Brighouse Town are a team on the up and their on-going achievements have now received official recognition.

Mark Brier’s fledgling team won promotion in last season’s first campaign on the football pyramid and they have followed up by rising to fifth in the current Northern Counties East League Premier Division table.

Their form on the pitch is matched by a thriving community involvement and so a civic reception was a fitting reward.

Brier was delighted by the honour and explained: “The mayor of Calderdale arranged a get-together at Halifax Town Hall and he had some very nice things to say about the club in his written invitation and on the night.

“He mentioned our promotion and the fact that we had represented the borough in the FA Cup this season, making us the only club other than Halifax Town to have done so, and also that our under-19s had done the double.

“They put that little triangle together and decided it would be fitting to give us a civic reception – and very enjoyable it was too.”

Brier said it was great to be recognised but stressed that no-one at Town would be getting carried away.

“We know it has all come about because of the development and structure of the club,” he said.

“It is a community thing and we offer a route into football for a lot of locals.

“It is not just about the players that make it at our club, or who go on to higher leagues – even in the full-time game – it is about giving young people a direction.

“They can join our youth teams and enjoy the benefits of physical fitness, sport in general and teamwork.”