A number of past players and staff gathered at the last home game of the season against Liversedge to pay tribute to our former Reserve team manager Brett Ferriday, writes Rachel O’Connor.
A legendary character in his time at Nethermoor Brett was a man full of charisma and charm and will not easily be forgotten. I served as his team secretary for many years and my daughter Kate was team physio. The football was serious but off the pitch we had some of the best times and most fun of our lives with Brett and Dayks (Steve Daykin) in charge.
Brett was manager when we moved from the Bolton Alliance to the more prestigious Lancashire League. We played a higher standard of football facing the likes of the Reserve teams of Morecambe, Southport, Accrington Stanley and Northwhich Victoria.
Brett served our first team managers well, supplying a constant stream of talent that he had scouted from throughout the Bradford and Leeds areas. Some such as David Cooke only played a couple of games for the Reserves before gaining a regular first team place.
Bobby Davison was one manager always willing to give a chance to the talent Brett unleashed with the Ressies. Lads such as David Cooke, Richard Chattoe, Ben Thackwray, Matt Daly, Simon Parke, Lee Elam, Craig Bower, Steve Daykin, David Hunter, Rudi Coleano, Rowland Egege, Stefan Zoll, Julian Wilkes, Lee Poole, Mick Morrell, Andy Shuttleworth, young ‘keeper John Lamb and his fellow GK union of Nigel Muttick and Lee Ashforth.
Brett initially came to Guiseley as assistant manager to Brendan Hudson in the Reserves, after he had worked at Otley Town with Gordon Rayner. One player who followed Brett around in his managerial capacity was Joe Harthen and they remained good friends right up to Brett’s passing at the age of 90. Joe started out as a ‘teenager playing for the first team Brett managed – Sunday side Spartak. He then followed him to Daleside, Baildon Rovers, Otley Town and Guiseley.
Simon Parke described Brett as: “A man who would always go above and beyond to help, motivate and encourage people to play the beautiful game. He was a gentleman who created pathways for players without ever wanting anything back in return. Brett Ferriday, what a man!”
Brett had been a player himself in his youth turning out as a full-back for the Reserve side at West Bromwich Albion in his native Midlands. He moved south to Plymouth before eventually arriving in Yorkshire and settling down in Bradford with his wife Joan and children Nathan and Mya. Brett also had adored grandchildren Blake, Fifi and Amber.
In later years Brett moved to France and set up a fishing lake, which was visited regularly by his former player and assistant manager Steve Daykin. Brett then started to find the winters too cold in France and moved on to Spain where he lived for a number of years before returning to the UK.
Even whilst living abroad Brett maintained a keen interest in Guiseley AFC constantly asking questions about how the club was being run, how the players were performing. I mercilessly ribbed him to the end of his days about his pony tail and earring, not two things I associate with football!
He sadly passed away in a York Hospice in November after a short illness. He will be much missed by his family and his footballing friends. His daughter Mya said on behalf of the family: “We are grateful to know that Brett spent many happy years involved in local football. He met lots of friends and made many special memories. Thank you to Guiseley AFC for this tribute to him.”
In remembrance of Brett there was a collection for Guiseley AFC Raise The Roof to support the Buy A Brick Appeal so a lasting memory can be left to him in the proposed new stand at the Railway End.
