Emley head to South Yorkshire on Easter Monday (3pm) for a huge local derby when we face Stocksbridge Park Steels in the biggest game of the season so far in the NPL D1 East.

Both teams are scrapping for a play off place and the result of this game could mean that one misses out, it's tight at the top, with Cleethorpes having already secured the title and Dunston just about certain of a top 5 finish, it's now left to Newton Aycliffe, Emley, Stocksbridge and Belper Town to secure the three last play off spots.

Given that both teams were expected to be competing at the bottom end of the Northern Premier League Division One East is testament to the work done by both clubs to be in with a chance of a play off spot, as it happens, both sides could still make the play offs with one more game to go next Saturday.

This will be only the 11th competitive meeting between the teams, 6 of those have been in the Sheffield and Hallamshire cup, including a Hillsborough cup final in 1999 and it will also be Emley's first ever visit to Bracken Moor, all the previous encounters have been at home or on neutral grounds.

Stocksbridge Park Steels were formed in 1986 through a merger of two local sides, Stocksbridge Works and Oxley Park Steels and were admitted to NCEL D2, after reorganisation, Steels were then placed in D1 for 1991-92 which they duly won, earning promotion to the Premier Division, they then won the Premier 2 years later but failed to gain promotion due to ground grading issues.

They eventually did win promotion to the NPL in 1996-97 where they have played since, including a spell in the NPL Premier between 2009-14, they are probably best known for giving Jamie Vardy a chance in the semi pro game after Vardy was released by Sheffield Wednesday.

In 2002, they set a new club record score, beating Oldham Town 17-1 in the FA Cup qualifiers with Paul Jackson netting ten of those!

Emley's form has nosedived since February, but Saturday's much needed 2-1 win over Pontefract put us right back in the mix and up to 4th, having been involved in the top 3 for most of the campaign, Steels meanwhile have won 4 out of their last 5 leaving them 2 points behind Emley and Newton Aycliffe in 3rd, but also, level on points with Belper, who sit in 6th, another win for Emley almost certainly book our place in the play offs.

Emley won the corresponding fixture 3-0 back in February, this was a replayed game as the original game on boxing day was abandoned after only 6 minutes due to fog, there was a big crowd for both those games at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground and Emley will look to their travelling support to boost the numbers at Bracken Moor and get right behind the play off pushing Pewits!

Last time out:
Bridlington Town 0-3 Stocksbridge (Turner, Marshall, O'Connor), NPL D1 E, Att- 494
Emley 2-1 Pontefract Collieries (Berchil, Lawrence), NPL D1 E, Att- 528

HEAD TO HEAD

(Previous meetings: last 5)

4th February 2025, NPL D1 E
EML 3-0 SPS (A.Berchil 2, A.Clayton) Att- 501

19th March 2013, SHSC QF
EML 1-2 SPS (L.Schofield) Att- 151

8th November 2011, SHSC 2
EML 2-5 SPS ( D.Wharam 2) Att- 126

4th December 2000, SHSC 2
EML 5-1 SPS (W.Nazha 2, S.Bambrook, A.Wilson

4th May 1999, SHSC F
EML 0-1 SPS (at Hillsborough) Att- 700
(ALL COMPETITIONS)
CURRENT FORM: Last 5
SPS: W, W, L, W, W
EML: L, L, L, L, W
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION:
SPS: 5/22
EML: 4/22
GOALS SCORED:
SPS: 94
EML: 70
GOALS CONCEDED:
SPS: 51
EML: 35
TOP SCORER:
SPS: Alexander Hardwick (11)
EML: Amir Berchil (17)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
SPS: 191 (203 league)
EML:420 (471 league)

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

WHEN? Monday 21st April, 3.00pm

WHERE?
Bracken Moor Stadium
Bracken Moor Lane, Stocksbridge, Sheffield South Yorkshire S36 2AN

HOW DO WE GET THERE?
GENERAL:M1 to junction 36, Exit onto A61 towards Sheffield, at major roundabout, take 4th exit onto A616 for approx. 4 miles, Exit onto A6102 Wortley Road towards Deepcar/Oughtibridge/Stocksbridge for 0.5 miles then turn right onto B6088 Manchester Road.
After 1 mile turn left onto Nanny Hill (opposite Halfords) then slight right onto Bocking Hill for 0.2 miles, Continue up and this becomes Bracken Moor Lane , the ground is on left.
(alternatively, carry on until the Fox Valley Junction, and go down and up through the valley, turn left, then right into Nanny Hill.
or
FROM HUDDERSFIELD + AREAS: A616 to Flouch Roundabout and continue across towards Langsett and Stocksbridge bypass, turn off onto B6088 before the bypass and continue through Stocksbridge centre and then turn right up Nanny Hill then as above.
Or
Continue on the bypass from the A616 until the Fox Valley Junction, turn off here and follow road down through Fox Valley and up the otherside, then turn left, then right onto Nanny Hill and as above.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: There is no train station to Stocksbridge, only buses from Barnsley or Sheffield (or Middlewood via Sheffield trams)

OWW MUCH?
Adults £9
U18's + Concessions £6