Emley AFC recently confirmed the return of forward Iyrwah Gooden ahead of the upcoming season, a signing that has excited fans and reignited memories of one of the club’s most prolific attacking spells in recent years.

The attacker has rejoined the Pewits after spells at Bury FC and Bradford Park Avenue, bringing with him a reputation for pace, power, and goal-scoring pedigree. During his previous two-season stint with Emley, Gooden struck an outstanding 46 goals, playing a key role in the club’s promotion-winning campaign and back-to-back Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup victories.

Speaking after putting pen to paper, Gooden shared his excitement at rejoining the club: “Coming back to Emley just felt right. I really enjoyed my time here before, the two seasons I spent at the club were some of the best of my career so far. It honestly felt like home when I was playing here.”

His return isn’t just about sentiment. Gooden remains as ambitious as ever: “I don’t see why we shouldn’t be aiming to go one better than last season. Promotion is the goal whether that’s by winning the league or through the play-offs. I’ve come back to win trophies.”

Gooden’s time at Emley saw him establish himself as a fan favourite and one of the most feared forwards in the Northern Counties East League (NCEL). His 46 goals were central to a thrilling era of silverware and success at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground: “Those goals weren’t just numbers, they were part of a journey. I was playing with freedom, confidence, and alongside lads I had a real connection with. That made all the difference.

“The club gave me the platform to express myself. The atmosphere, the fans, the setup everything came together at the right time.”

Since leaving Emley at the end of 2023/24 season, Gooden has continued to test himself at higher levels. He signed for Bury FC in 2024, describing the move as "hard to turn down", and featured regularly, scoring 7 goals and providing 4 assists in 25 appearances: “Playing at Bury was a mad experience. The fanbase, the expectations, it felt like playing in the Football League. You don’t get that often at this level.”

A short spell followed at Bradford Park Avenue, before now returning to Emley.

Returning to a squad that still features many of his former teammates, Gooden is confident he can hit the ground running: “A lot of the lads are still here. Some of them have been at Emley even longer than I have. That makes it easier to settle back in, it’s already feeling like I never left.”

His relationship with manager Richard Tracey also played a big part in his decision to return: “Me and Rich have always got on well. He’s one of those managers who’s easy to talk to, and that trust between player and manager is massive.”

Gooden has never been one to dwell on personal accolades, insisting his focus remains on collective success: “I don’t really set goal targets. I track my goals, sure, but the aim is always to win as a team. There’s no Golden Boot at this level, it's about trophies and big moments with the squad.”

Those big moments are something Emley fans will remember well from Gooden’s first spell, especially the dramatic league title win and cup final triumphs: “Some of my best football memories came here, lifting the league trophy, those cup finals. It’s the kind of success you want to relive again.”

The reaction from supporters since the club announced his return has been overwhelmingly positive, something Gooden says hasn’t gone unnoticed: “The fans have been brilliant. I had a great connection with them last time, and leaving was one of the hardest parts of moving on. I’m buzzing to be back and playing in front of them again.”

Now back with Emley with valuable experience under his belt, Iyrwah Gooden returns to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground not only as a proven goal-scorer, but as a player hungry to achieve more.

He said: “I’m just excited to be back, ready to win games, score goals, and hopefully bring more success to this club. I want to help create more special moments for everyone involved.”

With the new season fast approaching, Emley fans will be hoping their returning star can once again fire the club toward glory.