The club is sad to announce that long term club stalwart, Michael Hill, died just hours before kick-off on Saturday having coped with illness for a number of years.

Amazingly though, he made his last appearance at Nethermoor for the game against Colwyn Bay just over a week ago and was able to say his goodbyes.

The club would like to express its condolences to his wife Jenny, his children Deborah, Terence, Yvonne, his three grandchildren, three great grandchildren and the rest of his family.

Michael’s funeral will take place at St Oswald’s Church in Guiseley on Friday 9th May at 10.15am, followed by a family burial.

Michael has been a avid supporter and committee member since he joined the club in 1984 bring with him a team of youngsters, including his son Terence, from Otley Express. He has been hugely involved in the running of the club and has undertaken a number of roles within the club.

A landscape gardener by trade, he freely offered his advice and practical help in the maintenance of the playing surface. All this was undertaken against a background of a club that was very different to the one we know today.

The progress the club has made in the past twenty years has been, in no small part, down to the contribution and support that Michael gave the club and its organisation.

One of his main claims to fame was his appearance as the groundsman in the ITV series ‘Playing the Field’ that was filmed at Nethermoor. Despite managing to mark out the penalty box a metre shorter than it should have been due to the use of a ‘modified’ tape measure (for which a certain Mr Jukes was blamed) he was allowed to continue in his ‘starring’ role!

I’m sure he would have been pleased to see us progress to the play-offs once again and will be watching over us as we try to progress further this week.

Phil Rogerson
Chairman – Guiseley AFC

There will be a minute’s applause prior to kick off on Wednesday in celebration of Michael’s life, contribution and achievements