For Richard Tracey, Emley AFC’s dramatic play-off final victory over Bradford (Park Avenue) was never going to be about perfection. It was about resilience, nerve and a football club refusing to let its moment pass.

After 120 tense, gruelling minutes without a goal, in front of a packed Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, Emley held their nerve to win 5-4 on penalties and secure promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division, a third promotion in seven remarkable years for a club whose rise continues to defy expectations.

And in the immediate aftermath of one of the biggest days in the club’s history, Tracey’s overriding emotion was simple: “Pride is the biggest thing,” he said. “Absolute pride in the players, the staff, the volunteers, the supporters, everybody connected to this football club. It wasn’t a classic football match by any stretch, and I don’t think anyone will pretend it was, but when you’re in games like that, particularly finals, it’s not always about performance. Sometimes it’s about spirit, determination and finding a way, and that’s exactly what this group did.”

The game itself was every bit as tense as expected. Bradford Park Avenue, with their experience and quality, enjoyed long spells of possession and often looked the more comfortable side on the ball. But while Avenue controlled territory, Emley’s defensive resolve never wavered: “It was really tight from the first whistle,” Tracey reflected. “I thought we started okay and had probably the first really big chance when Shep got down the right and forced a very good save. But after that, Bradford probably had more of the ball and dictated a lot of the play.

“The pleasing thing for me was that while they had possession, they didn’t really cut us open. We had to defend properly, and we did. We had to head things, block things, put bodies on the line and stay disciplined, because one lapse against a side like that can cost you everything.”

That discipline was personified by goalkeeper Jordan Porter, whose late save in normal time proved pivotal: “We made a huge call bringing Jordan in for his experience, because Mikey had done very little wrong, but those are the decisions you’ve got to make as a manager,” said Tracey: “And Jordan justified it in one massive moment. That save late on was top drawer. In games like this, sometimes one save is as important as a goal, and that was certainly one of those moments.”

By the time extra time arrived, Tracey already sensed what was coming: “Honestly, by Thursday we’d prepared for penalties because we knew there was every chance of it,” he revealed. “You’re talking about two of the best defensive teams in the league, with so much on the line, so we knew there probably wouldn’t be much between us.

“But practising penalties on a Thursday night and then walking up to take one in front of that crowd, with promotion on the line, are two very different things. That’s why I was so proud of the lads. To keep that composure in that moment says everything about their mentality.”

Even Tracey himself admitted the tension almost became too much: “Our penalty shootout record over the years hasn’t exactly been brilliant, so I’d be lying if I said I was calm,” he laughed. “I watched the first two, then I genuinely couldn’t watch the final three. That probably tells you everything.

“But how fitting was it that Joe Clegg a local lad scores the final kick of the season to send us up? Incredible. He’ll always have that moment, but I’ve said it already, there were 16 heroes out there.”

Defying the odds
What perhaps makes Emley’s achievement even more remarkable is the context around it.
This is not a club with one of the biggest budgets in the division. Far from it: “We certainly don’t have anywhere near the biggest budget. There are probably a dozen clubs with bigger resources than us, maybe more. So what this group has done is remarkable. But football isn’t always won by budgets. We’ve built a really good environment here. We’ve got good people, a warm football club, and players who buy into what we’re trying to do. That culture has carried us a long way.”

That culture has now taken Emley into step three and with it, a whole new challenge. For all the celebrations, Tracey is under no illusions about what comes next: “We know exactly how difficult this is going to be. Step three is a completely different challenge. You’re talking about huge clubs, established clubs, places with serious budgets and serious expectations. But we’ve earned the right to be there, and we’ll attack it. We’ll strengthen where we can, we’ll learn quickly, and we’ll do everything possible to make sure we’re competitive.”

He added: “A few years ago, you probably wouldn’t have imagined Emley preparing to face some of these clubs. But football changes quickly, and when the opportunity comes, you have to take it. We don’t know what next year would have looked like if we’d missed out. So we grabbed this chance with both hands.”

Perhaps most tellingly, even Tracey admits this rise has happened quicker than anyone anticipated: “Getting to step three wasn’t some grand masterplan from day one. It was always about the next challenge, then the next one, then the next one. But suddenly, you look up and realise how far this football club has come. And while there’s a bit of ‘wow, this is happening quickly,’ there’s also excitement.

For Emley AFC, promotion was secured through grit, courage and ice-cool penalties.
For Richard Tracey, it was validation of years of hard work, belief and togetherness.
And for everyone connected to the Pewits, this may just be the greatest chapter yet.