A few players have departed the club but many will be returning and, although the club won't be announcing signings until they are 100% official after the NCEL registration window opens on 1st July, Joe reports the squad is "shaping up nicely".

Joe said: "Around 12 of the lads that were with us last season have committed to returning plus another half a dozen proven NCEL players joining or making a return to Emley. I'm also going to take a look at about another 10 players who've done well locally. So there will be about 30 involved in the opening training sessions but I'll be trimming down to a final squad of around 20 as we get into the friendlies."

The club's pre-season fixtures include visits to near neighbours Hall Green United and Shelley FC. Then a series of three games at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground is headlined by Barnsley FC's Under 18 side and the World's oldest club Sheffield FC.

Newly-promoted Penistone Church complete the line up of five July fixtures before the season starts with the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round on the weekend of August 5th - the draw for which is due early next month.

(The original home friendly with Carlton Athletic has been postponed and we hope to announce a replacement in due course.)