The Lions kick off their pre-season campaign on Tuesday night when League Two Harrogate Town make the trip to Nethermoor for a 7:30pm kick-off, writes Scott Kelly.
Tickets will be available to purchase from our turnstiles on Tuesday night priced at:
- Adults: £10
- Concessions (Over 66s/Students/Registered Disabled): £5
- 11-18 Year-Olds: £5
- Accompanied Under-11s: £1
2025/26 GAFC Season Ticket Holders can claim half price entry by showing the ticket at the turnstiles or by collecting your ticket from turnstiles 3 & 4. Payment can be made via cash at all our turnstiles and card at turnstiles 1 & 2.
A pre-season matchday programme will also be available to purchase from our sellers near each turnstile, it’s priced at £3 each with a full breakdown of what’s inside here.
The Visitors
Stadium: The Exercise Stadium
Manager: Simon Weaver
24/25 League finish: 18th of 24 in League 2
The Sulphurites make the 33-mile round trip to Guiseley having been one of the busiest clubs in the EFL this summer with new additions to hopefully help Simon Weaver’s side improve on last season’s 18th place finish.
Incomings
Jack Evans (from FC Halifax Town), Lewis Cass (from Grimsby Town), Reece Smith (from Maidenhead United), Shawn McCoulsky (from Maidenhead United), Mason Bennett (from Burton Albion), Tom Bradbury (from Cheltenham Town) and Bobby Faulkner (season long loan from Doncaster Rovers).
Club Captain Warren Burrell, Anthony O’Connor, Levi Sutton and goalkeeper Mark Oxley all signed new deals with the club over the summer.
Outgoings
Jack Bray (to West Bromwich Albion), Josh March (to Crewe Alexandra) and Dean Cornelius (to Ross County).
Matty Daly, Matty Foulds, James Daly, Stephen Dooley & Toby Sims (all released)
They open their League Two campaign with a tough trip to recently relegated Bristol Rovers on 2nd August.
Grimsby Town are the first side to visit the Exercise Stadium the following weekend on 9th August.
League One Lincoln City then visit in the 1st Round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday 12th August.
Previous Meetings
The sides last met in a 2020 West Riding County Cup clash, with Gabriel Johnson and Jamie Spencer on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory for the Lions.
They did also meet in a pre-season friendly before the 2019-20 season. The visitors were the victors on that day, with Mark Beck scoring late on in a 1-0 victory. This is the only time the Sulphurites have beaten the Lions in the last 12 meetings.
New Years Day 2015 was when the sides last met competitively in a league match. The Lions won 4-2 in a National League North clash, with current Lion Jake Lawlor and assistant Danny Boshell’s brother Nicky both on the scoresheet.
The sides have met 11 times since 2011, with Guiseley winning nine, Harrogate winning just once and the sides playing out a draw on two occasions.
The youth sides of both clubs also met as recently as last season, with the League Two side’s academy coming out on top.
Played for both
JAKE LAWLOR
Current Guiseley stalwart Jake Lawlor scored two goals in 38 appearances for the club last season. Now 34, he had a spell at the Sulphurites during 2020-21, making 17 appearances for the club.
Moves to Hartlepool United and Darlington followed before joining the Lions last summer.
JACK EMMETT
Another current Lion, Emmett signed a new contract with the club to remain for the 25/26 season after initially signing last summer after a successful trial.
He played for Harrogate almost 200 times in an eight-year spell, but chronic fatigue syndrome meant he unfortunately had to step back from the club in 2021. Emmett was an unused substitute when the Sulphurites gained promotion in the National League promotion final against Notts County in August 2020.
JOE CRACKNELL
Like Emmett, Cracknell was also an unused sub in that 2020 promotion final. He was second string for much of his time at the club and just 10 appearances in four years meant the Lions number one left for Scarborough Athletic in 2022.
He was there number one for two years there before moving to the Lions last summer. He started his career at Hull City, but did not make a single first team appearance for the club.
JORDAN THEWLIS
Centre-forward Thewlis has also signed on for next season despite an injury-plagued first season with the Lions.
The 32-year-old played for Harrogate from 2014 to 2019, making over 100 appearances before he left the club to join Boston United. A short spell at Guiseley followed in 2021 before returning to the club last summer after spells at Spennymoor Town and Alfreton.
BEN PARKER
Full back Parker played nearly 40 games in seven years for Leeds United between 2005 & 2012 before a move to the Lions in 2013 after some loan spells.
67 appearances and three years later, Parker made the move to Harrogate Town where he played for two years, making 61 appearances before ending his career in 2018.
2025/26 Pre-season friendlies
With our pre-season schedule now complete, with a clash with Fleetwood Town’s U23 side recently added, come along and support the Lions ahead of their season opener.
Tickets for Tuesday night’s clash are available here.
