We are delighted to announce the signing of central midfielder Jack Emmett after a successful spell on trial.
After impressing as a pre-season trialist midfielder Jack Emmett has signed a one year contract with Guiseley AFC after time out with a debilitating illness, writes Rachel O’Connor.
Emmett was one of Harrogate’s stand out players when they won themselves promotion to the English Football League but soon after making his debut in EFL Division Two Emmett was struck down by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in January 2021 and had to step back from the game he loved.
The Harrogate-born 30 year-old took a tentative step back to playing last season when he joined his local club Knaresborough Town to, as he puts it “test the water”. Water tested Emmett now feels ready to step up and get back to his former levels, something he is hoping to achieve with Guiseley.
He commented: “Having seen the talent within the squad in pre-season training and as a trialist in friendly games I am sure that the team will be challenging for promotion back to National League North, somewhere this club belongs.”
He added: “I chose to come to Guiseley as I was looking for a step up after proving myself with Knaresborough last season. I left football three seasons prior to that and I went to Knaresborough to see if I could physically handle it. I feel confident that I can move on now. I spoke to people who have played for Guiseley before and they were very positive about the club. I felt that the club sounded like a good fit for me.”
The player, who as a trialist scored in the pre-season game against Bradford City, said: “My aim in the coming season is to get back to a good level of playing with Guiseley. There are a lot of good players here and I played with the likes of Jake Lawlor, Jordan Thewlis, Joe Cracknell and Jake Wright at Harrogate and against some of the other players the club has recruited. The club has ambition and everyone wants to see promotion gained. It is definitely achievable with this group of players.
Of the upcoming season Emmett said: “I have had a bit of an injury but am OK now. There will be plenty of games in the early part of the season to get everyone started, I am really looking forward to it. It would of course help our confidence to get a good start with a win over Workington.
Emmett attended Harrogate Grammar School and then studied at both Loughborough University, where he gained Fist Class Honours, and then at the University of Nottingham, where he did his Masters in psychology. He now works for Citizens Advice supervising advisors.
Prior to the onset of Chronic Fatigue he had played for Harrogate Town for eight years and had also played cricket at what he describes as “a reasonable level”.
Of the illness Emmett said: “It is a horrible illness and I am lucky to have made something of a recovery, many don’t. I did not have it as bad as many others do but I was absolutely exhausted and it was very stressful, doctors did not seem to know what to diagnose at first. I am just grateful to be making these steps back into the game.”
The midfielder is eligible to make his debut in today’s season opener against Workington at Nethermoor, tickets on sale at the turnstiles by cash or card payment priced at £13 adults, £9 concessions, £5 U18s and £1 U11s.
