After the confirmation of Shane Bland’s new deal, the club has moved to ensure the futures of key players such as Dale Hopson, Steven Snaith, Andrew May and David Carson, amongst others.

All of the following players have either signed new deals with the club, or the club has exercised the option to extend their deals for the upcoming season.

The following players will remain with the club for the new season:

Shane Bland

Adam Gell

Dale Hopson

Matty Tymon

Steven Snaith

Daniel McWilliams

Andrew May

Callum Martin

Mikey Roberts

Kieran Weledji

Luke Bythway

David Carson

Whitby Town FC is proud to announce our new Challenge Cup competition. Newcastle United, Celtic, Whitby Town and Dutch club AZ Alkmaar are taking part to try and win the coveted title. The tournament has full FA approval and comes with a highly professional team presenting a weekend of top-flight football by the seaside

All games will take place at the Turnbull Ground, starting with a clash between Newcastle United and Celtic on Thursday, July 27 (19:45), before Whitby Town take their bow, against Dutch footballing giants AZ Alkmaar on Friday, July 28 (19:45).

The tournament reaches its climax on Saturday, July 28, when the two losers face off in the third-place play-off (13:30), before it culminates in the final, as the two winners battle it out for the specially-commissioned trophy.

Tickets for each game cost £10 for adults, £6 concessions and £3 children and can be booked at the Spa Pavilion, Whitby, through Whitby Town FC or by clicking the link below.

Whitby Town Football Club has acted fastest to tie highly-rated goalkeeper Shane Bland down to a new two-year contract.

Bland, who joined the Seasiders from Middlesbrough in 2013, put pen to paper this morning, after speculation linking him with a move away from the club.

And the stopper decided, after much thought, that his future was better between the sticks at the Turnbull Ground.

BREAKING NEWS: Shane Bland has signed a new two-year contract with the club, despite solid interest from elsewhere! #statementofintent pic.twitter.com/Y2vwPD3rQq

— Whitby Town FC (@WhitbyTownFC) May 5, 2017

“It’s overwhelming really,” Bland told whitby-town.com.

“I know we had a disappointing end to last season, in terms of how we finished, ending up two points outside of the play-offs, but I decided to give it another crack next season and I’m absolutely delighted to remain a part of it.

“[Chris Hardy’s plan] was an incentive to sign. Like Chris said, last season was a consolidation season and I think we appeared to overachieve, but like the chairman and the board say, all the foundations are in place to move up and hopefully we’ll go one better this time around.

“Chris spoke to me about what’s going to happen next summer and what the plans are for next season.

“He outlined what sort of players we needed, where we’re going to strengthen the squad but apart from that, he was talking about trying to really push us over the finishing line. He really put an emphasis on wanting to bring players in and really make a go of next season.”

Manager Chris Hardy, who also worked with Bland at Guisborough Town, acted fast to secure the goalkeeper, who he believes is the best outside the Football League.

��I’m delighted,” Hardy said.

“I’ve gone on record before with Shane saying that I believe outside the professional ranks, he’s the best that there is.

“To secure his services for this season and beyond is a massive boost for the football club. I think it sends out a real statement of intent in terms of what we’re trying to do at the Turnbull Ground.

“There’s so much more to Shane than clean sheets, his all-round goalkeeping has improved.

“His distribution of the ball is paramount to what we do and what we’re trying to do as a football team. I really haven’t got enough plaudits for Shane so to have him on board for the coming season is a real bonus.”

Whitby Town Football Club wishes to stress that it has had no involvement whatsoever in the cancellation of a bus to Blyth, for Monday’s fixture.

The club has not spoken to any coach companies or requested that the Police cancel any trip, at any point.

The club wants to encourage supporters and there will be a limited number of vacancies on the team coach. To book a place, telephone Graham Manser 07966 241 344.

The club will also be running coaches to the North Riding Senior Cup Final. We will release details at a later point and the club encourages supporters to book on these coaches.

