The move has been prompted by several factors, including an increase in crowds over the last two seasons while the team has been vying for promotion to the Conference National and the need to bring the facilities up to the latest standards.

The largest part of the project comprises the replacement of the club’s offices and hospitality facilities, currently based in a series of ageing portable buildings that owing to their limited capacity restrict the opportunities to entertain sponsors and guests.

In tandem with the new buildings, the capacity of the area that surrounds the pitch and accommodates the vast majority of spectators is being increased, with covered terraces planned behind both goals (subject to planning permission).

It will necessitate moving the pitch, towards the Railway End of the ground and the two seated stands in order to provide more space behind each goal and down the clubhouse side. The current dugouts are also being replaced with the latest designs which are manufactured from clear Perspex, thereby enhancing spectators’ viewing experience.

Additional drainage is to be installed under the pitch in front of the main terrace, notorious in the past for flooding during excessive rainfall. The area also has a tendency to freeze bone-hard when temperatures drop as it receives limited sunlight, and it is hoped that moving the pitch sideways will alleviate the problem.

In a further move to reduce outgoings, drilling is underway to install a 20-metre-deep bore that will provide the club with its own water supply, reducing our reliance on the traditional provision for irrigating the pitch and supplying the club’s offices.

As a result of all this activity the Lions have scheduled just two pre-season friendlies at Nethermoor, both of them against League opposition. Play-off entrants Huddersfield Town – who could be a Championship side by the time they visit - provide the first test on Saturday 21st July (3.00 pm), with a revamped Bradford City following on Wednesday 1st August (7.45 pm).

Both Town and City are sending their first-team squads, which should provide an early opportunity for the Lions to assess their own progress prior to the new Conference North season.

The game will be against City’s first team, which is being revamped by Phil Parkinson in his first full season in charge at Valley Parade. Having let seven players from the squad he inherited from Peter Jackson leave or find other clubs, he will be looking to his new squad to improve on City’s dismal form, which saw them spend much of last season just above the League Two relegation spots before securing sixteenth place for the second successive season.

Northolme

Andy Brown’s 16th-minute goal was enough to ensure that Nuneaton join the non-league elite next season in the Conference after his strike proved to be the difference between Town and Gainsborough Trinity at the Northolme in this afternoon’s BSN Play-Off Final.

From a Guiseley perspective, the result ensures a return to the Lincolnshire-based club’s well-appointed ground next season.

Bottles and cans including soft drinks will be available with the BBQ and the clubhouse bar will be open for the real ale drinkers.

Anyone who joins the Supporters’ Club, or renews their membership, on the day will be entered into a prize draw. (Prizes TBC). 

Membership for the 2012/13 season costs:

Adults £10, Concessions £5 and Family £15 (2+2)

Discounted fees for those who join before the end of August are:

Adults £8, Concessions £4 and Family £12.

The Terriers, who are managed by former Leeds boss Simon Grayson, are currently participating in the League One Play-Offs and could be a Championship side by the time they visit Nethermoor.

Skipper Simon Ainge - called up to England C squad

England C Manager Paul Fairclough has named eight new Caps, including the Kidderminster Harriers trio of Anthony Malbon, Marvin Johnson and James Vincent, in his 18-man squad for what will be a very difficult International Challenge Trophy Group A fixture with Russia.  The match will be played in the Khimky Arena, the home of the legendary Moscow Dynamo FC, on Tuesday 5 June.

In addition, three players from Conference North are making their first appearance in the squad; Guiseley’s Simon Ainge, Stalybridge Celtic’s Stephen Brogan and Vauxhall Motors’  Josh Wilson receive call-ups after consistent performances over the season.  The other two new faces are Luton Town’s exciting striker Andre Gray and the Braintree Town keeper Nathan McDonald.

Read Fairclough’s latest update on TheFA.Com tomorrow

Squad:

With two teams facing the drop this season it came down to the last game for the ladies’ fate to be decided, with Sheffield United Blades having played all 22 fixtures and sitting two points clear of Guiseley nothing more than a win would save the team from dropping into the North East Regional Northern League which they were promoted from in the 2007/2008 season.

With previous fixtures against the Tykes resulting in a 2-0 cup defeat and 3-0 away defeat Guiseley were certainly going in as underdogs, however Barnsley were to see a different side to the team this time out.

With a full bench Guiseley started the game with passion and fire in their bellies, Laura Danskin played her first game at centre half and cemented a strong partnership with captain Katie Matthews to show a strong defensive backline alongside right back Caroline Cropp and left back Neely Murrell.  Both Cropp and Murrell have played out of position for most of the season and showed their true adaptable qualities by putting in a solid performance and showed sheer drive and determination to keep the tricky Barnsley forwards at bay.

The ladies used the width of the Nethermoor pitch to their advantage with balls finding in form winger Julie Richardson to cross in a pinpoint ball to meet Lindsey “skip” Hopton who made no mistake of smashing home for the opener. “Skip” has recently moved from midfield to forward adding to her goal tally and forging a dangerous partnership with top goal scorer Caroline Hulme.

Guiseley continued to press and defend as a team with great play from Alarna Fuller and Abi Garland in the centre of midfield, with balls being fed through to Richardson and Sarah Lawn on the left wing.  Lawn worked well with Neely Murrell to stop Barnsley playing their trademark balls down the wing with Murrell working well with Richardson also to switch balls into dangerous areas.

Guiseley doubled their lead after 30 minutes with a wonderfully worked goal by Caroline Hulme who made a darting solo run, coolly finished by slotting the ball past the advancing keeper.

The ladies entered the break 2-0 up with Barnsley causing little threat.

With passion flowing through the Guiseley veins and a motivating halftime rallying from manager Phil Riley the girls went out firing with more dominating passing play. Barnsley struggled to break through the Guiseley defence but did cause a threat with a few long range firing shots hitting the bar and angle to give Guiseley a warning shot, although goalkeeper Katie Jesson looked to have it covered with yet another solid performance. With Sarah Lawn now coming into her stride and using her pace she took the Barnsley defence on a blistering run and calmly slotted past the Barnsley keeper to put Guiseley 3-0 up and giving the team some breathing space.

However Barnsley did peg a goal back with a fearsome and unstoppable strike to make the score now 3-1. The goal made Guiseley take note of the importance of the game and battled on in true warrior fashion.

The team seemed to never run out of steam and were able to add fresh legs which had been a reoccurring issue, often playing with a squad of 11 with no options for substitutions.  Amy Parker made way for Caroline Hulme, followed by Polly Flides replacing Caroline Cropp going in at right back.  The final change came just after a trademark free kick from Abi Garland which was blocked by the Barnsley defence but was destined for the bottom corner.  The final change came with Carley Nicholson making way for Garland who along with Alarna Fuller formed a solid partnership, giving freedom to the wingers to press until the final minutes.

With the final whistle blown, the Guiseley players were jubilant and celebrated in style. With the final league table not showing the true story of the ladies season, with many games ending in unlucky and undeserved defeats the ladies will bounce back and go into the 2012/13 with confidence and determination to prove to all the teams that GTown are force to be reckoned with!

Player of the match went to Julie Richardson for the second game in a row but I’m sure most who watched the game will have said the winner was team spirit on the night.

The ladies now look forward to enjoying the end of season presentation evening and will be competing in various 5 a side tournament’s before preseason commences late July.

Please come down to Nethermoor this evening to support our ladies team in the last game of the season, the ladies are looking for 3 points to secure their place in the North East Regional Premier league next season!

KO 7.45… free admission and all welcome! Please come and show your support