Emley AFC produced a solid performance in their pre-season friendly against Sky Bet League One side Huddersfield Town on 28 June, with Emley manager, Richard Tracey full of praise for his squad’s efforts and resilience on a testing afternoon at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.
Tracey, now on his sixth season at the Pewits, was delighted with the 3-1 victory on the day. He said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the result. I’ve told the lads they’ve earned it. We knew we’d have long spells without the ball, and our defensive shape and organisation were outstanding.”
That organisation limited Town to only five clear-cut chances across 90 minutes. “They hit the post and the bar, but the linesman said it would’ve been ruled offside anyway,” Tracey added. “When they brought on younger players, we stayed ruthless, took three chances and won 3–1.”
Defying expectations, Tracey fielded a side that matched Town’s youthful interchange, stating: “We had five kids out there, a 16‑year‑old goalkeeper, two under‑18 lads and a couple from other academies we’re looking at.” This, he argued, added weight to the result: “They weakened their side but we did too, in terms of experience.”
Conditions on the day were challenging with it being very hot and windy. Tracey remained adamant his side showed grit. “Playing uphill into a strong wind is no easy task,” he admitted. But he emphasised how the performance reflected Emley’s identity: “We built a successful team last season on the foundation of solid defence and a top‑class goalkeeper in Dec. We showed that again today.”
One standout player was Joe Clegg, who struck twice and earned high praise from his manager. Tracey noted that while Clegg is still learning the game after coming in late and having a bad injury last season, his attitude is exemplary. Tracey said: “Joe scored with two wonderful finishes, he’s versatile and will be really important for us this year. Joe being a local lad wants to do well here and he showed today how well he can play.”
Reflecting on the broader aim of the fixture, Tracey added: “It was a great fitness exercise. Even if we’d lost 5–0 like last year, I’d still be proud, pre‑season is about getting fit and prepared.” Emley suffered that heavy defeat to Huddersfield 12 months ago, so turning it around to a 3–1 victory represents “a seven‑goal swing,” which Tracey views as evidence of progress.
The physical presence upfront caught the eye. “The big lads up top held the ball really well. They made it difficult for the Town defenders. Our lads did our job superbly.”
The match also underscored the growing ties between Emley and the larger local football structure. With a crowd of 1,977, Tracey reflected, “I sat with Huddersfield Town’s first‑team coach and he said, ‘This is exactly what every professional club should be doing, supporting their local community teams.’ Football should be about that connection.”
Emley’s next challenge comes against Barnsley on Tuesday night and the manager wants to see another positive performance.
He said: “Pre-season is all about getting fit and it's great to be playing against professional opponents. Bring in Barnsley on Tuesday and hopefully we'll have another successful night up at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.”