What a triumph! A look back at a successful year for the Shaymen

From the most chaotic of beginnings, FC Halifax Town’s 2019-20 season will go down as an unqualified triumph.

Defeat at Boreham Wood in the National League play-offs shouldn’t dilute the achievement of Town’s top seven finish, but instead, reinforce what a job Pete Wild did in getting them there

In case you need reminding, The Shaymen were without a manager and pulling out of friendlies due to a shortage of players before Wild’s appointment

After a start to the summer that was deafening in its silence, pre-season arrived with a threadbare squad that contained only four new faces - Jack Earing, Will Appleyard, Jamie Allen and Tobi ShoSilva - for the first friendly at Farsley.

The previous game at Frickley had been cancelled due to lack of players, and two days after the 1-0 win at Farsley, Jamie Fullarton had gone.

Turned out the silence hadn’t been so bad after all.

Nathan Clarke and Steve Nichol took over temporarily, finding themselves in the surreal surroundings of Doncaster Rovers’ training ground with a far from fully-formed squad for a behind-closeddoors game. Not for the last time this season.

But Town battled to a 1-1 draw, and after a further runout at Darlington, Pete Wild was handed the reins less than two weeks before the start of the campaign.

On the same day, Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, with one blonde bombshell taking up a huge challenge in a tough role at a critical time. And the other becoming Prime Minister.

Ironically, Wild’s first game was Town’s last pre-season friendly at his former club Oldham - and if a 1-0 win can ever be convincing, this was it.

What would become the customary pre-match huddle was first witnessed at BoundaryParkandwasanimportant symbol of unity before a stylish display, as Town played with freedom and finesse.

He had picked the team up once from the floor upon his arrival, and now he had to do it again. The work began with a 1-0 win at home to Chesterfield thanks to a penalty from Jack Redshaw.

A goalless draw at home to Stockport and a 1-1 draw at Barnet helped the healing process further before the Shaymen found their feet again.

Torquay were knocked out of the FA Trophy and then Maidenhead, Chorley, Dover and Bromley were all beaten.

Their 1-0 win at Chorley was overshadowed by the death of former Town midfielder Jordan Sinnott, and the following Tuesday was an emotionally-charged evening when Dover were defeated 4-2.

There was another stumble as Halesowen dumped Town out of the FA Trophy and the league return to Torquay ended in defeat.

Halifax moved back up to third through substance rather than style as Sutton were beaten 1-0 at The Shay thanks to a penalty from Devante Rodney. But Woking and Ebbsfleet both won at The Shay with Town badly out-of-sorts again.

Whether Town would have qualified for the play-offs had the season continued is an interesting question, and there was plenty of time to consider an answer as the weeks dragged on without a decision over a conclusion to the campaign.

For 45 minutes at Boreham Wood, they appeared to seize their chance with both hands, as Tobi Sho-Silva put them 1-0 up.But an improved secondhalf from the hosts against a fading Town side saw Wild’s men unable to prevent a turnaround. There were brutal bumps in the road this season, but surely they can be forgiven for the adventure and attacking intent which imbued so much of the team’s play.

Town roused themselves one last time at Boreham Wood, but just fell short.

Wild wrung every last drop he could from his squad, and can now begin to build his own group of players for next season.

It is vital that the momentum, the feel-good factor and the spirit that have been generated this campaign now help drive the club forward.