Defender Jamie Poole returns to Chris Hardy’s squad for their visit to Mickleover Sports, after Luke Bythway limped off injured at Corby Town.  

Poole rejoins the Blues’ squad after a dual-registration spell with neighbours Guisborough Town, where he has captained the Priorymen to a recent revival.

The Blues remain without midfielder, Davey Carson, whose season is probably over.  Hardy will also be without defender Danny McWilliams, following an injury sustained against Coalville Town.

Hardy has the rest of his squad to choose from and he could hand out debuts to some of his recent acquisitions.

Anthony Bell is expected to continue at continue at left-back, after a good display  against the Steelmen.  

Whitby defender Mark Robinson commented on Bell’s performance post-Corby, saying: “Anthony’s come into the club and settled really well.  He had a brilliant performance today.”

Mickleover recently secured a place in the Evo Stik Northern Premier League with the Seasiders now fighting for a place in the play-offs.

Looking ahead to Tuesday night’s game, Hardy stated that: “we know the importance of the game and if we get three points, it’s game on.”

Chris Hardy believes that Whitby Town need to improve defensively if they are to secure a position in the Evo Stik Northern Premier League play-offs, but insists that his side have fight.

The Blues again showed defensive frailties when it came to set pieces in their recent 2-2 draw with Stafford Rangers.

Whitby struggled with their visitors’ physical presence, in particular with their second goal, and the Blues boss admitted that basic mistakes cause problems when facing big, powerful teams. 

“If you’re going to concede free kicks in and around those areas with a side as big and powerful as Stafford,  it’s possible you’re going to get punished and that proved to be the case,” Hardy told whitby-town.com.

“We’ve got to do better in those situations and not invite the opposition on because apart from the two goals, they didn’t really have much.”

Despite the defensive issues, Hardy believes that his side are showing the fight that a team fighting for promotion needs and can step up when the pressure is on.

“They could have folded, they could have accepted defeat in a disappointing manner.  They didn’t do that, they kept driving forwards and we maybe had a couple of chances to even win the game.

“Hopson stepped up for the penalty in a pressure-type situation and slotted it very well so fair play to him.”

The Blues will look to rectify their defensive issues when Coalville Town visit the Turnbull Ground but midfielder Davey Carson could be missing.

“He’s in a bad way.  He’s got a bit of a swollen ankle so that will be assessed so we’ll see where we stand with regards to Saturday.

“We’ll be looking for a better result and hopefully we’ll get the performance levels right with the rest sorting itself.”

Whitby Town will be looking to build on their recent win against Nantwich Town when Stafford Rangers visit the Turnbull Ground to move into the play-off positions in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

Forward Matty Tymon will serve the last game of his three match ban following his red card against Halesowen Town.

Midfielder Adam Gell is a doubt after he picked up a knock during the win at Nantwich. The Seasiders will also be without defender Kieran Weledji through injury.

Chris Hardy has the rest of his team to choose from and could hand debuts to some of his recent acquisitions from Guisborough Town.

Following the win against Nantwich Town, Chris Hardy spoke to Paul Connolly and said: “we’ll take into account the knocks and make some decisions going into Tuesday.”

The Blues know plenty about Stafford after their recent goalless draw on the road against them but Hardy feels that the long journey can play a part in helping Whitby across the line.

“It’s going to be difficult but they’re coming to us midweek which should be an advantage to ourselves,” Hardy added.

“We’re expecting a tough game.  They’re a decent side and their league position doesn’t tell a true story.”

Whitby are six unbeaten in all competitions and the Turnbull Ground has been a fortress for the Blues this season, losing just four games on home soil. Hardy’s side will be hoping that the trend continues tomorrow.

Whitby Town made it through to the North Riding Senior Cup final, where they will face Pickering Town, after a thrilling 4-3 victory against Middlesbrough U23 at the Turnbull Ground.

After an opening half hour with a few chances, Middlesbrough took the lead after 36 minutes with a well taken finish from defender Niall McGoldrick, despite some slack defending from the Blues.

