by Peter Scherer
Hyde United are the visitors tomorrow night at the Don Amott Arena. Their game at Nantwich was postponed last Saturday, and they currently lie 17th in the table.
Four of their five points have come from away games, a 2-0 win at Stafford Rangers, and well earned points at both FC United and South Shields.
Manager David McGurk is a former Hyde player, who started off as a Sunderland Academy player, before making 63 League appearances for Darlington. After playing in the Hyde team he took charge from May last year, having previously played for York City and Harrogate before joining Hyde as a player/assistant manager in 2016.
First choice goalkeeper Joe Green started in the Sheffield United youth setup, before going to play for a college in New York. On his return to the UK he had trials at Barnsley and Chesterfield and eventually signed for Newport County. Moving on to Guiseley, where he spent a couple of seasons playing in the Conference, and also went on loan to Gainsborough Trinity.
Craig Ellison is the reserve keeper, he was at Runcorn Linnets last season and will add competition for the number 1 spot with Joe Green.
Riccardo Longato is also a goalkeeper, coming in last season, after signing on from the Academy.
A new signing from Congleton Town, defender Tom Morris started as a Port Vale Youth player and had spells at Stafford Rangers and Kidsgrove Athletic.
Defender Andy Hollins came from Colne FC. After playing for Southport he went on loan to Colne in May 2016 and joined them permanently in the July.
Bradley Roscoe returned to Hyde last season from Buxton. He was a Preston North End graduate before moving to Fleetwood Town in 2015. After a loan at AFC Fylde he returned to Fleetwood Town, but has also played fort Ramsbottom United and Glossop North End before.
Kyle Brownhill has had several spells at Hyde. His fitness is up there with the best and was part of the formidable defence who only conceded 35 goals and were unbeaten at home all during the 2017/18 season. He seems to improve with every season.
Matthew Thompson was signed from Chester FC after playing inn pre-season friendlies. A strong reliable defender, comfortable on the ball and experienced.
Now in his third season at Hyde, Jordan Fagbola came in 18/19 from FC United where he spent a season and half. A regular in the centre of defence, he hardly missed a game in the previous two seasons, making 89 appearances. He started his career as a Rochdale youngster and has had spells at Stockport, Colwyn and Solihull Moors
Assistant manager John McCombe joined the Tigers from Boston Untied in 2018/19.He graduated through the Huddersfield Town Academy, making his first team debut in 2003.After a year at Hereford he spent five years with Port Vale and had spells at Mansfield Town, York City, Macclesfield, Chester and Harrogate Town. He became assistant to Dave McGurk in the 2019/20 season and continues that role again this season, and will no doubt make a few appearances this season.
Adejuwon Hamzah is a young centre back / left back who impressed in pre-season matches. He was at Cheadle Town last season, winning their young player of the season award..
Another pre-season signing Chinedu Uche started as an Oldham Athletic U18 player before stepping up to the first team. The young midfielder then moved on to Glossop North End during the 2019/20 season.
Midfiedler Kingsley James came from Gainsborough at the beginning of last season,
It’s Jack Dyche’s’s second season with Hyde. A left-sided player or striker, he joined Scunthorpe Academy in 2014-15 season after leaving Leeds United. He turned pro at Scunthorpe, but was released in 2018 after numerous loan spells. He’s also played for Ashton United, Bradford Park Avenue, Boston United and more recently Guiseley.
Ashley Young has rejoined Hyde this season from FC United.. He was previously at Buxton having played for Hyde back in the 2010/11 season. He’s played for Ashton and Mossley and with Welsh League sides Bangor City, Rhyl and Aberystwyth.
In his second year at the club Jack Sherratt can play anywhere along the front line and even fill in at left back. He has joined from Stafford Rangers, but been at Leyton Orient, Kidgrove Athletic, Stalybridge Celtic and Northwich Victoria.
Liam Tongue is the clubs resident DJ as well as a strong midfielder. He started at Stockport Georgians, before joining Cheadle Town, winning Players Player of the year in 2016. He had spells with Mossley, Marine and Stalybridge Celtic.
A new signing for this season Theo Bailey-Jones was at Stafford Rangers for the previous two seasons. A tricky winger, he missed most of last season after rupturing his ACL in a 4-0 defeat at Ewen Fields at the end of August against Hyde.
Darius Palma is a new signing. The midfielder was at Altrincham for two years, joining Trafford in January 2018, scoring 13 goals in 37 games. He initially signed for Curzon in August this year, but has now made the switch to Hyde.
Joel Logan made only a few appearances last season, having become injured early on. He hopes to be back to his potential this year. The midfielder had come from the Rochdale youth system and joined the first as youth team player. He has had loan spells at Stalybridge, Southport, Wrexham, Guiseley, Halifax Town, and joined Hyde from FC United
After making a promising start to the 2019/20 season, Harry Benns picked up an injury in December that kept him out for the rest of the season. He can play anywhere behind the strikers and is an intelligent player goal provider. He started his playing career at Port Vale and had a loan spell with Stafford Ranges.
Janni Lipka is back at Hyde for a second spell, having taken a year out last season to travel. He was a regular in the team after signing towards the end of the 2016/17 season. During his time with the Tigers the midfield powerhouse picked up a number of awards at the annual awards night and also featured in the leagues team of the year a couple of seasons back.
Tom Pratt was signed from Trafford at the start of the 2017/18 season and this will be his fourth season at Hyde. Able to play anywhere across the front line, he knows where the net is, finishing the 2017/18 season as top scorer, running Chib Chilaka close for top scorer in the 2018/19 season and before last season was ruled null and void, was he was the leading scorer.
Fellow striker Paddy Lane is a product of the Hyde United Academy and this will be his third season as a Tiger. He is still improving his game and has a bright future, having already been watched by a number of football clubs.
Louis Myers signed from FC United who he joined at the backend of the 2018/19 season from Radcliffe. He had set backs last season with injuries but has been impressing in training, showing his ability.