MATCHDAY
PROGRAMME
AVRO vs GUISELEY AFC
SATURDAY, 10TH OCTOBER, KICK OFF 3.00PM
Northern Premier League
AVRO
Football Club
In accordance with FA Rule 2.15, Avro FC, officially registered as Avro FC First Team Limited (Company Number: 14931069), is structured as a Private Limited Company by Shares. The current directors of Avro FC First Team Limited are Charlie O’Brien, Robert Fuller, Kelly Fuller, Mark Hutton and Liam Bambridge. The majority shareholder of Avro FC is Avro Community Football Club Limited (100%)
HONOURS
- Manchester Football League Champions: 2009/10, 2017/18
- Manchester FA County Challenge Cup Winners: 1940, 1941,
1956, 1988, 1994, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018 (Record 10 times) - NWCFL Divison 1 North Runner-Up: 2018/19
- NWCFL Division 1 Cup Runners-Up: 2018/19
- NWCFL Premier Division Runners-Up: 2022/23
- Northern Premier League West : Runners-up 2025-26
- Northern Premier League West Play-Off : Winners 2025-26
INTRODUCTION
Hopefully everyone has got their breath back and heart rate down after Wednesday night’s game v Lancaster City. At times it felt like a basketball match, end to end and you score and we’ll score! It was great to see Frosty and Deano back in the Avro dugout, and I know we were all delighted they got their short spell as caretaker management off to a winning start. Lancaster are an experienced team at this level, and have won away at Bury FC this season, so it was no mean feat to put 5 goals past them. I was buzzing to see Jacob get the league goal he has so deserved, and he now has 3 in 2 games after his brace at Dunston in the FA Trophy. Hopefully with that monkey off his back now , he will get a bit more luck in front of goal. It was a great crowd for a midweek game, and hopefully many of you have come back today having liked what you saw. Tell your family, tell your mates, we’d love to see you at the Vestacare Stadium on a regular basis.
Enjoy the game,
Mark – 1st Team Match Secretary
MATCH
PREVIEW
We welcome Guiseley AFC, committee, players and fans for their first ever league visit to the Vestacare Stadium. We hope you’ve had a good journey over and enjoy your afternoon with us. It speaks volumes of the progress of our club that when we won promotion from the Manchester League in 2018, Guiseley were plying their trade at Step 1 in the National League. We meet today as equals on the pitch. Guiseley sit in 4th place with a very respectable 22 points from 11 games. They’ve suffered only 3 defeats so far this season, at home to Warrington Town and Lancaster City, and away at Alfreton. Guiseley have had a very memorable home win v Bury and are still in the FA Cup having triumphed over Bradford PA in the 3rd Qualifying Round, and Leiston await them in the next round. They will be looking to further cement their position as promotion hopefuls with a win today on the road.
LAST TIME OUT
A TOUCH OF FROST
It’s a real honour to be asked to take temporary charge of a club that means a huge amount to me.
Avro has been a massive part of my football life and whenever the club asks me to help, it’s very difficult to say no. Myself and the rest of the interim team are under no illusions about our job over the next few games — we’re not here to change anything!
What Shents and Dicko have built with this young group has been incredibly impressive and there’s a clear identity, togetherness and hunger to keep improving.
Our job is simply to look after that until the club appoints the right person to take it forward. Keep the lads happy, organised and sharp, maintain the standards that have got them into the position they’re in and make sure there’s as little disruption as possible. It’ll be great to be back in the dugout, and hopefully we can pick up some points along the way before handing over a happy, confident group to the next manager.
Up the Ro’!
WHO ARE YA?
HISTORY OF GUISELEY AFC
Guiseley AFC were founded in 1909, earning their first honour with the Wharfedale League title in 1913. After moving through the Leeds and West Riding leagues, the club enjoyed major success in the 1930s, winning three league titles and twice reaching the FA Amateur Cup last 16. Further league success arrived in 1939, followed by a dominant spell in the 1960s, lifting the Wharfedale Challenge Cup nine times in ten seasons.
The club progressed into the Yorkshire League in 1968, winning the Second Division title in 1976, and added a hat‑trick of West Riding County Cups (1979–81). A first FA Vase quarter‑final came in 1981. After joining the newly formed Northern Counties East League in 1982, Guiseley continued to build, and the installation of floodlights in 1988 helped spark a golden era.
The 1989/90 season brought a first FA Vase semi‑final, and the following year Guiseley reached Wembley, drawing 4–4 with Gresley Rovers before winning the replay at Bramall Lane. A league and cup double followed, along with promotion to the Northern Premier League. The club reached the FA Cup First Round for the first time in 1991 and returned to Wembley for another FA Vase final in 1992.
Under Ray McHale, Guiseley won the NPL First Division title in 1993/94, reached the FA Trophy semi‑final, and lifted the President’s Cup. A record 93‑point Premier Division season and another FA Cup First Round appearance highlighted the mid‑1990s.
The early 2000s brought a memorable FA Cup run in 2002/03, and further silverware arrived in 2004–05 and 2006. Promotion was finally achieved in the club’s Centenary season, launching Guiseley into the Conference North, where they reached the FA Cup First Round, the FA Trophy quarter‑finals, and the play‑off final.
After several near misses, promotion to the National League was secured in 2014–15, with a dramatic 3–2 comeback win over Chorley. Guiseley survived their first season at Step 1 on the final day. A televised FA Cup Second Round tie with Fleetwood Town in 2018/19 was another highlight.
The Covid‑19 pandemic disrupted the 2019–21 seasons, though the Academy shone with notable FA Youth Cup victories. Relegation back to the Northern Premier League followed in 2021–22.
Recent years have seen further managerial changes, including the return of Mark Bower, who guided Guiseley to the FA Cup First Round in 2024/25, knocking out Scunthorpe and Kidderminster before a narrow penalty defeat at Stevenage. A play‑off final loss to Worksop Town ended that campaign.
In 2025–26, a new management team arrived from Stocksbridge Park Steels. Off the pitch, Guiseley completed major ground improvements, including a new covered terrace (2025), new catering facilities (2026), LED floodlights, and enhanced security fencing ahead of the 2026/27 season.
GUISELEY AFC
SQUAD
Jack Hall GK
Michael Roxburgh GK
Lebrun Mbeka (C)
Ollie Brown
Lucas Odunston
Elliot Owen
Kyle White
Jack Tinker
Paul Iggulden
Jack Emmett
Derren Boyle
Adam Lund
Charlie Staniland
Harrison Hopper
Aaron Martin
Jordan Thewlis
Will Longbottom
Cam Wilson
Frankie Sinfield
Jay Rollins
Amir Berchil
Kallan Murphy
HEAD 2 HEAD
It’s the first league encounter today, but it’s not the first competitive meeting between our clubs however. Back in September 2022 we were drawn away at Guiseley in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round. We have 3 survivors from that game who will be involved today ; skipper Jack Morrow, Jake Cottrell and Adam Owen. We gave Guiseley a scare on the day, going in front courtesy of a Liam Ellis strike, but Guiseley forced their way back in the game and ultimately went through 2-1. In quirk of fate our manager that afternoon over in Yorkshire was Alex Frost, who as interim manager will be back in the dugout today!
MATCH OFFICIALS:
REFEREE :
GAVIN SCOTT
ASSISTANTS :
ROBERT HALL
JAMES DAY