Despite this, Whitby’s heads didn’t drop and they were level on the stroke of half-time, with a scrappy goal eventually turned home by Mikey Roberts.

Middlesbrough thought that they had put themselves back in front immediately after through Bradley Fewster’s volley , only for the linesman’s flag to be raised.

Whitby came out of the blocks flying in the second half, and eventual hat-trick hero, Luke Bythway, edged Whitby in front with a header, following full-back Danny McWilliams’ deep corner.

Any hopes of the Blues holding their lead were halted in the 57th minute when Boro were level again, following a well taken goal by attacking midfielder Tyrone O’Neill, though Shane Bland may be disappointed that he didn’t keep the shot out after getting a strong hand to the ball.

The Seasiders kept pushing and were soon back in front when  Bythway scored a tap in, getting on the end of the rebounded shot from   Roberts, originally saved by Aynsley Pears.

Nine minutes later, defensive midfielder Bythway completed his hat-trick with a superb header from a deep free-kick, swung in by McWilliams.

Nerves around the Turnbull were tested when striker Fewster, got Boro back into the game with a well taken strike on the turn after 73 minutes, with again, some poor defending from the Blues, giving the striker too much time and space.

The relief around the Turnbull was evident at the final whistle, with the Shed creating a great atmosphere over the ninety minutes, with chants of “we’re on our way to the final”.

Chris Hardy’s side now have less than 48 hours to recover before making the trip to Nantwich on Saturday, but confidence will be high despite some tired legs.

Whitby Town: Bland, Martin, McWilliams, May, Bullock, Bythway (Hume 81), Gell, Hopson(c), Roberts (Fryatt 90), Carson, Bell. Subs not used: Robinson, Dixon(GK), Caulfield.

Middlesbrough U23s: Pears, Heggarty, Cook, McGoldrick, Renton, Maloney (Wilson 83), Wheatley(c), Liddle, Fewster, O’Neill (Elsdon 80), Mondal. Subs not used: Reading, Silva Torrejon, James.

Attendance: 336

Whitby Town Co-operative Man of the Match: Dale Hopson

Match sponsor: Stonehouse Bakery, Danby

Matchball sponsor: The Roman Bath Inn, York

Chris Hardy is looking to field a strong side when Middlesbrough visit the Turnbull Ground in the North Riding Senior Cup semi-final, despite the crucial play-off six-pointer against Nantwich Town coming up less than 48 hours later.

In terms of team selection, Whitby will be without suspended captain, Steven Snaith, and forward Matty Tymon, following his late dismissal against Halesowen Town.

Hardy told whitby-town.com after the Stafford Rangers draw: “at that stage of the competition, we’ll be looking to put a strong side out.

“There may be a change or two from today but at the same time it will be the strongest side we can field.” 

Understandably, Hardy will have to use squad rotation in order to cope with this tough period during the season and he admitted that the busy schedule could force changes.

“We’ll assess how players are and we’ll make some judgement calls going into Thursday,” Hardy added.  

“If we’re playing Tuesday night, it gives the boys that extra recovery time.  The boys are not getting that recovery time.

“We have a fit group but we’ve just got to manage the injuries and the knocks, because when you’re playing as many games as we are, they tend to build up.”

New signing Ryan Caulfield could be in the starting line-up for the clash with Hardy mentioning that “Ryan will be in the squad.”

Caulfield gives Whitby an extra attacking option and the game against Middlesbrough could be his chance to show the fans what he is capable of.

The decision came from Paul before Tuesday night’s match with Spennymoor Town, and the club is now on the lookout for a new first-team physio.

The ideal candidate would be able to commit to Saturday match days, as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays for training sessions.

To register your interest, please contact the club’s press officer Paul Connolly with a copy of your CV on [email protected].

Whitby Town Football Club would like to wish ‘Scotty’ all the best in the future, and thank him for his service to the club.