Saturday will see Dave Syers play his final competitive game of his footballing career, with the midfielder set to retire at the end of this season.

‘Lord’ Syers is without doubt a Farsley legend, first playing for the original Celtic club in 2009/10, before re-joining us in 2018.

It was his performances in the National League North for the Celts during that season that undoubtedly caught the eyes of club’s higher up the pyramid, and he would join Bradford City in the summer of 2010.

Syers made the jump to full-time football with ease, scoring 10 goals in his first season at Valley Parade, whilst being named the Players’ Player of the Year at the conclusion of his first campaign at the club.

He would spend six seasons in the Football League with the Bantams, Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe United and Rochdale, before a return to non-league football with Guiseley and Darlington.

It wasn’t just football in which Syers represented Farsley, as he also turned out for Farsley CC, helping them to the Priestley Cup Final in 2010, before his move to Bradford City brought an end to his cricket career.

The midfielder, who has also featured as a centre-half, centre-forward, and goalkeeper(!), has made over 500 career appearances, but it is the Celts with whom he was the longest affinity.

He has made 189 appearances across his two spells in West Leeds, 144 in his current stint, finding the back of the net on 41 occasions.

He has also stepped up off the pitch at the club towards the end of his playing days, leading the club as Interim Manager at Brackley Town last season, before becoming a player/coach under Russ Wilcox.

Syers has delivered some incredible moments in a Farsley shirt, but perhaps none more so than our 3-1 victory over AFC Telford United in 2009.

Goalkeeper Piotr Skiba had earlier been forced off through concussion, and with no substitute ‘keeper, it was Syers who stepped between the sticks; no stranger to donning the gloves as a wicket-keeper!

And he would be the hero for the Celts, saving Damien Reeves’ penalty to help his side to a 3-1 victory.

But of course, Syers will be best remembered for his role in this current Farsley side.

Re-joining Farsley from Darlington in November 2018 he would have an immediate impact that season as he helped drive Adam Lakeland’s side onto the Northern Premier League title, and promotion to the National League North.

He would continue to be an integral part of the Farsley sides that adapted to the step-up, maintaining National League North status for four seasons (and hopefully a fifth!).

During the 2020/21 season, an injury crisis saw Adam Lakeland convert Dave Syers to centre-half, a position he adapted to superbly and continued to play into the following season.

Following the departure of Danny Ellis early on in the 2021/22 season, Syers was made Farsley captain, and he has continued to wear the armband since.

His retirement brings to an end a five-year stint at the Citadel, and ends an association with the club that stretches back 14 years.

Dave Syers is without doubt a Farsley legend, and has played an integral part across two generations of this football club.

Saturday will bring to a close a long and decorated career for Syers that has seen him made a lasting imprint at a number of his clubs.

Everyone at the club would like to think him for his immense efforts when representing the club, and wish him all the best for the future.

Thank you, Dave.