Emley head to Garforth Town on Boxing Day in the second of four successive West Yorkshire Derbies over the Christmas and New Year period for a lunchtime game that kicks off at 1.00pm.

Last Friday's tight 1-0 win over promotion rivals Bradford Park Avenue leaves Emley in second place in the Northern Premier League Division One East table, four points behind leaders Redcar Athletic with Garforth currently 8th, 6 points off a play off place.

Both sides have enjoyed decent runs of form of late, Emley's win on Friday was our 3rd straight win and 7th win out of our previous 8 league games, 2 defeats in our last 10 league games and out of those 10 games we have kept a clean sheet in 7 of them, only conceding in 1 of our last 7, that was in a 3-1 defeat at Dunston at the beginning of December.

Garforth have posted 3 impressive straight wins, all of them away from home, scoring 12 and only conceding 1 in those 3 games and have won 5 out of their last 6 league games, their only defeat in their last 6 was a surprise 1-0 defeat at home by struggling Blyth Town.

The two teams are familiar with each other and enjoy a friendly rivalry off the pitch, both teams were promoted from the NCEL together with Emley as champions in 23/24 but Town have the upper hand in results since with 1 win and 2 draws since promotion including a 1-1 draw at The Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on August Bank Holiday Monday.

This will be only the 10th meeting between the sides with all of them coming in the last 4 seasons, with Emley only managing 2 wins, both of those were at Garforth, so hopefully we can improve on that record in the last game of 2025.

WHO ARE THEY?
Garforth Town were formed in 1964 as Miners Arms playing Sunday League, switching to the Yorkshire League and changing their name to Garforth Miners in 1976, becoming a founder member of the NCEL in 1982 and changing name again in 1985 to Garforth Town and are nicknamed The Miners.

They were promoted to the NPL in 2007-08 where they would spend 6 seasons before relegation, failing in former owner Simon Clifford's ambition to take them to the Football League, they were famous for signing and giving game time to former Brazil captain Socrates and England and Man United's Lee Sharpe.

Having spent 6 seasons at NPL level, the Miners dropped back into the NCEL before promotion back to the NPL in 2024.

LAST TIME WE MET:
25th August 2025, NPL D1 East
Emley 1-1 Garforth Town (O'Grady), Att- 428

LAST TIME OUT:
Grimsby Borough 0-5 Garforth Town ( Marshall 2, Tweddle, Aldrich, Coupland) Att- 141
Emley 1-0 Bradford PA (Johnson), Att- 488.

HEAD TO HEAD:

Previous meetings:
9th November 2024, NPL D1 E
EML 0-2 GAR, Att- 582

5th March 2024, NCEL P
GAR 1-2 EML (R.Jerome 2) Att- 276

21st November 2023 NCEL LC2
EML 2-2 GAR (4-3p) (P.Walker, A.Metcalfe) Att- 305

1st August 2023, NCEL P
EML 1-1 GAR (I.Gooden) Att- 270

February 11th 2022, NCEL P
GAR 2-2 EML (J.Kelly, A.Metcalfe) Att- 429

(ALL COMPETITIONS)
CURRENT FORM: Last 5
GAR: W, L, W, W, W
EML: W, L, W, W, W
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION:
GAR: 8/22
EML: 2/22
GOALS SCORED:
GAR: 51
EML: 39
GOALS CONCEDED:
GAR: 31
EML: 27
TOP SCORER:
GAR: Luke Aldrich (9)
EML: Manasse Mampala (7)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
GAR: 277 (297 league)
EML: 371 (371 league).

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

WHEN? Friday 26th December, 1.00pm

WHERE?
Bannister Prentice Stadium
Cedar Ridge, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 2PF.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?
M1 J47. Take turning signed Garforth (A642). After approximately 200 yards, turn left into housing estate (Cedar Ridge). Stadium at end of lane.

PARKING-IMPORTANT MESSAGE!
Please see the important information on Garforth's website in regards to parking at and around the ground https://www.garforth.town/a/your-visit-to-the-bannister-prentice-stadium-66714.html?page=4

OWW MUCH?
Adults £10
Concessions £7
U16s £3
U3s FREE

NON LEAGUE DOGS ALLOWED: Yes, on a lead.

OWT ELSE? It is advised to arrive at least half an hour before kick-off to avoid delays at the turnstile.