Emley's 2023-24 season will officially end on Wednesday evening following the Northern Counties East League cup final, where the premier division champions Emley take on the first division champions Parkgate at Scunthorpe United's Attis Arena (Glanford Park), 7.45pm.

It will be a first competitive meeting of the sides since 2021 and in fact, this will be only the 10th meeting of these two sides this century.

Most of the fixtures have been cup games, and in particularly Sheffield and Hallamshire cup games, indeed, the last meeting was a SHSC game in Rotherham and it was something of a cup shock as Parkgate from the NCEL D1 knocked out NCEL Premier Emley in the quarter final, Parkgate would then lose their semi final to Maltby.

In terms of the league season, Emley finished 9 points ahead of Campion as they tied up the league title at the end of March, but it was a different story for Parkgate, they finished 4 points clear of Beverley Town after a monumental title battle between 5 teams, the top 3 all finishing on 100 or more points!

After falling behind in their schedule, Parkgate had the tough task of having to pack in 11 games in the last 3 weeks of the season, a remarkable run of 10 games unbeaten, 9 of those wins and 1 draw saw them overtake all their challengers to seal the title with a game to spare, and even found time to knock out 2 of Emley's premier division rivals on their way to this final.

Parkgate appear to have the momentum, but will this game prove one game too many? Emley will be relatively fresh though, their league campaign was wrapped up by the 9th April and only the cup games against Bottesford and Rossington have been played in the 29 days since and won't have played competitively since the Rossington semi final nearly 2 weeks ago.

So, how did the teams reach the final? here's the "road to Scunthorpe"

R1:
Glasshoughton 0-3 Parkgate (Hart, Nodder, Haslam) Att- 84
Emley- bye
R2:
Emley 2-2 Garforth (4-3 on pens) (Walker, Metcalfe) Att- 305
Selby 1-3 Parkgate (Austin, Day, Potts) Att- 122
R3:
Louth Town 1-2 Emley (Jagger, Knowles) Att- 75
Wombwell 1-2 Parkgate (Guest, Austin) Att- 170
QF:
Emley 3-0 Bottesford (Knowles, Metcalfe, Gooden) Att- 412
Parkgate 2-1 Silsden (Duggan, Ludlam) Att-176
SF:
Parkgate 2-0 Campion (Tahar, Guest) Att- 215
Rossington 1-2 Emley (Jerome, Walshaw) Att- 283

Previous meetings have been a mixed bag as far as Emley are concerned, the last season these sides faced each other in league competition was the 2018-19 NCEL D1 campaign with home wins for each, Emley won an FA Cup tie 7-1 in 2015 and Parkgate thrashed the Pewits 6-0 in a SHSCQF tie in 2008, Emley, of course also beat Parkgate 3-0 at Hillsborough in the Sheffield and Hallamshire cup in the 1997-98 season, one which was made quite famous by Emley's cup exploits!

Both teams' previous outings were the semi finals of this competition.

Last time out:
NCEL LC SF- Rossington Main 1-2 Emley (Jerome, Walshaw), Att- 283
NCEL LC SF- Parkgate 2-0 Campion (Tahar, Guest) Att- 215.

HEAD TO HEAD

Previous meetings: (last 5)

24th November 2021, SHSCQF
PAR 2-1 EML (M.Tweddle) Att-123

22nd December 2018, NCEL D1
PAR 4-2 EML (A.Horbury, B.Mills) Att- 103

22nd August 2018, NCEL D1
EML 2-1 PAR (D.Naidole, B.Burnett) Att- 123

11th November 2015, SHSCR3
EML 3-1 PAR (A.Flynn 2, K.Ryan) Att- 113

16th August 2015, FACEP
EML 7-1 PAR (A.Flynn 4, K.Ryan, J.Coduri, A.Hallam) Att- 249

CURRENT FORM (last 5):
EML L D W W W
PAR W W W W W

FINAL LEAGUE POSITION:
EML 1/20 (champions, promoted to NPL)
PAR 1/24 (champions, promoted to NCEL P)
GOALS SCORED:
EML 156
PAR 151
GOALS CONCEDED:
EML 62
PAR 53
TOP SCORER:
EML Ruben Jerome (39)
PAR Ross Duggan (39)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
EML 399(414 league)
PAR 168 (156 league)

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

WHEN? Wednesday 8th May 7.45pm
Gates open 6.15pm.

WHERE?The Attis Arena, Jack Brownsword Way, Scunthorpe, DN15 8TD.

HOW DO WE GET THERE? : Leave the M180 at Junction 3 and take the M181 for Scunthorpe. The motorway will reach its natural conclusion, which has been recently been detrunked with the installation of an additional roundabout, where you should continue forward. You will then come to another roundabout, where you should take the third exit. At the next roundabout take the third exit again (travelling past KFC on your left and McDonalds on your right). Continue forward at the next roundabout through the Attis Arena gates, with Burger King and Taco Bell on your right.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT- Scunthorpe station is over two miles away from the stadium, located towards the town centre. The best way to get to the stadium from there is by taxi, but alternatively you can walk or go to the bus station and take a bus to either Tesco or Bolsover Road.
PARKING- There's a large, FREE car park at the ground.

OWW MUCH? £5 for adults and £3 for concessions. Two turnstiles will be in operation - one for cash and one for cards.
Programmes £1.

OWT ELSE? There will be a food kiosk and a licensed bar available for spectators. AFTER the game the supporters bar at the other end of the stand will be able to accommodate spectators.

No segregation, the initial part of the stand that will be open can seat 700 people, if that fills up they will open a bit more, section by section.