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Back: Lee Monaghan, Kelvin Tapley, Mark Duce, AJ Jackson, Andy M Jackson, Richard Harper, Sean Taylor, John Steenson, Martin Woods. Front: Nobby Rhodes, Mark Hepworth, Phil Ridsdale, Craig Carter, Dave Ridsdale, Simon Parker, Andy Bowler, Lee Woods.

  By common consent the club's greatest season thus far, 1997-98 saw Horsforth open in sensational form, unbeaten in the opening 15 matches; added to the run at the end of the previous campaign, this meant a record-breaking run of 22 games without defeat. The colours were amended slightly at the start of the season, to green and black halved shirts. Richard Harper replaced the retired Dave Postle in the nets, and Andy Rhodes ("Nobby") reinforced the defence, in which John Steenson, Sean Taylor, Kelvin Tapley and Craig Carter were again regulars. In the midfield, Phil Ridsdale, Lee Monaghan and Mark Duce were the core players, while Andy Bowler played deeper than the previous season and Dave Ridsdale appeared in defence and midfield. Up front, Simon Parker, another new signing, vied for selection with Mark Hepworth and AJ Jackson. Andrew M Jackson ("Jacko") disappeared after a couple of games, while Lee Woods made an early challenge for a place but faded away due to injury.

  The club's sensational run of results left us in contention in four trophies at the turn of the year. Regrettably, the District Cup and the County Trophy, a new competition, fell from our grasp (away to East Leeds Brown Cow and at home to eventual winners Illingworth respectively) in the early months of 1998, and the challenge for the Division Two title was to founder, due in no small part to fixture congestion, but mainly the result of defeats in key midweek games against rivals Acorn and Farsley Fleece.

  However, the run in the Luty Cup, the Combination League's domestic league cup for clubs in the middle ranking divisions, continued apace. Favoured with home draws in the early rounds, we had beaten Sphinx OB 2-1, Belle Isle WMC 10-1 and Coach & Horses 4-2 in the Quarter-Final. Regaining the form of the season's early months just when we most needed it, the team wrote their name in the annals with a fairly easy 2-0 win against Drighlington Victoria in the Semi-Final at Allerton Bywater, and, best of all, a fabulous Final victory against Cross Green Dodgers, 3-1 at Bracken Edge. The team on this auspicious day deserve namechecks: Richard Harper in goal; Andy Bowler and Craig Carter at "wing-backs"; John Steenson, Sean Taylor and Kelvin Tapley defenders; Mark Duce, Phil Ridsdale and Lee Monaghan in midfield; and Simon Parker and AJ Jackson up front. Subs were Dave Ridsdale, Nobby Rhodes and (of course) Andy Constable. AJ, Sean (pictured below) and Lee scored the goals. And the efforts of Heppy, Lee Woods and Chris Dimbylow in earlier rounds should be acknowledged.

The Luty Cup Final: Sean's fairly impressive winning goal.

Riggsy Receiving Luty Cup from Peter Jackson (League Secretary) and Alan Cook (President), followed by Richard, Andy C, Craig, Simon, Andy B, John.

  Though we were unequal to the task of overturning the Fleece, who looked like champions all the way, the league form was good enough for a more than creditable third place, and this ensured promotion to Division One. Within four days of the Luty Final, we had beaten the Acorn and the Fleece in midweek games with much pride (but little else) at stake. At the back end of the season, there were several new faces on show. John Newsome joined from Iveson, Simon Coen added depth to the midfield, and Richard Kelly and Bernie Gilmore returned from lengthy exile. High point of the season? Well, the 4-2 win against the Acorn, for several reasons, would in any other year have taken pole position, but all those who were at Bracken Edge will agree there could only be one contender.

Back: Kelvin Tapley, John Steenson, Sean Taylor, Nobby Rhodes, AJ Jackson, Martin Woods, Dave Ridsdale, Simon Parker, Lee Monaghan, Mark Hepworth. Front: Richard Harper, Steve Burns, Andy Constable, Mark Duce, Phil Ridsdale, Craig Carter, Andy Bowler, Damion, Jamie and Arran.

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Awards.

Goal of the Season - Lee Monaghan (v. Cross Green Dodgers).

Most Improved Player - AJ Jackson.

Joint Top Goal Scorers - AJ Jackson and Simon Parker (25 each).

Club Colours.

First choice - Green and black halved shirts, black shorts, black socks.
(green socks in certain away matches).

Change - not worn. Registered as All white.

White shirts, black shorts and socks worn in away match with Farsley Liberals.

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