ Bartliff

Men’s First Team Awards

Meanwhile, Guisborough Town have announced their end-of-season Men’s First Team awards, with club captain Joe (‘JJ’) Bartliff winning two out of the three accolades for the season. Although only 20 years old, JJ’s dynamism and maturity on the field belies his relatively young age and a superb season has earned him the ‘Manager’s Player of the Year’ Award and one of the three joint ‘Players’ Player of the Year Awards.

He shared the Players’ award alongside tricky winger Ben Jackson and consistently excellent central defender Nick Hood.

The ‘Supporters Player of the Year’ Award went to goalkeeper Robert Dean, who has had a fantastic season in which he has been consistently good throughout.

Guisborough goalkeeper Robert Dean (centre) – winner of The Supporters’ Player of the Year award.

JJ Bartliff (second left) and Ben Jackson (second from right) who were voted joint Players’ Player of the Year winners along with Nick Hood

JJ Bartliff (right) with the Managers’ Player of the Year Award.

Awards night pictures kind courtesy of Michael Durdan Photography

Overall, it was a mixed 2021/22 season for the Priorymen, with serious injuries to several key players undoubtedly hampering Guisborough Town’s efforts to finish in the top half of the season plus an exodus of players even before new manager Steve Bell took over.

As it was Guisborough finished a creditable 13th under the circumstances, and the team management partnership of Steve and his Assistant Paul Crager is clearly now looking to improve significantly on that next season with team strengthening a major priority.

2022/23 Preparation

Meanwhile, Guisborough Town have already announced their pre-season fixtures programme with some exciting fixtures.

Season tickets are now on sale, check out our Early Bird pricing below.

Sprucing up the KGV

Meanwhile, groups of keen club volunteers have been coming down to the KGV in recent days to help with ground and stadium improvements such as painting and general tidying up in preparation to get the club facilities spick and span for the new season, as the pictures below illustrate.