G.O.A.T. - FC Halifax Town

Geoffrey Malcolm 'Geoff' Horsfield was born in Barnsley on the 1st of November 1973, the son and grandson of coal miners. Given his league debut in March 1993 by Scarborough manager Ray McHale, he was then released after playing 12 league matches and returned to bricklaying and part-time football. After a nine-game spell playing for Halifax Town in 1994 he rejoined manager McHale where his 36 goals helped Guiseley to reach third place in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League. He then moved on to Witton Albion before returning to Halifax after recovering from a possible career injury for a reported fee of £4,000. Geoff recalls, "I came on trial and ended up playing a few games but then they released me. But I was a different player the second time. I’d gone round non-league and played at Witton but Halifax was an established club and I didn’t have any second thoughts."

He was a 'strong and forceful' player, able to hold the ball up in order to bring other players into the game and in the 1997-98 season Halifax won the Conference title by a nine-point margin, thus regaining their Football League status. Again Geoff recalls that season. "Rushden and Diamonds were big spenders in that league and their budget was much bigger than ours. But we worked hard for each other, enjoyed going out for a drink together and had a great camaraderie.We had some great characters like Kevin Hulme, Brian Kilcline, Jon Brown and Peter Jackson. The season was just phenomenal. I formed a great partnership with Jamie Paterson who was a huge influence up front with me." His 30 goals in 40 league games, including three hat-tricks, made Geoff that season's Conference top scorer. while still working part-time laying bricks.
His captain for the final 10 games of that championship winning season at Halifax was Peter Jackson - who recalls that Geoff was still far from a full-time player. "I turned up for a crucial evening match towards the end of the season," said Jackson. "I had already eaten a light meal and was loosening up for the game. Geoff turned up straight from the building site, still wearing his work gear and with a Big Mac in his hand. But it didn't stop him scoring."

Geoff Horsfield and Jamie Patterson celebrate winning at Kidderminster where Halifax Town clinched the Vauxhall Conference title in 1998

Together with team-mate Mark Bradshaw, he was selected for England's semi-professional representative team but injury prevented him from playing against the Dutch team.
The goal scoring feats of 'the Horse', as he was affectionately known, had brought him attention and in October 1998 he was signed by Kevin Keegan's Fulham for an initial fee of £300,000, plus an additional £50,000 depending on appearances. He had played 89 times for Halifax Town in his two stints with them and scored a creditable 42 goals.