STEETON AFC have been dealt a pre-season blow after losing a long-serving striker and club captain.

Andy Briggs has left the Chevrons to sign with North West Counties Football League (NWCFL) Premier Division side Bury for the 2023-24 season.

The striker scored 146 goals in 213 appearances during nine seasons with the club.

He leaves Steeton following a record-breaking season at semi-professional level which saw him score 35 goals to win the club, divisional, and NWCFL overall, golden boot.

 

Following the completion of his move to the Shakers, the forward admits he could not pass up the opportunity despite his heart being with the Chevrons.

He said: “Whilst it's a huge wrench for me to leave Steeton, especially after being here for so long, you sometimes get opportunities that you just can't turn down and Bury are a massive club.

“This something I just couldn't say no to.

“It's been an honour to captain the club and I'd like to thank everyone at Steeton, from the volunteers, to the coaching staff, and to all the players I've played with over the past nine years.

“I will be down to cheer the lads on whenever I can, and no one would be happier than me if the club could get promoted this season.

“There is a strong squad in place and I am sure big things are round the corner for the club.”

Roy Mason, Steeton manager, said: “I can't speak highly enough of Briggsy and what he has done for this football club.

“He has been a huge part of what we have achieved over these past few years and remained fiercely loyal to the club, when many other players would have moved on.

"I have loved watching his progress from a raw, but talented 16-year-old.

“I knew after the season that he'd had that it would be difficult for us to keep him, given the opportunities that were available to him, and this is something that at his age I think he should be pursuing.

Keighley News: Andy Briggs has been a star in front of goal for Steeton Andy Briggs has been a star in front of goal for Steeton (Image: Steeton AFC)

“I'd like to thank him for all his efforts for the club over the past nine years and I would also like to place on record my thanks to Andy Welsh, for the way he and Bury have conducted themselves with the signing.

“We wish Bury all the best for the new season and I am sure that Briggsy will go there and be a success, contributing the way he does by scoring plenty of goals."

Andy joined the club as a 16-year-old and soon showed his qualities by scoring goals for our reserve side which was quickly rewarded with a call-up to the first team, and in 2015-16 season he repaid Mason’s faith by striking the winner as we beat Campion 2-1 in the League Cup semi-final.

The 2017/18 season continued to see Briggs grow into a pivotal part of the side, a side that would win promotion that season into the North West Counties Football League.

And that season would see Andy win his first Keighley Cup medal as well as adding the WRCA Premier Division Cup a week later in a game where he was on target twice in a 4-0 win over Campion Reserves.

Hitting 21 goals in the 2021/22 season following the pandemic, Briggs would turn down a number of offers from clubs higher up the pyramid to remain loyal to his hometown club.

And his loyalty would be rewarded with the captain’s armband for the 2022/23 season following the retirement of Jerry White.

Briggs is in line to make his home debut in Bury’s pre-season friendly against Bradford City at Gigg Lane on Saturday, July 8.