XI questions with | Guiseley

Across the country, fans are preparing for the new campaign with renewed hope and ambition for the season ahead.

Ahead of the 2026/27 campaign getting underway on Saturday 8 August, we sat down with supporters from the NPL clubs at Step 3 to hear their thoughts on how things are shaping up.

Up next, we speak with Guiseley supporter Luke Haigh. 

You enjoyed a 13th-place finish last season after finishing fourth in 2024/25. How do you go about climbing back up the table?

It’s no secret that we had a tough start to last season, I think given the disappointment of losing the play-offs and saying goodbye to a couple of key players. 

We did replace them, but we had some younger players who it was maybe a little too soon to step into the senior players' boots. 

We lost Mark Bower but when Ian Richards stepped in, we improved significantly towards the end of the season. Having looked at the form for the second half of the season, we’re actually eighth. 

Ian having a full summer to make new additions and implement his style is really important. 

You mentioned Ian Richards there. He’s a relatively recent appointment, so how confident are you that he can take the club to higher honours?

Very, very confident. 

Seeing a manager of his calibre coming into the club, the job he did at Stocksbridge was amazing in getting them promoted. I’m excited to see what he does with a full summer behind him.

Sum up your transfer window so far. What have you made of the comings and goings?

In one word, superb. 

The players we have brought in have a blend of youth, experience and proven quality, which is hard to find at this level. 

I think that’s what we struggled with last season. There’s even a couple of returning faces. I’d give it a nine or 10/10.

Which new signing are you most excited to see pull on the Guiseley shirt?

With Jay Rollins and Cam Wilson, there are plenty of goals there. 

I’m most excited about seeing the return of Aaron Martin. He was only at Guiseley for a brief spell,and  he scored something like 17 goals in 23 starts. If we can get more of the same, that’d be great. 

If you could purchase any player for your club from across the NPL Premier Division, who are you getting and why?

There’s a guy at Stockton Town called Jake Petitjean, a goal-scoring midfielder. 

He's a very good player who’s been there for a long time, and every time I’ve watched him, he’s absolute quality. He’d be a great addition to our midfield.

The likes of Jamie Spencer, John Lufudu and Joao Silva have made their way through the exit door. How significant are those losses?

In terms of those three particularly, Jamie Spencer was very much bit-part towards the end of the season due to injury problems. 

Lufudu was becoming more of an impact sub, while Joao Silva is a very good player in the making. He needs a bit more development because he’s still finding his feet. 

Hopefully they all do well at their new clubs, and I wish them the best.

What does a successful season look like for Guiseley?

With the signings we’ve made and Ian in charge, we should be looking at the play-offs. 

It’s always tough, but looking at other squads, we should be aiming high. A top five finish is something we should be looking for, play-offs the bare minimum.

Who is one lesser-known Guiseley player opposition fans should look out for?

I’d say Elliot Owen at centre-back. He was at Stocksbridge Park Steels and we signed him in January. 

Ian knows him well. He’s a big goal threat as well as his defensive qualities, and if I remember rightly, he got five goals and finished second or third top goalscorer. That’s pretty impressive for a centre-back!

He’s a great replacement for Jake Lawlor, who left recently.

Which new ground are you most excited to visit, and why?

Probably Gigg Lane. 

Bury coming up get very good crowds, so it’d be like going to a Football League game. 

If you had some time with the squad before the opening game, what would be your message?

It might sound very cliché, but trust the process. 

Ian’s got a very clear plan and strategy we’re trying to play to. It’s really refreshing to see that kind of approach. That’s why he has had so much success wherever he has managed. 

Who wins the league, and why?

The teams to lookout for are Bury, with their budget and crowds. 

They could get halfway through the season with some injuries, before making a couple of big signings that might get them over the line. 

A dark horse might be Redcar Athletic - they stormed to promotion last season. The amount they scored is ridiculous. 

An old Guiseley face in Adam Boyes is still banging goals in. They’ve got Oscar Fletcher and Bradley Fewster, a lot of goals in that team. 

If they keep that core again, there’s no reason why they can’t make another leap.