Pontefract Collieries U17s 2025/26

Happy father's day to all our Colls papas. Young and old just remember that feeling you get or used to get when you know there was a little set of eyes watching you like you was a superhero. Never let that feeling go and keep.makomg your boys and girls proud. To those who sadly can not be with us to celebrate the greatness of dads, tonight we drink a toast to you 🍻

A huge happy birthday to our number 1, the ever unfazed, our Rock Brody Dunning

Pontefract Collieries U17s welcomed Wigton Moor Juniors down to the Hunters Stadium for their final game of the 25/26 season. True to form the sun was shining and bathed the home of the Pontefract Collieries in a warm glow, making the perfect setting for Sunday morning grassroots football.

The fixture promised to be an entertaining one, with several previous meetings of the two teams being decided by just one goal either way. It was the Wigton Moor crowd that would be the happier recipients of that entertainment, as they watched their side race onto a 2 nil lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

Both goals could have been prevented by paying a little more attention and being more reactive in the back line from the Colls, with the first goal bouncing between centre back and goal keeper and neither advancing on it, allowing Wigtons striker to nip between the two and collect the ball and finish past the defenceless Brody Dunning in goal.

The second again another long and hopeful bouncing ball, being merely observed by defender and keeper both assuming it would go dead, instead the ball was picked up right on the dead ball line and pulled back inside before being driven into the far side netting, inside the post, making it 2 nil and a tough match even tougher.

The Colls finally awakened and began to string some creative passing about with Lewis Cartledge dropping into the pocket to relive the pressure on the Colls defence as Wigton looked to press. Martins Ligeris found plenty of purchase in overlapping Cartledge and progressing the ball down the right wing into the wide areas where Wigton failed to cover allowing Pontefract to reproduce attack after attack.

Just after the half hour mark another attack from the right hand side saw a ball played into the box for Louie Burnley-Smith who reacted faster than the defence and pick up the pass, unfortunately the touch was slightly too heavy to present a good chance of scoring, forcing Burnley-Smith to cleverly bring the ball back into the box, round the advancing keeper and square it into the centre where James Amery, now in his familiar number 10 position, meet the ball and side foot into an empty net. A tidy finish for a very well worked goal.

Wigton looked to restore their two goal lead when they were awarded a penalty not long after the Colls opener. Dunning stood tall and eyeballed the striker who must have felt the nerves as he absolutely blazed the ball over the crossbar and over the perimeter wall.

The tide had clearly turned after this missed opportunity as the pressure now came from both wings with Lewis Hogg at left back pushing on allowing Harry Price to cut inward and goal bound. Price worked tirelessly as always but just couldn't get the ball to drop for him and was forced to sn**ch at chances. The Colls went close several times but the half time whistle sounded with the scores 1-2 thanks to the valiant efforts of Jack Spurr and Harrison Fletcher, with a real captain's performance throughout the game, they had finally set out their stall and decided nothing more would pass them and bother Dunning.

Many times this season the Colls have decided that the second half would be their half and today just seemed to be another one of those days as they sprung into action straight from the kick off, advancing menacingly through Wigtons midfield like it were a training session.

Fantastic link up play through midfield saw the ball advance to Albie Mathews on the right wing, Mathews put a ball across the box that nobody advanced on, Price picked up the ball just on the far edge of the box and played a cutback pass to the edge of the D where Olly Ames unleashed an absolute rocket of a shot that was only heading into the top bins and absolutely nobody was stopping it, earning a well deserved round of applause that echoed through the stands.

With the majority of traffick now heading towards the Wigton goal mouth and Leo Stoner orchestrating the play from midfield as he glided past defenders with body feints and delayed touches, the chances were starting to become plentyfull. Midfielders trying to dispose Stoner of the ball we're left time and time again looking bemused and dumbfounded.

Colls keeper Dunning had to be alert when a couple of attacks against the run of play, allowed Wigton to unleash unchallenged attempts at goal from with the box andbforced a pair of miraculous saves, keeping the scores level.

It would be Dunning however who assisted the third goal for the Colls as he confidently claimed a high ball into his box and quickly put boot to ball clearing a good 70 yard, the ball bounced high and over the back line, catching out both defender and keeper with it's height. One person it didn't catch out was our resident fox in the box, Louie Burnley-Smith as he darted round the defenders and picked the ball up before the keeper had a chance to react. Rounding the keeper again this time Burley-Smith had a much more favourable angle to slot the ball home and put the Colls ahead for the first time in the game.

With the Colls clearly in ascendency, Wigton still tried to win the battle in midfield but to no avail as the free flowing football of Pontefract was in full motion. One such battle for midfield dominance saw a free kick awarded just inside the Colls half. Jack Spurr took the duties of putting the ball into the mixer as he drove a high, long ball into the Wigton box.

Again Wigton were second to react as Albie Mathews cut in from the right hand side and met the ball after one bounce and headed toward goal, a tremendous point blank save from the Wigton keeper would be in vain as in as many seconds Mathews was again the quickest to react and nod the rebounded effort into the empty net and bringing up 4 for the Colls.

Credit to Wigton as they never stopped coming forward and managed to sneak a 3rd right at the death but all in attendance knew there was only one winner today and that belonged to the Colls as they saw out the final minutes in total composure.

The signature comeback that we have seen so often these past two seasons was complete and the Colls signed off the season once again with an emphatic home win, losing only two of their home games played down at the Hunters Stadium this season.

We thank (as always) our wonderful spectators and parents who have not let us down all season long, home and away. It truly is a sight to be proud of seeing our support out number the other teams at almost every away game this season and shows the level of commitment our boys have behind them.

I would person like to thank my assistant coach who has been my biggest supporter this year and has stepped into the role 100% and commited to the core.

We thank Tom, Tina, Dave, Ashley and many more from the Colls who have helped us untold amounts this season to ensure we bring to you the best football we can in a truly stunning stadium.

And how can we mention the stadium without thanking Phil our resident groundskeeper who dedicates so much of his time to maintain and ensure our teams help to keep our new home looking as stunning as ever.

The future may look uncertain for our age group although we do have a few possibilities to explore, but the future of Pontefract Collieries looks as bright as ever with grassroots football thriving at the number one club in the district.

Well this is it.

With a strange exit to the cup at the semi final stage a fortnight ago in what could only be described as the worst conditions I've ever witnessed any football match try to take place, we find ourselves with only 1 game left of the 25/26 season.

This Sunday we host Wigton Moor in what's promises to be a cracker of a match with both teams edging each other out over the past few seasons.

We welcome one and all to come down to the Hunters Stadium and cheer on our boys or even if your just passing by, pop in and watch us for 15 minutes, you might even stay the full 90 😉.

Our girl capturing some of the best in the women's game 💪

Help raise £500 to The Big One (23 mile Sponsored walk) for Pontefract Collieries U17s – JustGiving Crowdfunding Iʼm raising money to The Big One (23 mile Sponsored walk) for Pontefract Collieries U17s . Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.